| Notes |
SECOND GENERATION
Carol Ann Bassett Hamilton, Bermuda
Mrs. Bassett was appointed president of the [Bermuda] Senate in 2008 after five years as an independent senator. She is an avid runner who has completed two marathons, a successful businesswoman and a community activist. Bermuda’s first female Senate president previously worked for BF&M for more than 27 years. She began work as a secretary and used courses at the Technical College to advance her prospects. She retired from BF&M in 2004 as vice president of Life Insurance. Mrs. Bassett is married to Roderick. Both are retired, they have three sons and a granddaughter. Senator Bassett is a member of the Mount Zion AME Church. President, the Bermuda Senate Carol Ann (Marie) Bassett P.O. Box HM 1007 Hamilton HM DX 298-0300 cambassett@gov.bm
Avid runner, businesswoman, community activist, grandmother and now, Bermuda's first female Senate president.
Carol Anne Bassett has achieved much in her life. Yet the five-term Senator who broke down barriers last Friday when she accepted the role of President of the Upper House, expressed her shock over her latest accomplishment insisting she had never seen it coming.
Speaking with The Royal Gazette immediately after her first session, the independent Senator said: "I have got to process it. It's really an honour. It's really humbling. I would not have thought it would be me.
"Years ago, when I was asked to join the Senate, if people told me that this was in my future I would have called them crazy. At the end of the day it's not about me. It's about what is best for the community. I am willing to step in and do what I can for the community."
Sen. Bassett and her husband Roderick, have been married for 27 years. Both retired, they have three sons and a granddaughter.
She said she wasn't officially told she was in contention for the seat left vacant in September by former independent Senator Alf Oughton until immediately before Friday's Throne Speech. However her husband had heard rumours she might be asked, and encouraged her to take on the role.
"He heard it might be me and he said, 'Take it and I will support you'.
"I have always had his support throughout my career. That's a great thing. It's really important to me that my home environment is a peaceful environment."
The pair first crossed paths when she began working at BF&M Insurance as a secretary.
Mr. Bassett offered the future Senator a ride one day while she was walking in the rain, headed for a bus. Today they are happily married and while she takes up the mantle at the Senate he uses his accountancy skills as a consultant for small businesses.
In the period between, Sen. Bassett has also seen professional success. From that initial start as a secretary, she used courses at the Technical College to advance her prospects. She retired from BF&M in 2004 as vice president of Life Insurance.
In 2003, former Governor Sir John Vereker approached her with what she considered to be a surprising request.
"I was asked by Governor Vereker to come up to Government House. I knew they were looking for an independent, but I thought they must have got the wrong person," she said admitting the task proposed was unlike any of the community work she had been involved with in the past.
"I thought I was going to say, 'This is not my forte'. Then I thought, 'You know what? It's my opportunity to serve'.
She hopes that all of her years in the insurance industry, where she was able to hone her problem-solving skills, will serve her well in her new role.
A member of the Mount Zion AME Church, Sen. Bassett says that religion always guides her path, while running – she has completed two marathons – helps alleviate stress.
She said she learned much from watching Sen. Oughton, the longest-serving Senate president with ten years under his belt, navigate the Upper House. She hopes the role will enable her to place greater community focus on education and seniors – two areas she feels desperately in need of address.
"When you don't get emotionally involved, if someone is upset you can divorce yourself from that and you can deal with different people in your life," she said. "It means it will not determine how I react – I am sure that (the Senate) is going to test it in there. I used to watch Sen. Oughton and I really appreciate his strength.
"I saw the compassion that he had and the objectivity he had. I didn't lean one way or the other. You need to be respectful to each other.
"I think the world changes so quickly. Before the market thing in the US – who would have predicted that? Anything can happen. So we really need to come together as a community.
“We need to look after our young people and make sure they are educated, prepared and not caught up in the latest fad.
"And we really need to take care of our elderly. Really, be prepared for anything."
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Bassett Family Association Database
