Ann Cartwright DeCouto

Ann Frith Cartwright DeCouto (c. 1941 – c. 1 July 2016) was a Bermudian politician, lawyer and a member of the former United Bermuda Party (UBP). She served as a member of the House of Assembly of Bermuda 1983 until 1998, which included a tenure as Deputy Premier from 1989 to 1992 under Premier John Swan, as well as the head of several government ministries under the UPI during the 1980s and 1990s.[1] Cartwright DeCouto was perhaps best known as the island's Minister of the Environment, also from 1989 to 1992. In 1990, she enforced a ban on fishing with fishpots in Bermudian waters, a move which was highly unpopular at the time.[1] However, Cartwright DeCouto's ban on the fishpots is now widely credited with reviving Bermuda's fish stocks.[1]

Beginning life as Ann Cartwright, she married Roderick DeCouto and became a lawyer, specialising in family law,[1] one of Bermuda's first female lawyers, along with Lois Simmons and Shirley Simmons.[2]

DeCouto was first elected to the House of Assembly at an election in 1983.[1] She resided in Grape Bay, in Paget Parish, and represented the Pembroke West Central constituency in the neigh boring Pembroke Parish.[1]

DeCouto first served as Minister of Health and Social Services from 1985 to 1989. Cartwright DeCouto oversaw Bermuda's first response to the emerging AIDS and HIV epidemic.[1] She also commissioned a new prison to replace the outdated Casemates Prison during her time as Social Services minister.[1] She was simultaneously appointed as Deputy Premier of Bermuda and as Minister of the Environment by the Premier John Swan, serving from 1989 to 1992. In 1990, she enforced a ban on fishpots in Bermuda, despite widespread opposition from the island's fishing and political sectors.[1] The ban was highly controversial, but Bermuda's fishing stocks were collapsing at the time.[1] At the time, there were 1,400 licensed fishpots in Bermuda, but many fisherman illegally set double or triple the number of fishpots that they were licensed to use.[3] The illegal fishing led to overfishing and a depletion of fish populations around the coral reefs.[3] The fishpot ban initially hurt the domestic fishing industry during the mid-1990s.[3] However, Cartwright DeCouto's ban on fishpots is now widely credited with successfully reviving Bermuda's fish populations.[1]

In 1994, Cartwright DeCouto resigned from John Swan's cabinet in protest against the promise of an independence referendum by the Swan government.[1] While Swan favoured independence for Bermuda, Cartwright DeCouto strongly opposed it. She explained her resignation to a Bermudian newspaper at the time, saying "In the Cabinet you’re either in the boat and go along with the consensus, or you get out of the boat."[1] The independence referendum was soundly defeated on 16 August 1995, with of 73.6% voting against independence. Swan resigned as Premier following the defeat.

Cartwright DeCouto also opposed a proposal to open a McDonald's franchise in Bermuda during the mid-1990s. She introduced the Prohibited Restaurants Act to Parliament in an attempt to stop the fast food restaurant.[1]

She did not seek re-election in the 1998 general election, when she retired from elected office.[1]

Ann Cartwright DeCouto died in 2016 at the age of 71, her death being announced on 1 July 2016. She was a widow, her husband, Roderick DeCouto, having predeceased her.[1][4] She was survived by her children.[1]