JoBeth Lillian Coleby-Davis (born 17 July 1984) is a Bahamian Progressive Liberal Party politician and attorney who has been the Bahamian Minister of Energy and Transport since 4 September 2023 and the Member of Parliament for Elizabeth since 16 September 2021. Coleby-Davis defeated the FNM incumbent Duane Sands in the 2021 general election. She previously served in the Senate from 2017 to 2021.
JoBeth Coleby-Davis | |
|---|---|
| Minister of Energy and Transport | |
| Assumed office 4 September 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Philip Davis |
| Preceded by | position established |
| Minister of Transport and Housing | |
| In office 23 September 2021 – 4 September 2023 | |
| Prime Minister | Philip Davis |
| Preceded by | Desmond Bannister |
| Succeeded by | Keith Bell (Housing and Urban Renewal) |
| Member of Parliament for Elizabeth | |
| Assumed office 16 September 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Duane Sands |
| Majority | 377 (9.74%) |
| Bahamas Senator | |
| In office May 2017 – September 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Hubert Minnis |
| Personal details | |
| Born | JoBeth Lillian Coleby 17 July 1984 Freeport, Bahamas |
| Political party | Progressive Liberal Party |
| Spouse | Donavon Davis Jr. |
| Children | 1 |
| Alma mater | |
| Website | www |
Early life and education
editColeby-Davis was born in Freeport, Grand Bahama to Irma (née Bootle) and Wayde Coleby. Her family relocated to the United States and then again to the Turks and Caicos where she finished her secondary education at Clement Howell High School. She pursued an Associate Degree in Law and Criminal Justice at the College of the Bahamas. She then took her studies to the United Kingdom, graduating with a dual Bachelor of Laws with Business Management from Keele University in 2009. She took a bar vocational course at Nottingham Trent University the following year before going on to graduate with a Master of Laws in Energy Law and Policy from the University of Dundee.[1]
Career
editColeby-Davis was called to the Bar of England and Wales and the Bar of the Bahamas. She provided legal counsel to ScotiaBank and the Bahamas Petroleum Company, sat on the board Real Property Tax Appeal Tribunal, and participated in the amnesty programme.
Coleby-Davis was appointed and sworn in as a Senator in 2017, when the PLP was in opposition.[2]
Parliament
editIn October 2020, she announced she would seek the PLP nomination for the Elizabeth constituency in the next election.[3] She unseated FNM incumbent Duane Sands in the 2021 general election.[4]
After winning the, she was appointed Minister of Transport and Housing under the new prime minister, Philip Davis.[5]
As Minister of Transport and Housing, Coleby-Davis oversaw construction processes of subdivisions in Spring City, Abaco and Carmichael Village. She also worked on addressing the demand for housing in the Young Professionals Prospect Ridge Community.[6] Coleby-Davis's ministry tenure also focused on infrastructure development and public transportation enhancement.
During a Cabinet reshuffle, Coleby-Davis was appointed Minister of Energy and Transport.[7] As minister, she developed a comprehensive plan to tackle the energy crisis, focusing on solar power, grid modernization, and LNG implementation.[8]
Personal life
editColeby-Davis is married to Donovan Davis Jr., an IT specialist. They have a daughter.[9]
References
edit- ^ Rose, Olivia (5 June 2017). "Former Clement Howell student becomes senator in the Bahamas". Turks and Caicos. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ "Gov't Out of Touch with Millennials". The Bahama Journal. 20 May 2019. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
- ^ 16 October 2020, Sloan (16 October 2020). "PLP Senator Jobeth Coleby-Davis vying for Elizabeth nomination". Eyewitness News. Retrieved 17 September 2021.
{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: numeric names: authors list (link) - ^ "Our Campaigns - Bahamas MP - Elizabeth Race - Sep 16, 2021". www.ourcampaigns.com. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ "FORMING YOUR GOVERNMENT: 11 more Cabinet ministers appointed in Davis administration". Eye Witness News. 22 September 2021. Retrieved 16 October 2021.
- ^ Adminisrator (22 October 2021). "Minister of Transport and Housing, Hon. Jobeth Coleby-Davis provided an update on various housing programs at the Ministry of Housing". Office of the Prime Minister. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "Bell shuffled in Davis Cabinet shake-up". www.tribune242.com. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ Kemp, Sandra (1 December 2023). "Minister Jobeth Coleby-Davis Advocates for Solution-Focused Climate Action at COP28 Fireside Chat". Office of the Prime Minister. Retrieved 6 July 2024.
- ^ "JoBeth Coleby-Davis talks politics, empowerment and why the TCI is bursting with potential". tcweeklynews.com. Retrieved 6 July 2024.