Picewell Forbes

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 (1961-08-01) 1 August 1961
Smith's Hill, South Andros, The Bahamas
Political partyProgressive Liberal Party
SpouseDrucilla Forbes
ChildrenDemathio, Ramon, Paige and Picecilla
Alma mater

Early life and education

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

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

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
  1. "Picewell Forbes". The Bahamas Customs Department. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  2. "Mr. Picewell Forbes" (PDF). World Radio History. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  3. "Picewell Forbes 'losing ground in constituency'". The Tribune. 26 October 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  4. "Bahamian lawmaker avoids jail in Travolta mistrial". Reuters. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  5. Thompson, Lindsay (1 August 2012). "Picewell Forbes as Bahamas High Commissioner to CARICOM". The Bahamas Weekly. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  6. "Picewell Forbes Announces He Won't Run For Re-Election". The Tribune. 1 March 2021. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  7. Evans, Kevin (4 March 2021). "Picewell Forbes deserved better". The Nassau Guardian. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  8. 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.
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