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Philip Davis | |
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.jpg) Davis in 2022 | |
| 5thPrime Minister of the Bahamas | |
| Assumed office 17 September 2021 | |
| Monarchs | Elizabeth II Charles III |
| Governors-General | Cornelius A. Smith Cynthia A. Pratt |
| Deputy | Chester Cooper |
| Preceded by | Hubert Minnis |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 19 May 2017 – 17 September 2021 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Hubert Minnis |
| Preceded by | Loretta Butler-Turner |
| Succeeded by | Hubert Minnis |
| Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas[a] | |
| In office 7 May 2012 – 11 May 2017 | |
| Prime Minister | Perry Christie |
| Preceded by | Brent Symonette |
| Succeeded by | K. Peter Turnquest |
| Member of Parliament forCat Island, Rum Cay & San Salvador | |
| Assumed office 2 May 2002 | |
| Preceded by | James Miller |
| Majority | 65.40% |
| In office 1992–1997 | |
| Minister of Finance | |
| Assumed office 17 September 2021 | |
| Preceded by | Hubert Minnis |
| Chairman of theCaribbean Community | |
| In office 1 January 2023 – 30 June 2023[1] | |
| Secretary-General | Carla Barnett |
| Preceded by | Chan Santokhi[1] |
| Succeeded by | Roosevelt Skerrit |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1951-06-07)7 June 1951 (age 74) |
| Political party | Progressive Liberal Party |
| Spouse | Anne-Marie Davis |
| Children | 6 |
Philip Edward "Brave"DavisKCMP (born 7 June 1951)[2] is aBahamian politician serving as theprime minister of the Bahamas since 2021. He was the Member of Parliament (MP) forCat Island, Rum Cay & San Salvador from 1992 to 1997 and returned to the seat in May 2002, which he still represents.
Davis was deputy prime minister to the RtHon. Perry Christie and minister of public works and urban development from 2012 to 2017. He then served asleader of the opposition from May 2017 to September 2021, when he led theProgressive Liberal Party to victory and was subsequently sworn in as prime minister.
Davis was born in a house off Wulff Road, the eldest of eight children to Dorothy (née Smith), a domestic worker from Alexander,Great Exuma and Brave Edward Davis, a firefighter fromOld Bight,Cat Island. Davis spent his early childhood living with his grandparents on Cat Island where he attended Old Bight All Age School. Upon returning toNassau, he continued his education at Eastern Schools and graduated from St. John's College. Growing up in a poor family, Davis worked a number of odd jobs from the age of seven to make ends meet.[3]
After finishing hisO-Levels, Davis was a construction worker until he landed a job atBarclays. The job was brief, as he decided to pursue law. He was first invited for an interview to become anarticled clerk at Davis Bethel's law chambers. Although the gig fell through, he ended up a clerk at Wallace-Whitfield & Barnwell later that year and completed his legal studies in three years. Davis was called to the BahamasBar in 1975, where he served two terms as vice president and one as president of the Bahamas Bar Association. He became a long-term partner at Christie, Ingraham & Co, and was appointed magistrate. He sat on theCARICOM Council of Legal Education.[4]
Davis got involved in theProgressive Liberal Party at a young age, volunteering as a campaign helper in the1967 general election. He was first elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) forCat Island, Rum Cay & San Salvador in a 1992 by-election. Although he lost his seat in1997, he regained it in2002 and has held onto it since.[5]
Prior to becoming prime minister, Davis was theleader of the opposition as well as of the Progressive Liberal Party having been elected at the party's convention in October 2017. Prior to his election as party leader, he was elected deputy-leader, at the Party's Convention in 2009, when the PLP won the 2012 general elections, he became the Bahamas' deputy prime minister and minister for public works and urban development, to which he served up until 2017, when the PLP was once again defeated in the polls.
He was appointed aQueen's Counsel (QC) in 2015.
In September 2021, the Progressive Liberal Party defeated the rulingFree National Movement in a snapelection, as the economy struggles to recover from its deepest crash since at least 1971.[6][7] Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) won 32 of the 39 seats in the House of Assembly. Free National Movement (FNM) took the remaining seats.[8] On 17 September 2021, the Leader of the Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) Phillip “Brave” Davis was sworn in as the newPrime Minister of Bahamas to succeedHubert Minnis.[9]
As Minister of Public Works and Urban Development, he oversaw and ensured around some 1000 homes, in both the Family Islands and New Providence were provided with indoor toilets and potable water, additionally, he oversaw infrastructure developments across the islands, such as building of roads, rebuilding of seawalls, bringing lights to Family Islands airports, and repairing of buildings and docks damaged by Hurricanes. He established the Urban Renewal Small Homes Repairs Program, which saw more than 1000 homeowners and employed thousands of contractors and tradespersons.
After winning the2021 election in a landslide, Davis was appointed prime minister.[10]
Davis is married to Ann Marie Davis, women's rights activist and treasurer of theBahamas Humane Society. They have six children and are practicingAnglicans at St. Christopher's.[11] Davis is a member of Toastmasters Club 1600 and a keen sportsman interested in baseball, softball and swimming.
| Political offices | ||
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| Preceded by | Prime Minister of the Bahamas 2021–present | Incumbent |