Picewell Forbes
{{Short description|Bahamian former politician and broadcaster}}
{{Infobox officeholder
| honorific-prefix =
| name = Picewell Forbes
| honorific-suffix =
| image =
| caption =
| office = Member of Parliament
for Mangrove Cay and South Andros
| term_start = May 2007
| term_end = September 2021
| predecessor =
| successor = Leon Lundy
| majority =
| birth_name =
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=y|1961|8|1}}
| birth_place = Smith's Hill, South Andros, The Bahamas
| death_date =
| death_place =
| alma_mater = {{Plainlist|
}}
| party = Progressive Liberal Party
| spouse = Drucilla Forbes
| children = Demathio, Picecilla, Ramon and Paige
| website =
}}
Picewell A. L. "Soca" Forbes (born 1 August 1961) is a Bahamian former Progressive Liberal Party politician and broadcaster who was the Member of Parliament (MP) for Mangrove Cay and South Andros from 2007 to 2021.
Early life and education
Forbes was born in Smith's Hill, South Andros. He obtained a Certificate in Electronics from the College of the Bahamas before going on to graduate with a Bachelor of Arts from the University of the West Indies in 1991 and later a Master of Science from Nova Southeastern University in 2004.{{Cite web|url=https://www.bahamascustoms.gov.bs/picewell-forbes/|title=Picewell Forbes|website=The Bahamas Customs Department|accessdate=13 September 2021}}
Career
Prior to going into politics, Forbes worked in radio and broadcasting. He was a Deputy General Manager at the Broadcasting Corporation of the Bahamas. He hosted a number of talk shows on the Bahamas Radio Network and ZNS Radio, as well as Da Down Home Show on television.{{Cite web|url=https://worldradiohistory.com/hd2/IDX-Business/Stations/IDX/Station-Books-IDX/ZNS-70th-Anniversary-OCR-Page-0081.pdf|title=Mr. Picewell Forbes|website=World Radio History|accessdate=13 September 2021}}
Forbes was elected to represent Mangrove Cay and South Andros in the 2007 general election when the PLP won, with Forbes earning the highest margin of the vote of any candidate.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.bahamaslocal.com/newsitem/8312/PICEWELL_FORBES_LOSING_GROUND_IN_CONSTITUENCY.html|title=Picewell Forbes 'losing ground in constituency'|journal=The Tribune|date=26 October 2010|accessdate=13 September 2021}}
Forbes received some negative media attention when he mistakenly caused a mistrial in the 2009 John Travolta extortion case by passing on an unverified rumour of the result. Forbes apologised, thus no charges were pressed.{{Cite journal|url=https://www.dnaindia.com/entertainment/report-bahamian-lawmaker-avoids-jail-in-travolta-mistrial-1304928|title=Bahamian lawmaker avoids jail in Travolta mistrial|journal=Reuters|accessdate=13 September 2021}}
Then PLP PM Perry Christie appointed Forbes the Bahamas High Commissioner to the CARICOM secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana in 2012. He worked remotely from Nassau.{{Cite journal|url=http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/bis-news-updates/Picewell_Forbes_as_Bahamas_High_Commissioner_to_CARICOM_printer.shtml|title=Picewell Forbes as Bahamas High Commissioner to CARICOM|journal=The Bahamas Weekly|first=Lindsay|last=Thompson|date=1 August 2012|accessdate=13 September 2021}}
Forbes was one of four PLP candidates to win or retain their seat in the 2017 general election.
On 1 March 2021, Forbes announced in the House that he would not seek re-election in the 2021 general election and would resign from politics.{{Cite journal|url=http://www.tribune242.com/news/2021/mar/01/picewell-forbes-announces-he-wont-run-re-election/|title=Picewell Forbes Announces He Won't Run For Re-Election|journal=The Tribune|date=1 March 2021|accessdate=13 September 2021}} There was speculation he was persuaded to stand down for Monique Pindling, but these claims were denied and the nomination ultimately went to Leon Lundy.{{Cite journal|url=https://thenassauguardian.com/picewell-forbes-deserved-better/|title=Picewell Forbes deserved better|journal=The Nassau Guardian|first=Kevin|last=Evans|date=4 March 2021|accessdate=13 September 2021}}
In July 2021, Forbes was sworn in as a Justice of the Peace by Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt.{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/BPresslive/photos/a.901315739982182/4088363764610681/|title=BP BREAKING HE The Hon Picewell Forbes MP. is right now being sworn in as Justice of Peace, by Chief Magistrate Joyann Ferguson-Pratt. CONGRATULATIONS!|author=Bahamas Press|via=Facebook|date=1 July 2021|accessdate=13 September 2021}}
Personal life
References
{{reflist}}
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Category:Justices of the peace
Category:High commissioners of the Bahamas
Category:Members of the Parliament of the Bahamas
Category:Nova Southeastern University alumni
Category:People from South Andros
Category:Progressive Liberal Party politicians
Category:Bahamian television presenters