Theodore Brent Symonette (born 2 December 1954)[1] is a Bahamian businessman and Free National Movement politician who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for St. Anne's constituency from 2007 to 2012 and 2017 to 2021. In his first term, he served as Deputy Prime Minister to Hubert Ingraham and Minister of Foreign Affairs. In his second, he was the Minister of Financial Services, Trade and Industry and Immigration from 2017 to 2019.
Brent Symonette | |
|---|---|
 Brent Symonette in 2018 | |
| Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas | |
| In office 2007–2012 | |
| Prime Minister | Hubert Ingraham |
| Preceded by | Cynthia A. Pratt |
| Succeeded by | Philip Davis |
| Member of Parliament for Saint Anne's | |
| In office May 2017 – September 2021 | |
| Succeeded by | Adrian White |
| In office 2007–2012 | |
| Preceded by | Constituency established |
| Succeeded by | Hubert Chipman |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Theodore Brent Symonette February 2, 1954 |
| Political party | Free National Movement |
Early life
editSymonette was born in Nassau, Bahamas. He is the youngest son of Sir Roland Symonette (1898–1980), the first Premier of the Bahamas and Lady Margaret Symonette née Frances. Symonette is also the half brother of Bobby Symonette, who served as Speaker of the House of Assembly. He studied law in London and is a member of the Bahamas Bar. Symonette is also an established real estate broker.
Career
editSymonette was appointed to the Senate in 1987 by Sir Cecil Wallace-Whitfield and reappointed to the Senate in 1992 by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. Symonette was one of a handful of white Members of Parliament.
Symonette served as Attorney-General in 1995,[2] Minister of Tourism and Chairman of the Airport Authority. As Chairman of the Hotel Corporation of the Bahamas, Symonette was instrumental in negotiations that resulted in bringing the Atlantis Hotel and affiliated resort properties to the Bahamas.
Symonette was the first MP to hold the St Anne's constituency upon its creation in 2007. Following the FNM victory in the general election that year, Symonette was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in Ingraham's government on May 4.
In January 2012, Symonette announced he would be resigning from politics and stood down at the 2012 general election. In 2016, his successor Hubert Chipman withdrew his name from consideration for the FNM nomination. Symonette changed his mind and, despite supporting Loretta Butler-Turner over Hubert Minnis in the FNM leadership contest, announced in early 2017 that he would re-enter politics and was willing to work with Minnis.[3]
Symonette was sworn in as Minister of Financial Services, Trade and Industry and immigration after regaining his seat in the 2017 general election.[4] He served in that capacity until 1 July 2019 when he resigned. He confirmed that he would complete his tenure as MP and continue supporting the FNM in future elections, but would not seek re-election himself.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ "Birth record for Theodore Brent Symonette". Family Search. Bahamas Civil Registration 1850-1959 database with images. 2 December 1954. Retrieved 22 February 2021.
- ^ "Attorneys-General Post Independence". www.bahamas.gov.bs. Office of the Attorney General and Ministry of Legal Affairs of the Bahamas.
- ^ Virgil, Khrisna (1 March 2017). "Former Deputy Pm Symonette Wants To Run For The Fnm In St Anne's". Tribune. Retrieved 24 September 2021.
- ^ "New Cabinet is sworn in".
- ^ "UPDATED: Symonette resigns from Cabinet".
- ^ Lindsay Thompson, "Bahamas Governor General challenges new government", Caribbean Net News, May 9, 2007. "Kitkatta.net - Deine Ratgeber- & Blog-Seite". Archived from the original on May 15, 2007. Retrieved 2007-05-11.
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