Keith Ricardo Bell is a Bahamian

Progressive Liberal Party The Progressive Liberal Party (abbreviated PLP) is a populist and social liberal party in the Bahamas. Philip Davis is the leader of the party. History The PLP was founded in 1953 by William Cartwright, Cyril Stevenson, and Henry Milton ...

politician as the Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal since 2023. He is the Member of Parliament (MP) for Carmichael constituency since 2021. Bell also served as the MP for Bamboo Town constituency from 2012 to 2017.

Career

Education and Early Career

Bell holds an Associate of Arts Degree in Law and Criminal Justice from the

College of the Bahamas The University of The Bahamas (UB) is the national public institution of higher education in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas with campuses throughout the archipelago. The main campus is located in the capital city of Nassau, on the island of New ...

, and a Law degree from the

University of the West Indies The University of the West Indies (UWI), originally University College of the West Indies, is a public university system established to serve the higher education needs of the residents of 18 English-speaking countries and territories in t ...

. Before entering politics, Bell served as a police officer for over 22 years, earning the Baton of Honour as the top graduate from the Police College in 1986. He also lectured at the College of the Bahamas and served as a Member of the Catholic Board of Education and the Bahamas National Trust.

Parliament

1st Term (2012-2017)

Keith Bell was first elected as the Member of Parliament (MP) for the Carmichael constituency in 2012, defeated FNM incumbent Desmond Bannister. He was appointed as the Minister of State for National Security by Prime Minister Perry Christie, serving in the position from 2012 to 2017.

Minister of State for National Security

During his tenure as Minister of State for National Security, Bell was responsible for leading the implementation of several key initiatives, including the Bahamas National Crime Prevention Strategy and the Police Recruitment and Training Program. As Minister, Bell was accused of mismanagement of funds. He lost his bid for re-election in 2017 to Thomas Desmond Bannister.

2nd Term (2021-present)

Keith Bell was re-elected as the MP for Carmichael in 2021, defeating incumbent Thomas Desmond Bannister. During his tenure, he has served in Prime Minister Philip Davis' Cabinet as the Minister of Labour and Immigration and as the Minister of Housing and Urban Renewal.

References

{{DEFAULTSORT:Bell, Keith Bahamian politicians Bahamian Christians Progressive Liberal Party politicians Members of the House of Assembly of the Bahamas 21st-century Bahamian politicians Government ministers of the Bahamas Year of birth missing (living people) Living people