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The Right Excellent
Sir Roland Symonette
The Right Excellent Sir Roland Symonette
	The Sign at the entrance of the Sir. Roland Symonette Park in Current, North Eleuthera, Bahamas
1st Premier of the Bahamas
	In office; 7 January 1964 – 16 January 1967
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor	Sir Ralph Grey
Preceded by	Position Established
Succeeded by	Lynden Pindling
Personal details
Born	16 December 1898; Current, North Eleuthera, Crown Colony of The Bahamas
Died	13 March 1980 (aged 81); Nassau, The Bahamas
Political party	United Bahamian Party (until 1971); Free National Movement (since 1971)
Spouses	Nellie Symonette; Thelma Bell Clepper; Margaret Frances;
Relations	Edwin Symonette (father); Lavania Weech (mother);
Children	Basil Harcourt Symonette; Robert Symonette; Zelda Symonette; Margaret Symonette; Roland Craig Symonette; Brent Symonette;

Sir Roland Theodore Symonette, NH (16 December 1898^[1] – 13 March 1980) was a Bahamian politician and the first Premier of the Bahamas after self-government was achieved in 1964. He was leader of the United Bahamian Party (UBP), which was the ruling party between 1958 and 1967.^[2]

Early life and education

Roland "Pop" Symonette was one of nine children of Methodist minister Edwin Lofthouse Symonette and his wife Lavania Alethia (née Weech)^[1] on the small island settlement of Current, Eleuthera.^[3]

Although he had only six years of formal education, he became one of the wealthiest men of his generation.

Career

He was a school teacher early in his career. Later he tried to make his way as a fisherman and a tomato farmer in Riviera Beach, Florida, and then during Prohibition, Symonette transported whiskey to the United States.

During prohibition, liquor was legal in the Bahamas but not in the United States. Bahamian citizens could legally buy and transport alcohol as long as they stayed outside US territorial waters. Symonette was among the most successful of Bahamian bootleggers.^[3] With the profits from bootlegging, Symonette invested in real estate, hotels, and a shipyard which built boats for the British Navy during WWII.

Politics

In 1925, Symonette campaigned successfully for a seat in the Bahamas' House of Assembly.^[4] He served in the House, representing the Shirlea district until his retirement in 1977. His 53 years as a Member of Parliament is the longest record of service in the House of Assembly.^[4]

Symonette served as the head of government of the Bahama Islands from 1955 to 1964 and, in 1964, when the country achieved internal self-government, he became the first Premier of the Bahama Islands. In 1959, he was knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.^[5] After the 1967 elections, Symonette was appointed leader of the opposition in the House of Assembly of Bahamas.^[6]

Personal life

Symonette was married three times. He and his first wife Gertrude Nellie had one son, Basil. He and his second wife, the former Thelma Bell Clepper of Andalusia, Alabama, had a son, Robert "Bobby" and a daughter, Zelda. In the late 1940s, Symonette married Canadian Margaret Frances. They had one daughter, Margaret, who died of encephalitis when she was a toddler, and two sons, Roland and Brent.

Symonette's son Basil founded the Bitter End Resort in the BVI's. His second son Bobby served as Speaker of the House of Assembly and his youngest son Brent Symonette later became the Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and Minister of Financial Services, Trade & Industry and Immigration.

Death and legacy

Symonette died on 13 March 1980 at his home in Nassau. He was survived by wife, Lady Margaret Symonette three sons, and one daughter.^[4]

A community park in the settlement of Current, Eleuthera, Bahamas was named for him, a stone's throw from his birthplace, on what would have been his 111th birthday on 16 December 2009.

Symonette's portrait appears on the Bahamian $50 note. In 2018, he was posthumously awarded the Bahamian Order of National Hero (NH).^[7]

References

^ ^a ^b "Entry for the birth of Roland T Symonett". FamilySearch. "Bahamas Civil Registration, 1850-1959". 16 December 1898. Retrieved 18 June 2024.
^ Nohlen, D. (2005), Elections in the Americas: A data handbook, Volume I, p. 73. ISBN 978-0-19-928357-6
^ ^a ^b Saunders, Gail (2016). Race and Class in the Colonial Bahamas 1880-1960. University Press of Florida. p. 119. Capt. Roland T. Symonette, a poor, light-skinned mixed race man from Current, Eleuthera. His adventures during Prohibition laid the basis for one of the largest Bahamian fortunes, earning him entry into the Bay Street oligarchy and its eventual leadership.
^ ^a ^b ^c "Sir Roland Symonette Dies, Was Bahamas' First Premier". The Miami Herald. pp. 2-A. Retrieved 18 June 2024. Symonette... died Thursday at his home in Nassau.... Symonette served in the Bahamas Parliament for 53 years, longer than any other delegate.... Symonette, a native of Eleuthera island, was elected to the House of Assembly at age 28.... In 1954, he became premier... his retirement in 1978... Symonette is survived by his wife, the former Margaret Frances Phurlow; and two sons by that marriage, Roland and Theodore; as well as three children from his first marriage [sic], sons Basil and Robert and a daughter, Velda.
^ "Knighthoods, Queen's New Years Honours 1959". The London Gazette (Supplement: 41589): 2. 30 December 1958.
^ Lentz, Harris M. (4 February 2014). "Heads of States and Governments Since 1945". Routledge.
^ "National Honours Awards 2018". 10 July 2018.