Josephine Connolly

Josephine Olivia Connolly is a businesswoman and an elected member of the Turks and Caicos islands House of Assembly. In December 2016 she won her all island seat for the second time and was appointed Minister Of Education, Youth, Sports and Library Services.

The investigation against Connolly and her political colleagues was subsequently dropped. 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 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.

In July 2012, Connolly became an at-large candidate in the upcoming general election. On November 9, she was voted in as one of the five at-large members of the parliament. At the first sitting of the house on November 28, Connolly was unanimously voted in as Deputy Speaker.

In 2010, Connolly was awarded a master's degree from the University of Central Lancashire. In 2010, Connolly was the reigning "Mrs. Turks and Caicos", representing her country in the Mrs. World Pageant.

In 1998, Connolly was a partner in the real estate consulting firm Connolly-Zahm Properties.

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.