By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., May 16, 2022 – Calvin Smyre has been nominated by United States President Joseph Biden to become the net U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas, The Tribune, one of The Bahamas’ leading newspapers, reported on May 16, adding that President Biden made the announcement in a press statement on May 13.
According to Wikipedia, Mr. Smyre, 75, currently is a member of the Georgia House of Representatives for the 135th district. He was elected in 1974 and is the longest-serving member of the Georgia Legislature.
“On September 22, 2021, President Joe Biden announced that he would nominate Smyre to serve as the United States ambassador to the Dominican Republic,” Wikipedia notes. “On October 4, 2021, his nomination was sent to the Senate. His nomination is pending before the Senate Foreign Relations Committee.
However, Wikipedia further notes, “On May 13, 2022, President Joe Biden announced his intent to nominate Smyre to be the next United States ambassador to the Bahamas.”
Born in Columbus, Georgia, Smyre earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Fort Valley State University with a focus in business administration.
Smyre has served as a delegate for Georgia to every Democratic National Convention since 1980, and became the first African American member elected from Georgia to the Democratic National Committee in 1984.
Wikipedia also notes that Smyre “advised the presidential campaigns of Jimmy Carter, Bill Clinton, and Al Gore, and served as an elector for Georgia to the Electoral College in 1980, 1992, and 2020.”
“Smyre became the youngest member of the Georgia House of Representatives when he was elected to the chamber at the age of 26 in 1974,” Wikipedia says.
Wikipedia adds: “Governor Joe Frank Harris appointed Smyre assistant floor leader in the 1983 legislative session and, in 1986, appointed him floor leader for the 1987 session, making him the first African American leader of the House since Reconstruction. In 1998, he was elected the first African American Chairman of the Democratic Party’s state legislative caucus and, in 2001, Smyre was appointed Chairman of the state Democratic Party. In 2006, he was elected President of the National Black Caucus of State Legislators. Smyre is known for helping Democrats and Republicans negotiate, acting as a liaison. Smyre also worked as executive vice president of corporate external affairs at Synovus and president of the Synovus Foundation.”
If approved by the Senate, Smyre will become the first U.S. Ambassador to The Bahamas since Nicole Avant, who was appointed by President Barack Obama, and was ambassador from October 16, 2009 to November 21, 2011.
In the interim, a series of Chargè d’Affaires have headed the U.S. Diplomatic Mission in The Bahamas, the most recent being current Chargè d’Affaires Usha E. Pitts Since she began her responsibilities as the new U.S. Chargé d’Affaires at the U.S. Embassy in Nassau on New Year’s Day, 2021, Ms. Pitts has been widely acclaimed locally as doing an excellent job as her country’s top diplomat in The Bahamas.
