Josephine Connolly

{{Short description|Turks and Caicos Islander politician and businesswoman}} {{Use dmy dates|date=January 2021}} {{Infobox officeholder | honorific_prefix = The Honourable | name = Josephine Connolly | honorific_suffix = MHA | image = | office4 = 3rd Member of Parliament for All Island District | office5 = 2nd Member of Parliament for All Island District | office6 = 5th Member of Parliament for All Island District | term_start4 = 19 February 2021 | term_start5 = 15 December 2016 | term_end4 = | term_end5 = 29 January 2021 | term_start6 = 13 November 2012 | term_end6 = 21 November 2016 | alongside5 = | predecessor4 = Derek Hugh Taylor | predecessor5 = Rufus Ewing | predecessor6 = New Office | deputy4 = | birth_date = {{birth date and age|1959|8|22}} | birth_place = | death_date = | death_place = | party = Progressive National Party (since 2018) | spouse = Joseph Connolly | alma_mater = | other_party = PNP (before 2012) PDM (2012-2018) | alongside4 = Washington Misick E. Jay Saunders Jamell Rayan Robinson Shaun David Malcolm | office1 = Minister of Tourism, Environment, Heritage, Maritime, Gaming and Disaster Management | term_start1 = 22 February 2021 | birth_name = Josephine Olivia Smith | governor1 = Dileeni Daniel-Selvaratnam Nigel Dakin | office2 = Deputy Speaker of the House of Assembly | term_start2 = 22 November 2012 | term_end2 = 20 December 2016 | premier2 = Rufus Ewing | premier1 = Washington Misick | office3 = Minister Of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services | term_start3 = 20 December 2016 | term_end3 = 20 June 2017 | successor3 = Karen Malcolm | predecessor2 = | predecessor3 = Akierra Missick | term_end1 = 7 February 2025 | successor1 = Zhavargo Jolly }}

'''Josephine Olivia Connolly''' MHA is a businesswoman<ref>[http://suntci.com/the-election-race-is-on-p194-108.htm "THE ELECTION RACE IS ON!"]. ''Turks and Caicos Sun''.</ref> and an elected member of the Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly.<ref>[http://tcweeklynews.com/nearly-catch-mosquito-viruses-this-year-p5682-127.htm "Nearly 450 catch mosquito viruses this year"]. ''TC Weekly News''. 1 December 2014</ref><ref name="OfficialPage">{{cite web |title=Hon. Josephine Conolly |url=https://gov.tc/hoa/hon-josephine-conolly |website=HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY, GOVERNMENT OF THE TURKS AND CAICOS ISLANDS |accessdate=20 February 2020}}</ref> In February 2025 she won her all island seat for the fourth time.

==Early life== Connolly was born in Turks & Caicos on the island of Salt Cay in 1959. She is the daughter of Alexander "Shorty" Smith, the elected representative of Salt Cay and one of the founders of the PNO which later became the PNP.{{citation needed|date=February 2020}}

==Career== In 1998, Connolly was a partner in the real estate consulting firm Connolly-Zahm Properties.<ref>[http://www.islandlifeandtimes.com/islanders/turks-caicos-real-estate-pioneer/ "A Turks and Caicos Real Estate Pioneer", ''Island Life and Times''. May 8, 2014] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150226020146/http://www.islandlifeandtimes.com/islanders/turks-caicos-real-estate-pioneer/ |date=26 February 2015 }}</ref>

In 2010, Connolly was awarded a master's degree from the University of Central Lancashire.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} In 2010, Connolly was the reigning "Mrs. Turks and Caicos",<ref>[http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/grand-bahama-bahamas/The_first_Mrs_Bahamas_World_crowned_in_Grand_Bahama11979.shtml "The first Mrs Bahamas World crowned in Grand Bahama"], ''The Bahamas Weekly News'', 17 August 2010</ref> representing her country in the Mrs. World Pageant.<ref>[http://www.thebahamasweekly.com/publish/international/Mrs_Turks_Caicos_arrives_in_Grand_Bahama_for_Mrs_Bahamas_coronation11968.shtml "Mrs Turks & Caicos arrives in Grand Bahama for the Mrs Bahamas coronation"]. ''The Bahamas Weekly News'' 12 August 2010</ref>

In July 2012, Connolly became an at-large candidate in the upcoming general election. On 9 November, she was voted in as one of the five ''at-large'' members of the parliament.<ref>[http://tcweeklynews.com/pdm-announces-appointment-of-shadow-ministers-p4096-1.htm "PDM announces appointment of shadow Ministers"] ''TC Weekly News''</ref> At the first sitting of the house on 28 November, Connolly was unanimously voted in as Deputy Speaker.<ref>[http://tcweeklynews.com/bahamas-prefers-payroll-tax-to-vat-pm-christie-p4964-1.htm "Bahamas prefers payroll tax to VAT – PM Christie"] ''TC Weekly News''</ref>

In 2013, the Attorney General began an investigation, alleging that Connolly had failed to declare contracts with the Turks and Caicos Islands Government on her declaration of candidacy.<ref>[http://suntci.com/six-house-of-assembly-seats-to-be-challenged-in-court-by-attorney-general-p762-108.htm "SIX HOUSE OF ASSEMBLY SEATS TO BE CHALLENGED IN COURT BY ATTORNEY GENERAL"]. ''Turks an Caaicos Sun'' by Hayden Boyce</ref><ref>[http://www.compasscayman.com/caycompass/2013/03/12/Turks-and-Caicos-elections-mess-continues/ "Turks and Caicos elections mess continues"]. ''Caymans Compass'' by: Brent Fuller 12 March 2013</ref>

The investigation against Connolly and her political colleagues was subsequently dropped.{{citation needed|date=December 2017}} In the December 2016 election, Connolly retained her seat as an all island member and became part of the new PDM government as Minister of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services.

In January 2019 Connolly crossed the floor of the House of the Assembly and joined the PNP.

In the February 2021 general election she was voted in as an all Island candidate with PNP, who won a resounding 14–1 victory. Connolly was subsequently appointed as Minister of Tourism, Agriculture, Fisheries, Heritage & the Environment in the new government.

== References == {{Reflist}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Connolly, Josephine}} Category:1959 births Category:Living people Category:Alumni of the University of Lancashire Category:People's Democratic Movement (Turks and Caicos Islands) politicians Category:Members of the Turks and Caicos Islands House of Assembly Category:Government ministers of the Turks and Caicos Islands Category:21st-century British women politicians