| The Honourable Brent Symonette |
|
|---|---|
| Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas | |
| Incumbent | |
| Assumed office 4 May 2007 |
|
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor General | Arthur Dion Hanna Arthur Foulkes |
| Personal details | |
| Political party | Free National Movement |
Brent Symonette (born 2 December 1954) is a prominent Bahamian businessman, a Member of Parliament for the St. Anne's constituency, and the current Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Bahamas. He is a member of the Free National Movement (FNM). Symonette was born in Nassau, Bahamas, studied law in London and is a member of the Bahamas Bar. Symonette is also an established real estate broker.
Symonette was appointed to the Senate in 1987 by the late Sir Cecil Wallace Whitfield and reappointed to the Senate in 1992 by Prime Minister Hubert Ingraham. Symonette is one of a handful of current white Members of Parliament.
Following the FNM victory in the May 2007 general election, Symonette was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs in Ingraham's government on May 4.[1]
In the past, Symonette has served as Attorney General, 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 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, former Speaker of the House of Assembly.