Hubert Minnis is a Bahamian politician, currently serving as leader of the Free National Movement and as Leader of the Opposition in the House of Assembly of the Bahamas.

Early life and education

Hubert Minnis was born in Bain Town on 17 April 1954 to Rosalie North, a seamstress, and Randolph 'RJ' Minnis, the proprietor of well-known Minnis Service Station on Market Street.

He was educated at Our Lady’s Primary School, Western Junior and St. Augustine College, Nassau, and the University of Minnesota (1971 - 1975) and graduated with a Bachelor’s Degree with a concentration in Biology.  That same year, he entered the Faculty of Medical Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Mona, Jamaica, where he obtained the MBBS degree in medicine.

Career

After obtaining his doctor of medicine degree from the University of the West Indies and MRCOG from London in 1985, Dr Minnis returned home and began serving the Bahamian people as a physician at the Princess Margaret Hospital. He has a special interest and dedication to the promotion of Bahamian ownership in the economy and for the redevelopment of traditional Over-the-Hill communities.

While at Princess Margaret Hospital he served as a Consultant and Head of Department of Obstetrics and Gynaecology and as Deputy Chief of Staff. Dr Minnis is a former president of the Medical Association of The Bahamas, member of the Medical Council, chairman of the Hotel Corporation of The Bahamas and an associate lecturer at the University of West Indies in Obstetrics and Gynaecology.

Hubert Minnis was first elected to the legislature for the Killarney Constituency in the 2007 election as a candidate for the Free National Movement (FNM). He was appointed Minister of Health. He was re-elected in the 2012 General Election and became Leader of the FNM and Leader of Her Majesty’s Loyal Opposition in the House of Assembly, succeeding Hubert Ingraham as party leader following the party's defeat in the 2012 election.

At the FNM’s Convention in November 2014, he was re-elected Leader of the FNM Party. In December 2016, he ceased to be the Leader of the Opposition, but maintained his position as FNM Party Leader.

Following the General Election of May 10, 2017, Dr. Minnis became Prime Minister when the FNM won an overwhelming majority capturing 35 of the 39 elected seats in the House of Assembly.  On May 12, 2017 Dr. Minnis was sworn in by the Governor General Her Excellency Dame Marguerite Pindling as the fourth Prime Minister of The Commonwealth of The Bahamas and presented his cabinet on the 15 May 2017.

Personal life

A Roman Catholic, Dr. Minnis is married to the former Patricia Beneby and is the father of three children.

Honours and awards

In 2018, he was awarded the Order of the Nation (ON).