Quick Facts
Biography
Sir Arthur Alexander Foulkes GCMG (born 11 May 1928) was the Governor-General of the Bahamas from 2011 to 2014.
Foulkes was elected to the House of Assembly in 1967 and served in the government of Lynden Pindling as Minister of Communications and Minister of Tourism. In 1971, he was a founder of the Free National Movement, and he was appointed to the Senate in 1972 and 1977 before returning to the House of Assembly in 1982. He was appointed a Knight Commander of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (KCMG) in 2001. He was promoted to Knight Grand Cross of the Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George (GCMG) in 2010.
Early life
Arthur Foulkes, a native of the Bahamas, was born on the island of Inagua in Matthew Town on 11 May 1926. His parents were Dr William and Mrs. Julie Foulkes (née Maisonneuve).
Career
He started his working life as a newspaper linotype operator, first at the daily newspaper Nassau Guardian, then at the competing Tribune newspaper. He became a reporter for Tribune's editor Sir Étienne Dupuch, rising to become News Editor of Tribune.
From 1962 to 1967, Sir Arthur was founding editor of Bahamian Times, the official paper of the Progressive Liberal Party, backing the campaign for majority rule, and later a columnist for Nassau Guardian and Tribune.
In 1967, he was elected to Parliament and the following year appointed to serve in the Cabinet as Minister of Communications, then as Minister of Tourism. He was one of the founders of the Free National Movement in 1971. He was appointed to the Senate in 1972 and 1977, and re-elected to the House of Assembly in 1982.
In 1972, Foulkes was one of the four Opposition delegates to the Bahamas Independence Constitution Conference in London in 1972.
In 1992, Foulkes became the Bahamas' High Commissioner to the United Kingdom, serving also as ambassador to France, Germany, Italy, Belgium and the European Union, before becoming the first Bahamian ambassador to China and Cuba in 1999.
Foulkes was sworn in as Governor-General of the Bahamas on 14 May 2011, and retired on 7 July 2014.
Family and personal life
Sir Arthur is married to the former Joan Eleanor Bullard of Nassau.His second son Dion Foulkes served in the house from 1992 to 2002. Sir Arthur's fourth son Michael Augustine Foulkes was elected as the Member Parliament for Golden Gates in 2017. Lisa Foulkes Bethel, Sir Arthur's third daughter is married to Carl Bethel, former Member of Parliament for Seabreeze from 1992 to 2002, and 2007 to 2012.
