Robert Sweeting
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Robert Percival Sweeting is a Bahamian politician, and is currently a MP (Member of Parliament) in the Bahamas Parliament, representing the South Abaco Constituency. He is a member of the opposition party, Free National Movement (FNM). The Sweetings are a dominant political name in the Bahamas, along with names like Symonettes, Hannas, and Christies.
Robert Sweeting was born in Nassau, on February 4th 1945. He is the second eldest child of Percival and Venie Sweeting. He grew up and is native of Man-O-War Cay, a small island in the Abaco chain.
Robert Sweeting became an active member in the FNM party at a young age. He sought his party's nomination in the 1987 elections to run for the South Abaco Constituency, but did not win the nomination and was narrowly defeated by Frederick Gottlieb. He sought the nomination for MP in the constituency of Hope Town in the 1992 elections, and won his party's nomination, and also won the election and was elected as an MP. At this election, the FNM defeated their rival, the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), and became the governing party, ending 25 years of rule for the PLP. Sweeting defeated Gary Sawyer of the PLP in his first election.
He ran for re-election in 1997, and easily defeated Edison Key. In 2002, after hinting that he wanted to retire from politics, he ran for a third time as an MP, and narrowly defeated Edison Key, and earned him a third term in the Parliament.
Mr. Sweeting has stated, that he intends to retire from politics, in the next elections, and will not seek office. He is considered pro development in his political stances, and shares his party's conservative views on most issues.
Other notable Sweeting family politicians are Mr. Charles Sweeting, a distant family relative, who also served as a MP, Mr. Walter Sweeting, who is a brother to Robert Sweeting, and has served on the Local Council as a Chief Councillor, and Mr. Jeremy Sweeting, nephew to Robert Sweeting, and he is currently serving on the Hope Town District Council (Local Council) as the Chief Councillor.
