Calvin Smyre was expected any day now in Santo Domingo. He now instead will be going to The Bahamas.
The White House announced it has appointed 75-year old Calvin Smyre its new ambassador to The Bahamas. This is the same Columbus, Georgia lawmaker who in September 2021 had been named ambassador to the Dominican Republic. The Columbus Ledger-Enquirer said, according to the White House the change was because Smyre was seen as “better fit” as ambassador to the Bahamas.
The announcement of Smyre’s appointment to Bahamas was made on Friday, 13 May 2022. White House deputy press secretary Chris Meagher told the Ledger-Enquirer on Monday, 16 May that there was an opportunity and Smyre was willing to make the switch. He said that Smyre has yet to come before the Senate for confirmation.
“After some conversations, it was decided he’d be a better fit for the Bahamas,” Meagher told the Ledger-Enquirer. Smyre served nearly half a century in the Georgia House of Representatives and was its longest-serving member. He chose not to run for re-election in 2022 after being nominated for the ambassadorship to the Dominican Republic.
Since 20 January 2021, Robert W. Thomas has served as the Charge d’Affaires of the United States Embassy in Santo Domingo, acting for the ambassador. He had served as Deputy Chief of Mission at the US Embassy in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic since 16 July 2020, after serving three years as United States Consul General to Montreal, Canada.
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Ledger-Enquirer
White House
18 May 2022