The Hon. Frederick A Mitchell, M.P.
Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service
Member of Parliament (PLP)
Fox Hill, New Providence
Attorney Fred Mitchell was born in Nassau on October 5, 1953 to the late Fredrick A. Mitchell, Sr. and Lilla Angelina Mitchell (nee Forde).
Political Highlights: Mr. Mitchell was sworn in as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and Immigration on May 10, 2012.
Mr. Mitchell was sworn in as the Minister of Foreign Affairs and the Public Service on 20th September, 2021.
His present Ministerial portfolio: Foreign Affairs, foreign missions, protocol matters, extradition, treaty succession, coordination of applications for International Technical Assistance, Law of the Sea, UN, OAS and CARICOM Affairs, passports, visas and immigration.
Minister Mitchell served as Minister of Foreign Affairs and Public Service (2002 – 2007); Chairman, Senate Select Committee on Culture (1992 – 1997); Former Chairman of Council for Foreign and Community Relations of CARICOM; Founding Member of The Bahamas Committee on Southern Africa. He has also recently Chaired the Commonwealth Experts for Presidential Elections Committee.
As Minister of Foreign Affairs, Mitchell was instrumental in the fight to integrate Haiti as a member state of CARICOM. He also negotiated a number of important international agreements on behalf of The Bahamas, including the Shengen Visa Agreement and the European Partnership Agreement.
He was also instrumental in establishing the Bahamian diplomatic mission in Cuba. During his tenure he also established the Bahamas Embassy in China.
As the Member of Parliament for Fox Hill, Mitchell established a permanent constituency office in the community that is now used as a community centre for Fox Hillians.
He has been instrumental in community building within Fox Hill proper and the wider constituency and has been a benefactor and friend to all of the schools in the area, most notably the Sandilands Primary School, L.W. Young Junior High School, and the Doris Johnson High School.
Education: He received his early education at Eastern Junior School and St. Augustine’s College, completing his tertiary education at Antioch College; Harvard University; and University of Buckingham with a Bachelor’s degree in English Literature; Master’s in Public Administration; and Bachelor of Laws. He has also attained Professional Certificates of Calls to both the English and Bahamas Bars.
Civics/Social: Mr. Mitchell has served in many social and professional organisations. He is a member of the Bahamas Bar Association; he is a founding member of the Bahamas Committee on Southern Africa and was an activist in The Bahamas Human Rights Association. Mr. Mitchell currently is the Co-Chairman on the Progressive Liberal Party’s Committee on Foreign Affairs & Foreign Trade.
Professional/Career: Mr. Mitchell before becoming a Minister was the Sole Practitioner at Gwendolyn House. He has worked at the Bahamas Tourist News Bureau; Bahamas Information Services; Broadcasting Corporation of The Bahamas; Office of the Prime Minister; The Herald; Al Dillette & Associates; Toothe, Unwala and Leonard.