Loretta Butler-Turner is a Bahamian mortician and politician. She was the leader of the opposition in the Bahamian Parliament from December 2016 to May 2017.
Loretta Butler-Turner | |
|---|---|
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 11 December 2016 – 10 May 2017 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Prime Minister | Perry Christie |
| Preceded by | Hubert Minnis |
| Succeeded by | Philip Davis |
| Member of the House of Assembly of the Bahamas for Long Island | |
| In office 2012–2017 | |
| Member of the House of Assembly of the Bahamas for Montagu Constituency | |
| In office 2007–2012 | |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Nassau, Bahamas |
| Political party | Free National Movement |
Early life
editLoretta Butler-Turner was born in Nassau, Bahamas[1] to Rose Marie (née Taylor)[2] and Raleigh Butler, who was the son of the first Bahamian Governor-General, Sir Milo Butler.
She attended primary and secondary school at St. Andrews School in Nassau and was the first Bahamian female to earn a Bachelor of Science degree in mortuary sciences, graduating summa cum laude from the New England Institute of Mortuary Science.[1]
Mortuary career
editButler became an embalmer and mortuary director in her father's business, Butlers’ Funeral Homes and Crematorium of Nassau.[2] She has provided services for several notable deaths, particularly for singer Aaliyah[3] and TV personality Daniel Wayne Smith (son of Anna Nicole Smith).[4]
Political career
editIn 2007, she was elected to parliament for the Montagu Constituency as a member of the Free National Movement (FNM) party and appointed Minister of State for Social Development.[1]
Inter-American Commission of Women
editButler served as Vice President of the Inter-American Commission of Women from 2009 to 2011, completing the term of Jeanette Carrillo Madrigal of Costa Rica who had resigned.[5]
Deputy Leader
editIn 2012, Butler-Taylor ran for the Long Island seat and was elected.[6] That same year, she was chosen as the Deputy Leader of the Free National Movement.[7]
Butler ran for the party leadership in 2014[8] but was defeated by Hubert Minnis. (Peter Turnquest replaced her as Deputy Leader.[9])
Finally, in December 2016, Butler-Turner was sworn in as the first woman leader of the opposition in the Bahamas history.[10] Four days later, Butler came under fire from her predecessor, Hubert Minnis, who vowed to have her leadership rescinded.[11][12]
Ouster from Party
editIn April 2017, she was thrown out of the party and ran as an independent in the general election the following month.[13] She received less than 300 votes, thus ending her parliamentary career.
References
edit- ^ a b c "Loretta Turner-Butler". Government - Contacts. Nassau, The Bahamas: Government of the Bahamas. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- ^ a b Beatty, Robert (21 August 2013). "Raleigh Butler Sr., 81 of Butlers' Funeral Homes". Ft. Lauderdale, Florida: South Florida Times. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- ^ "Bahamas Funeral Home Which Prepared Aaliyah's Body Says Virgin Records Hasn't Paid Bill". Jet. 102 (11). Johnson Publishing Company: 40. 2 September 2002. ISSN 0021-5996.
- ^ Melia, Michael (18 September 2006). "Autopsy: Smith's Son on Antidepressants". Fox News. AP. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- ^ "34th Assembly of Delegates (Santiago de Chile, Chile - November 10 to 12, 2008)". OAS. Washington, DC: CIM Assembly of Delegates. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- ^ "FNM Unveils Candidates for Bahamas 2012 Elections". St. Michael, Barbados: Caribbean Elections Today. 15 January 2012. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- ^ Smith, Larry (12 October 2014). "The Prospects of Political Leadership in the Bahamas". Nassau, The Bahamas: Bahama Pundit. Archived from the original on October 18, 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
{{cite news}}: CS1 maint: unfit URL (link) - ^ "Bahamas' deputy opposition leader eyes top post". Jamaica Observer. Kingston, Jamaica. 15 October 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- ^ "Dr. Hubert Minnis defeats Butler-Turner 298 to 106". Nassau, The Bahamas: Bahamas Press. 21 November 2014. Retrieved 9 September 2015.
- ^ "Bahamas- Loretta Butler-Turner replaces Minnis as Opposition Leader". Hopewell, Hanover, Jamaica: Wired Jamaica. 12 December 2016. Archived from the original on 16 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ ""Hit the Road," Party Tells New Opposition Leader". St. Michael, Barbados: Caribbean 360. 16 December 2016. Archived from the original on 16 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ Rolle, Rashad (15 December 2016). "Butler-Turner's Ratification Rescinded By Fnm". Nassau, The Bahamas: Tribune 242. Archived from the original on 16 December 2016. Retrieved 16 December 2016.
- ^ "Butler-turner out of FNM as she runs as Independent". www.tribune242.com. Retrieved 10 December 2018.