Hubert Minnis facts for kids

Quick facts for kids The Most Honourable Hubert Minnis ON
4th Prime Minister of the Bahamas
In office 11 May 2017 – 17 September 2021
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor-General	Marguerite Pindling Cornelius A. Smith
Deputy	Peter Turnquest
Preceded by	Perry Christie
Succeeded by	Philip Davis
Leader of the Opposition
In office 17 September 2021 – 27 November 2021
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor-General	Cornelius A. Smith
Preceded by	Philip Davis
Succeeded by	Michael Pintard
Member of Parliament for Killarney
Incumbent
Assumed office 3 May 2007
Minister of Finance
In office 30 November 2020 – 16 September 2021
Preceded by	K. Peter Turnquest
Succeeded by	Philip Davis
Personal details
Born	Hubert Alexander Minnis (1954-04-16) 16 April 1954 (age 71) Nassau, Bahamas
Political party	Free National Movement
Spouse	Patricia Beneby
Children	3
Alma mater	University of Minnesota, Twin Cities University of the West Indies

Hubert Alexander Minnis (born 16 April 1954) is a politician and doctor from the Bahamas. He served as the Prime Minister of the Bahamas from May 2017 to September 2021.

Minnis was also the leader of the Free National Movement (FNM) political party. He represented the Killarney area in the Bahamian Parliament. He was first elected to Parliament in 2007.

Early Life and Education

Hubert Minnis was born in Nassau, Bahamas, the capital city. He went to Our Lady's Primary School and St. Augustine College in Nassau. He also studied at the University of Minnesota in the United States.

After his studies, he became a medical doctor. He earned his medical degree from the University of the West Indies. In 1985, he returned to the Bahamas. He worked as a doctor at the Princess Margaret Hospital. There, he became the head of the department for women's health (Obstetrics and Gynecology).

Minnis was also the president of the Medical Association of The Bahamas. He cared about helping Bahamian people own more businesses. He also wanted to improve older communities in the country. In May 2007, he was first elected to Parliament. He then became the Minister of Health.

Political Journey

Leader of the Opposition: 2012–2016

After the 2012 election, Minnis became the leader of the main opposition party, the FNM. This meant he was the Leader of the Opposition. His time as leader was sometimes difficult. Some members of his party challenged his leadership.

In December 2016, some members of his party tried to remove him as leader. However, he kept his position as party leader. Another politician, Loretta Butler-Turner, became the official Leader of the Opposition for a short time.

2017 General Election

As the next election came closer, many people in the FNM party supported Minnis. The party's slogan was "It's the People's Time!" In the general election on 10 May 2017, Minnis and the FNM won a big victory. They won 35 out of 39 seats in Parliament. This meant Hubert Minnis would become the new Prime Minister.

As Prime Minister

Minnis officially became Prime Minister on 12 May 2017. A few days later, he announced the members of his government. From November 2020, he also took on the role of Minister of Finance.

Hurricane Dorian

One of the biggest challenges during Minnis's time as Prime Minister was Hurricane Dorian in 2019. This powerful hurricane caused a lot of damage. It affected several islands and led to many deaths. The government faced challenges in its response to the disaster.

Foreign Relations

Under Minnis's leadership, the Bahamian government worked closely with the United States. For example, regarding Venezuela, his government supported an opposition leader named Juan Guaido. Minnis also met with other Caribbean leaders and the US President in 2019. They discussed common policies on Venezuela and economic practices.

2021 General Election

In August 2021, Minnis decided to call an early election. This was less than a year before it was originally planned. Although Minnis kept his own seat in Parliament, his party, the FNM, lost the election by a large margin. He accepted the results.

After Being Prime Minister

After the 2021 election loss, Minnis announced that he would retire from politics. He stayed on as the FNM party leader for a short time. A new leadership election was planned for November 2021.

Personal Life

Hubert Minnis is married to Patricia Beneby. They have three children together. His son, Jamil Minnis, is also a medical doctor.

In 2021, it was reported that Hubert Minnis's net worth was about US$14.04 million.

Honours

National Honours

•  Bahamas:
  • Member of the Order of the Nation (ON) (2018)

See also

In Spanish: Hubert Minnis para niños