Josephine Olivia Connolly MHA is a businesswoman[1] and an elected member of the Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly.[2][3] In February 2021 she won her all island seat for the third time and was appointed as a Minister in the new PNP Government.
Josephine Connolly | |
|---|---|
| MHA for All Island District | |
| Assumed office 13 November 2012 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Premier | Rufus Ewing Sharlene Cartwright-Robinson Washington Misick |
| Governor | Ric Todd Peter Beckingham John Freeman Nigel Dakin |
| Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Maritime, Gaming and Disaster Management | |
| Assumed office 22 February 2021 | |
| Premier | Washington Misick |
| Governor | Nigel Dakin |
| Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly | |
| In office 22 November 2012 – 20 December 2016 | |
| Premier | Rufus Ewing |
| Governor | Ric Todd Peter Beckingham John Freeman |
| Minister Of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services | |
| In office 20 December 2016 – 20 June 2017 | |
| Preceded by | Akierra Missick |
| Succeeded by | Karen Malcolm |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Josephine Olivia Smith August 22, 1959 |
| Political party | Progressive National Party (since 2018) |
| Other political affiliations | PNP (before 2012) PDM (2012-2018) |
| Spouse | Joseph Connolly |
Early life edit
Connolly was born in Turks & Caicos on the island of Salt Cay in 1959. She is the daughter of Alexander "Shorty" Smith, the elected representative of Salt Cay and one of the founders of the PNO which later became the PNP.[citation needed]
Career edit
In 1998, Connolly was a partner in the real estate consulting firm Connolly-Zahm Properties.[4]
In 2010, Connolly was awarded a master's degree from the University of Central Lancashire.[citation needed] In 2010, Connolly was the reigning "Mrs. Turks and Caicos",[5] representing her country in the Mrs. World Pageant.[6]
In July 2012, Connolly became an at-large candidate in the upcoming general election. On 9 November, she was voted in as one of the five at-large members of the parliament.[7] At the first sitting of the house on 28 November, Connolly was unanimously voted in as Deputy Speaker.[8]
In 2013, the Attorney General began an investigation, alleging that Connolly had failed to declare contracts with the Turks and Caicos Islands Government on her declaration of candidacy.[9][10]
The investigation against Connolly and her political colleagues was subsequently dropped.[citation needed] In the December 2016 election, Connolly retained her seat as an all island member and became part of the new PDM government as Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services.
In January 2019 Connolly crossed the floor of the House of the Assembly and joined the PNP.
In the February 2021 general election she was voted in as an all Island candidate with PNP, who won a resounding 14–1 victory. Connolly was subsequently appointed as Minister of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries, Heritage & the Environment in the new government.
References edit
- ^ "THE ELECTION RACE IS ON!". Turks and Caicos Sun.
- ^ "Nearly 450 catch mosquito viruses this year". TC Weekly News. 1 December 2014
- ^ "Hon. Josephine Conolly". HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, GOVERNMENT OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS. Retrieved 20 February 2020.
- ^ "A Turks and Caicos Real Estate Pioneer", Island Life and Times. May 8, 2014 Archived 26 February 2015 at the Wayback Machine
- ^ "The first Mrs Bahamas World crowned in Grand Bahama", The Bahamas Weekly News, 17 August 2010
- ^ "Mrs Turks & Caicos arrives in Grand Bahama for the Mrs Bahamas coronation". The Bahamas Weekly News 12 August 2010
- ^ "PDM announces appointment of shadow Ministers" TC Weekly News
- ^ "Bahamas prefers payroll tax to VAT – PM Christie" TC Weekly News
- ^ "SIX HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY SEATS TO BE CHALLENGED IN COURT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL". Turks an Caaicos Sun by Hayden Boyce
- ^ "Turks and Caicos elections mess continues". Caymans Compass by: Brent Fuller 12 March 2013