Picewell A. L. "Soca" Forbes (born 1 August 1961) is a Bahamian former Progressive Liberal Party politician and broadcaster who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mangrove Cay and South Andros from 2007 to 2021.
Picewell Forbes | |
|---|---|
| Member of Parliament for Mangrove Cay, Central and South Andros | |
| In office May 2007 – September 2021 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 1 August 1961 Smith's Hill, South Andros, The Bahamas |
| Political party | Progressive Liberal Party |
| Spouse | Drucilla Forbes |
| Children | Demathio, Ramon, Paige and Picecilla |
| Alma mater | |
Early life and education edit
Forbes was born in Smith's Hill, South Andros. He obtained a Certificate in Electronics from the College of the Bahamas before going on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the West Indies in 1991 and later a Master of Science from Nova Southeastern University in 2004.[1]
Career edit
Prior to going into politics, Forbes worked in radio and broadcasting. He was a Deputy General Manager at the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas. He hosted a number of talk shows on the Bahamas Radio Network and ZNS Radio, as well as Da Down Home Show on television.[2]
Forbes was elected to represent South Andros in the 2007 general election when the PLP won, with Forbes earning the highest margin of the vote of any candidate.[3]
Forbes received some negative media attention when he mistakenly caused a mistrial in the 2009 John Travolta extortion case by passing on an unverified rumour of the result. Forbes apologised, thus no charges were pressed.[4]
Then PLP PM Perry Christie appointed Forbes the Bahamas High Commissioner to the CARICOM secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana in 2012. He worked remotely from Nassau.[5]
Forbes was one of four PLP candidates to win or retain their seat in the 2017 general election.
On 1 March 2021, Forbes announced in the House that he would not seek reelection in the 2021 general election and would resign from politics.[6] There was speculation he was persuaded to stand down for Monique Pindling, but these claims were denied and the nomination ultimately went to Leon Lundy.[7]
In July 2021, Forbes was sworn in as a Justice of the Peace by Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.[8]
Personal life edit
Forbes is married to Drucilla Forbes nee Wallace. He is the father of four children and is a member of the Church of God.[1]
References edit
- ^ a b "Picewell Forbes". The Bahamas Customs Department. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ "Mr. Picewell Forbes" (PDF). World Radio History. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ "Picewell Forbes 'losing ground in constituency'". The Tribune. 26 October 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ "Bahamian lawmaker avoids jail in Travolta mistrial". Reuters. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ Thompson, Lindsay (1 August 2012). "Picewell Forbes as Bahamas High Commissioner to CARICOM". The Bahamas Weekly. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ "Picewell Forbes Announces He Won't Run For Re-Election". The Tribune. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ Evans, Kevin (4 March 2021). "Picewell Forbes deserved better". The Nassau Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
- ^ Bahamas Press (1 July 2021). "BP BREAKING HE The Hon Picewell Forbes MP. is right now being sworn in as Justice of Peace, by Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt. CONGRATULATIONS!". Retrieved 13 September 2021 – via Facebook.