Leslie Beckett Samuel

                                          Bridging diplomacy and investment, education and culture, sports and entertainment with global tourism  

 BIOGRAPHY                   

Leslie Beckett Samuel read "English Common Law and European Union Law with International Politics" (LL.B.) at the University of Buckingham School of Law and School of Humanities (England, UK). In 2010, he became the first and only Bahamas and U.S. nationals to be elected “Student Representatives of the University of Buckingham Senate and Council Committees’’since its Royal Charter inception as Britain first private University.

As Student Senator and Council, the University of Buckingham highest and dual elected post, Mr. Samuel simultaneously represented with great distinction more than a thousand fellow students from the Schools of Law, Humanities, Business, Science and School of Medicine. In the Senate, he served as member of the supreme academic authority of the University which is responsible for the academic work of the University. Whereas, his role of Student Council entitled him to serve on the executive governing body of the University, which is responsible for the management and administration of the revenue and property of the University and has control over the conduct of the affairs of the University.

Leslie Beckett Samuel in his broad vision as a tireless thinker and innovator to empower social equality and cultural diversity, has pioneered various organizations of non-profit including B.A.H.A.M.A.S (Bahamian Haitian American Movement And Society) and Haitian Abroad in collaboration with professional sports and music celebrities as well as politicians.  

His intense humanitarian involvement combined with his multi-talented skills and professionalism as an unusual gifted individual, expand beyond thirty years and has earned him the recognition of working with people of all walks of life, from the very poor to the very rich, domestic and foreign within both the public and private sector.

The list of celebrity both current and former clients Mr. Samuel have either worked with or assisted are as follow; Mowtown Legends, Entertainers William "Smokey" Robinson www.smokeyrobinson.com , retired NBA Stars Bruce Bowen of the San Antonio Spurs, William "Billy" Thompson and Glenn Rice of the Miami Heat, and Mitch Richmond from the Los Angeles Lakers. Retired NFL Stars are Timothy "Tim" Bowen, Richmond Webb, Norman Hand and Mark Cesar all from the Miami Dolphins. Amongst retired and active MLS Stars as well as teams officials, are Michael "Mike" Lapper a senior staff of the Columbus Crew www.thecrew.com, Haiti's international soccer/football star Jean Philippe Peguero and international coach; the late Fernando Clavijo, technical director of the MLS FC Dallas www.fcdallas.com. Other celebrities are paint artist Anthony Liggins www.anthonyliggins.com, and filmmaker, screenwriter, movie and music producer JC "Fentz" Louis of state-of-the art Midtown Studios & Films www.midtownstudiosmiami.com    

On the international front, whether in the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, the Republic of Haiti or England of the United Kingdom and beyond, Mr. Samuel multi-facets and professional skills have distinguished his services in tourism and culture, sports and entertainment, economic development and international trade, corporate sales and marketing. Having served as a Tourism Agent with Starlite Cruises - Port of Miami in the early 1990's, Mr. Samuel assisted and advised thousands of tourists on overseas hospitality and transportation. He also served very effectively as an International Executive Sales Consultant in aviation parts & services, aircraft sales and leases with Miami-based S & R Aerospace, Inc, between the late 1990's and early 2000's, where Mr. Samuel had successfully secured many sales, leasing and financing contracts, and developed a reputable clientele based with one of the Caribbean top nation's national air carrier fleet..."Bahamasair".

In the Commonwealth of The Bahamas, particularly within the political spectrum, Mr. Samuel is very well known and highly respected by all three major political parties current and past leaders; from Prime Minister The Hon. Philip Edward "Brave" Davis, The Rt. Hon. Perry Gladstone Christie, The Most Hon. Dr. Hubert A. Minnis to former State Minister, MP and Senator The Hon. William Arthur Branville McCarthney amongst other senior members of the former British Colony three majors political parties (e.g. the Progressive Liberal Party www.myplp.org , the Free National Movement www.fnm2012.org and the Democratic National Alliance www.mydnaparty.org).   

Leslie Beckett Samuel began his first humanitarian service as a boarder in 1975 upon his arrival in the Republic of Haiti at aged twelve, whereby, he attended the prestigious Ecole Primaire de Beraca, a Swiss-French Christian Missionary primary school located in the North West Department upper-middle class suburban of La Pointe des Palmistes (6 kilometers East of Port-de-Paix). There, he taught English to his classmates, teachers and anyone who would listen to him where he became an everyday circus admired by all in town.  

Later at aged seventeen, after being successfully admitted to the christian missionary secondary school of College Beraca as an all-around top freshman both in academic and athletic diciplines (soccer/football and volleyball), and in leadership skills as a boy scout, led Mr. Samuel to be entrusted by the school Director/Principal as an English substitute tutor to fellow classmates and college peers. 

Upon ten years of a solid french academic learning achievement (France's national secondary equivalency) or baccalaureat completion in the Caribbean nation of Haiti (world first black nation independent in 1804), and his undertaking of higher learning in the United States of America, was just the beginning of another long chapter in Leslie Beckett Samuel crusade as a young "Ambassador of Change”  

Armed with the ability to master new concepts, ideas and practices, Leslie Beckett Samuel has combined his leadership skills and multi-cultural background, whereby enabling him to broaden and further execute his humanitarian services from one work environment to another, both nationally and internationally in various capacity in different cities, states and countries including The Bahamas and the United Kingdom.  

Within the past twenty five years, he worked and volunteered actively in Miami, North Miami, Hialeah, Broward and West Palm Beach (Florida), Chicago, Park Forest, Calumet City, South Holland and Lynwood (Illinois), Munster and Gary (Indiana), Lawrence (Massachusetts) Columbus (Ohio), Reading (Pennsylvania), Pasadena, Burbank and Los Angeles (California), The Bahamas and England, (United Kingdom). 

Leslie Beckett Samuel always serves with great pride and distinction, whether as an assistant event-coordinator or publicist for many entities, a political campaign aide or adviser to city, county, state, federal or judicial office seekers, as well as to incumbents from US city council to the presidency or from UK town council to Bahamas Member of Parliament and Prime Minister. As an independent voter (i.e. Non Party Affiliated) and political strategist in the United States, the Commonwealth of The Bahamas and the United Kingdom, Mr. Samuel has been actively engaged in all three countries  respective general election for the past ten to twenty years. In May of 2005, he supported the re-election of Diane Julie Abbott www.dianeabbott.org.uk (first black woman elected MP in the House of Commons) and the UK Labour Party www.labour.org.uk under former British Prime Minister & MP, Anthony Charles Lynton (Tony) Blair who won the general election. Thereafter in 2010, he campaigned for The Rt. Hon. John Simon Bercow www.johnbercow.org.uk (Buckingham MP, Speaker of the House of Commons) and supported the Conservative Party www.conservatives.com under current British Prime Minister & MP, David William Donald Cameron, who also won the general election in May of that year. Mr. Samuel constant civic participation and contribution help fostered the making of political history internationally,  particularly in the Florida's African and Haitian-American communities, from elected City Councilman and Mayor to State Representative and United States House of Representative.

As a young campaign aide to former US Congresswoman Carrie P. Meek in 1992, his assistance help propelled the former legislator into making history, by becoming the first African-American woman since reconstruction to be elected to the US House of Representative. Mr. Samuel also served as a young campaign aide along side of Mrs. Yolly Roberson, ESQ to her then Husband Philippe J. Brutus, ESQ when he unsuccessfully first ran for public office in 1994 as a candidate for Miami-Dade County Court Judge against former Miami Dolphins (All-Pro Offensive Guard turned Lawyer) Ed Newman, who presently serves as a Sr. County Judge at the Richard E. Gerstein Criminal Justice Building. 

To date, Mr. Samuel still remain as being a close and longtime supporter of both Mr. Philippe J. Brutus, ESQ and Mrs. Yolly Roberson, ESQ whom became instant political pioneers, upon making history respectively in 2000 and in 2002 when they first got elected to the Florida State House of Representatives as the first Haitian-American man and woman legislators. 

Other South Florida former and current political power deal makers and shakers whom Mr. Samuel also assisted as a young campaign aide are; former Florida Governor and US Senator Daniel Robert "Bob" Graham as he ran for his 2nd senate re-election term against former US Florida Congressman James William "Bill" Grant in 1992, and six years later in 1998 against then former Florida State Senator Charlie Crist. Another local veteran public figure whose worth mentioning and whom Mr. Samuel had vigorously campaigned for in 1995 during his toughest re-election battle ever, is his fellow Commonwealth of The Bahamas native Hon. Dennis C. Moss a Miami-Dade Board of County Commissioner from district 9 whose currently the longest-serving member on the Commission. Also, Commissioner Moss is a former Chaiman and Vice-Chairman of the Miami Dade Board who was first elected in the post Hurricane Andrew 1993 South-Dade rebuilding process. www.miamidade.gov/comiss/   

While reading Liberal Art Studies at Barry University (Miami Shores, FL) in the mid 1990's, Leslie Beckett Samuel quickly discovered amongst his peers the need for a few to be exposed by and through their exceptional athletic and artistic talents. Thereby, he proudly shared information, initiated contacts and even sponsored try-outs and auditions as an alternative career breakthrough for those interested.

To further advance Caribbean athletes causes in professional sports and entertainment, he uses his celebrity influences especially in football/soccer to represent many Haitians talents from Haiti's top clubs (i.e. Racing Club Haitien and Aigle Noir). In doing so, Leslie Beckett Samuel subsequently develop a relationship with the FHF (Fédération Haïtienne de Football) www.fhfhaiti.com and its longtime President Dr. Yves Jean-Bart, the FHAA (Fédération Haïtienne d'Athletisme Amateur) www.iaaf.org and its then President Alain Jean-Pierre, the COH (Comité Olympique Haïtien) www.olympic.org/Haiti its President Jean Edouard Baker, and formerly the SEJSEC (Secretaire d'Etat a la Jeunesse, aux Sports et a l'Education Civique) Dr. Bern Paul, to all of whom he liaisoned with the US MLS (Major Soccer League) in particular. 

The list of Haiti national football talents and passed clients include; former Racing Club Haitien prodigy, MLS Colorado Rapids and USL Puerto Rico Islanders (Star Striker) Fabrice Noel discovered at the 2005 Copa Latina tournament www.copalatina.com , former  Aigle Noir, MLS Colorado Rapids and Miami FC now Fort Lauderdale Strikers www.strikers.com (Star Defender) Stephane Guillaume, former Aigle Noir and Miami FC (Star Midfielder) Jamil Jean-Jacques, former Racing Club Haitien and Copa Latina's Haitian Young Stars FC (Star Midfielder/Forward) Pierre Richard Laurenard, lastly but not least, former Racing Club Haitien, Haiti International, FIFA World Cup 2006 and Miami FC (Star Goal-keeper) Gabart Fenelon, currently playing for Saint-Leonard FC Premier League of Quebec Canada www.fcstleonard.com including his former International teamate (Star Defender) Joshua Mayard formerly of the USL (United Soccer League) Toronto Lynx and MLS Montreal Impact. 

As a former educational counselor and district office manager with American Academy High School, Mr. Samuel donated hundreds of hours counselling high school dropped-out and adult students on higher education, career planning and social issues. In recognition of his service to education, he received the American Academy High School (1997 Award of Appreciation for Service to Education). Also, for his contribution in exemplifying leadership, professionalism and sense of duty to the community on "Career Day", earned him the Downtown Miami Charter School (2005 Award of Appreciation for Career Day). 

Leslie Beckett Samuel also volunteered as a member and case worker with Amnesty International (University of Buckingham, England - UK and  Miami, FL - USA Chapters), whereby, he worked collectively with over one million members in over 150 countries around the world toward forming a powerful force against brutality and repression, by bringing immeasurable hope to victims of human rights abuses everywhere.   

As a former senior legal assistant, interpreter / translator and office manager with the Law Offices of Alan Schneider, P.A., and the Law Offices of Manny Singh, P.A., before attending Law School in England (UK), Mr. Samuel had indeed made it his endeavour to volunteer on "Law Week / Pro Bono Project" (Miami, FL), whereby he acted as liaison to the "Joint Pro Bono Project" of the Eleven Judicial Circuit and Dade County Bar Association Lawyers, in evaluating and filing client cases with the appropriate legal agency.    

Moreover, as a former high-end retail sales merchandiser, buyer and celebrity fashion consultant, he knows first-hand about clothing and textile qualities. However, he also knows about how significant are the rights of the under-paid workers manufacturing such high tag brand-name garments. Thereby, he never hesitated to take side with the small guys as an advocate and translator, translating legal documents and newsletters for the South Florida District ACTWU (Amalgamated Clothing and Textile Workers Union).  

As a proud Haitian-Bahamian brand, if there is one thing Leslie Beckett Samuel enjoys doing the most, is being his brother's keeper. In the wake of former democratically elected Haiti's President Jean-Bertrand Aristide first coups d'état in September 1991, he went to extreme length by demonstrating his extensive humanitarian and social service skills with HAFI (Haitian American Foundation, Inc.,) whereby, they assisted one of the country largest ever exodus of refugees being transferred from Guantanamo Bay Camp, (Cuba) to Miami, (Florida).  

Short of a year later in August 1992, following the aftermath of "Hurricane Andrew" also known as the (20th century most powerful hurricane) that ever made landfall in South Florida and The Bahamas, led to his first major challenge as a humanitarian helping to bring relief at both sides of the Gulf Stream. In spite of being a casualty of the Category 5 monster storm and rather of seeking self-relief, he chose to go to the rescue of others. As he participated in raising funds in aid for the "Bahamas Hurricane (Andrew) Relief Fund" in conjunction with The Commonwealth of The Bahamas Consulate General (Office in Miami), he also devoted considerable time helping rebuild locally throughout the remaining year and beyond.  

December 19, 2005, following the Bimini inbound Chalk's Ocean Airways Flight 101 deadly crash in Miami Beach killing all 20 on board including 11 Bahamian citizens, Leslie Samuel, two days upon arriving from the University of Buckingham Law School in England for Christmas break, found himself performing the duties that are required of a Consul of Consular Services. Within 24 hours of the crash, Mr. Samuel volunteered his time by joining then the “Commonwealth of The Bahamas" Madam Consul General Alma Adams and The Right Hon. Perry G. Christie PLP Government Foreign Missions / Task Force Panel Member on crisis management”, coordinating, advising, assisting and supporting family and friends of the victims.

Sitting on the Task Force panel alongside of Mr. Samuel, were Minister of Foreign Affairs; Hon. Fred Mitchell, (M.P.), Minister of Tourism; Obie Wilshcomb, (M.P.), Bahamas Amassador to Washington, D.C. HE Joshua Sears, Madam Consul General Alma Adams, Bahamas Ministry of Social Services Director, National of Insurance Board Director and the General Counsel of the Bahamas Attorney General Office / Department of Legal Affairs.

*** On that panel, they successfully negotiated with Chalk's Ocean Airways and its insurer to provide short-term cash assistance to the family of the victims (especially to those who came to mourn in Miami). 

*** Also, arguably discussed and negotiated with Chalk' Ocean Airways, is that they will be responsible for the funeral expenses, for the embalming, airline transportation of relatives as well as the remains of their loved ones. 

*** Advised and supported all family and friends of the 11 victims in the case of that deadly overseas accident, whilst arranging for other next- of- kin on remote Islands within the Bahamas to be notified. 

*** Liaised with the Miami Beach local police department and public officials for memorial services, as well as international organisation such as the Red Cross for humanitarian assistance and support for the deceased relatives. 

In Mr. Samuel capacity as senior legal assistant to the Law Offices of Alan Schneider, P.A., and spoke person for the Dean Family representing Barto, Sabrina and Sabre'a Dean Estates, he was privileged to perform all of the following duties, most of them similar to those of a Consul of Consular Services: e.g. dealing with death of foreign national, providing support following bereavement, child custody and support matters, dealing with difficult customers, liaising with local authorities including Law Enforcement, Medical Examiner, Lawyers and Physicians). 

*** Attended the NTSB daily meeting and briefing on the cause of Chalk's Ocean Airways Flight 101 deadly crash 

*** Attended Chalk's Ocean Airways daily meeting on financial disclosure, and temporary assistance for victims family

*** Attended Miami Beach Police Department accident investigation unit briefings on their search and recovery of victims body as well as their scattered belongings 

*** Visited the Miami Beach Police Department to retrieve accidental death report in preparation of filing wrongful death lawsuit 

*** Visited the morgue to help properly identifying relative’s remains for embalming as well as applying for extra death certificates 

*** Travelled with victim’s remains and family to attend funeral in Bimini, Bahamas 

*** Travelled to Bimini every other week to advise and support the Dean family on matters relating to their wrongful death case, as well as gathering information for deposition 

*** Following all three of the Deans burial, Mr. Samuel travelled to Nassau on behalf of the Dean Estate and US Top Aviation Law Firm Pudhurst Orseck, to meet and hire Bahamas famed Law Firm of Christie, Davis & Co now (Davis & Co of Bahamas Prime Minister Hon. Philip E. Davis) as International Co- Counsel in Bahamian Family Law, to assist with legal custody of the deceased couple (Barto and Sabrina) under-aged surviving daughter, amongst other legal matters.

Whereby, Mr. Samuel was very privileged to assist and work alongside the Dean Estate Bahamas lead Attorney of Christie, Davis & Co., Ian R. Winder, now Bahamas Supreme Court Chief Justice. Congratulations to Hon. Mr. Chief Justice Winder! https://courts.bs/judicial-officers/#chief-justice 

*** Upon successful settlement of that multimillion dollars wrongful death cases in August of 2008, Mr. Samuel, in company of the Dean Estate US lead Attorney Ricardo Martinez-Cid and The Bahamas assistant lead Attorney Misty Wilson, travelled to Bimini to liaise and mediate with relatives on behalf of the Dean Estate. 

January 12, 2010, as the world rushed to rescue Haiti following the catastrophic magnitude 7.0 M earthquake that devastated southern Haiti at 4:53 p.m. local time (21:53 England UK Time), Leslie Beckett Samuel in his pride as a Haitian descendant and love for his parents' native country where he once attended boarding school at the aged of twelve, and having lost family members in the quake, he wanted to offer more than just his heartfelt sympathy and financial support.  

Hence, being 4489.7 Miles (7193.4 Kilometers) away from Haiti's capital, he wasted no time by contacting his prominent and celebrity acquaintances, friends and clients from the political, sports and entertainment arenas both domestic and foreign to join him in the reconstruction of Haiti. As a result, Haitian Abroad was established. Based in Miami, Florida (USA) home to the largest Haitian population living abroad equally known as the capital of Haiti's 11th Department or Haiti's Diaspora, Haitian Abroad, Inc., operates as a charitable foundation of Haitian Abroad Organization 

Leslie Beckett Samuel is of Haitian descendant, born in the former British Colony capital of Nassau, New Providence, Bahamas as a British subject, and also hold American citizenship. Mr. Beckett Samuel is by profession a sports and entertainment executive as well as a business and political strategist. He’s also a publicist and linguist, speaker of four languages (Creole, English, French, Spanish) and an accomplished interpreter / translator to domestic and foreign government officials, diplomats and investors, with prior education in The Bahamas, Haiti and United States before reading "International Law with Politics" in Buckingham, England, United Kingdom.

                                                                                 "We are all Ambassadors representing our country abroad, however, only a few of us can be accredited to serve”

                                                                                                                                                                                                                                             Leslie Beckett Samuel

Copyright 2023 Leslie Beckett Samuel. All rights reserved.