Who was Don Saunders? The former MP was killed in crime wave

The tragic killing of FNM Deputy Chair Don Saunders on Wednesday night sent shockwaves through the legal and political arena in the country, seen as an unprecedented killing in the crime fight.

He was 49.

Here’s what we know about Don Saunders

• As a twin, he was born on the 12th February, 1975 in Nassau to Mispah and Donald G. Saunders and is the foster child of Archdeacon Keith Cartwright. Cartwright read Saunders’ last rites before his body was taken away in the hearse.
• He served in various capacities in the Free National Movement Party (FNM) beginning in 2002  as Council Member, National Deputy Secretary and Executive Member.
• He became an MP in 2017 and served as deputy speaker in the House of Assembly until 2021.
• Don was head boy at L. N. Coakley Secondary School in Exuma in 1992. His earlier education was at St. Francis and Joseph Primary School.
• He studied History at the College of The Bahamas; he studied Sociology and Political Science at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill, Barbados, earning a Bachelor of Science Degree. He soon completed studies at the University of Leeds, leading to the award of a Bachelors of Law Degree (LL.B.); and completed a Post Graduate Diploma in Law and the Bar Vocational Course at the University of Northumbria, UK.
• He was called to the Bar of England and Wales and the Bahamas Bar in 2001.
• He served as Chairman of the Bahamas Bar Association’s Public Relations & Legal Aid Committee from 2002 to 2003.
• He completed his pupilage at Higgs and Johnson; he was engaged as an Associate at Halsbury Chambers (2003-2008) and subsequently at Graham Thompson (2008-2012).
• In late 2012, Don became a founding partner at Essex Law Chambers and served as the Property Manager of City West Property Management and Documents Express (Court Process Service and Messenger Services).
• He served as a Director and Legal Adviser of the Bahamas Humane Society (2009-2012) and was appointed to the Board of the Bridge Authority (2011-2012).
• Don was married to Tiffany Saunders and has two children.