Anthony Smart

Anthony Smart
Former Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago
In office 1989–1991
Prime Minister	A. N. R. Robinson
Preceded by	Selwyn Richardson
Succeeded by	Keith Sobion
Member of Parliament for Diego Martin North/East
In office 1986–1991
Preceded by	Norma Lewis-Phillip
Succeeded by	Colm Imbert
Majority	9,110 votes (62.93%)
Personal details
Born	Anthony Isidore Smart Trinidad and Tobago
Political party	Organisation for National Reconstruction (ONR) National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR)
Alma mater	Fatima College University of Toronto

Anthony Isidore Smart is a Trinidadian politician and lawyer. He served as a Member of Parliament from December 1986 to November 1991 and Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago from March 1989 to November 1991. He was also Political Leader of the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) from April 2000 to November 2001. He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of Directors of the First Citizens Bank since June 17, 2014.^[1]

Personal life

He is son of Isidore Smart, a former Chief State Solicitor of Trinidad and Tobago from 1965 to 1976.^[2] He attended the secondary school of Fatima College in Port of Spain from January 1958 to June 1964. Smart graduated from the University of Toronto with a BA in Economics.^[3] He is brother of Wayne Smart, a cricketer who played for the Trinidad and Tobago national cricket team.^[4]

Political life

Smart was a founding member of the Organisation for National Reconstruction (ONR) in November 1980 and the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) in July 1985.

Smart contested the Diego Martin North/East in the 1986 General Elections held on December 15, 1986 with the NAR political party, led by A. N. R. Robinson. He defeated incumbent Norma Lewis-Phillip^[5] of the People's National Movement (PNM) with 9,110 votes (62.93%) to be elected to the House of Representatives in the 3rd Republican Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago.^[6] The NAR won 33 of the 36 seats to form the Government. Smart served at Deputy Speaker from January 12, 1987 to June 12, 1987, and Minister in the Office of the Attorney General and Office of the Prime Minister from June 13, 1987 to February 28, 1989. He was appointed Attorney General on March 1, 1989.^[7]

Smart was Attorney General during the 1990 attempted coup^[8] when the Jamaat al Muslimeen attempted to overthrow the Government of Trinidad and Tobago. Smart, who was at the Red House attending a cocktail party, disguised himself to escape being held hostage during the event.^[9] He was the only elected member of the government to escape capture on the first day during the initial hostage taking in the Parliament Chamber on July 27, 1990 - other members were released five to six days later.^[10]

In the 1991 general elections held on December 16, 1991, Smart lost his seat to Colm Imbert of the PNM who won the election with 7,111 votes (54.98%) compared to Smart's 5,280 votes (40.82%).^[11]

References

1. "FCB Board of Directors". First Citizen's Bank. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
2. "Isidore Smarts Dies at 96". Trinidad Guardian. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
3. "Resume of Anthony Isidore Smart" (PDF). First Citizen's Bank. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
4. "Francis Wayne Isidore Smart". National Sporting Archives of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
5. "Report on the 1981 General Elections" (PDF). Elections and Boundaries Commission. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
6. "Report on the 1986 General elections" (PDF). Elections and Boundaries Commission. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
7. "Members of Past Parliaments". Parliament of the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
8. "Rebels in Trinidad Set Premier Free". The New York Times. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
9. "AG disguised self as maid". Trinidad Newsday. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
10. "Smart: Three Women Saved My Life". Trinidad and Tobago Express. Retrieved October 13, 2015.
11. "Report on the 1991 General Elections Results" (PDF). Elections and Boundaries Commission. Retrieved October 13, 2015.