Roland Theodore Symonette
Encyclopedia
Sir Roland Theodore Symonette (16 December 1898 – 13 March 1980) achieved high office as a Bahamian political figure
.
Roland "Pop" Symonette was born on the small island settlement of Current, Eleuthera
. Symonette was one of many children of Methodist Minister Edwin Symonette and his wife Lavania (née Weech).
Although he had only six years of formal education, Symonette became one of the wealthiest men of his generation. An autodidact
and life-long advocate of education, Symonette was a school teacher early in his career, but, during Prohibition
, Symonette 'ran' rum
to the United States. With the profits from rum-running, Symonette invested in real estate, liquor stores and, eventually, a shipyard. The Symonette family's holdings have never been publicly confirmed, but public speculation has placed it between $700 million and $2.5 billion USD.
In 1925, Symonette campaigned successfully for a seat in the Bahamas' House of Assembly
. Symonette served in the House, representing the Shirlea district, without interruption until his retirement in 1977. Symonette's 52 years as a Member of Parliament is the longest record of service in the House of Assembly.
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, Sir Roland Symonette became the first Premier of the Bahama Islands. In 1959, Symonette was knight
ed by Queen Elizabeth II
.
Symonette was married three times. By his first wife Nellie, Symonette had one son, Basil Harcourt. By his second wife, the former Thelma Bell Clepper of Andalusia, Alabama
, Symonette had a one son, Robert "Bobby"
and one daughter, Zelda. In the late 1940s, Symonette married Canadian Margaret Frances. This third marriage produced one daughter, Margaret, who died in infancy, and two sons, Roland Craig and Brent
. Symonette's son Bobby served formerly as Speaker of the House of Assembly. His youngest son Brent Symonette is the current Deputy Prime Minister
of The Bahamas
, Free National Movement
and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Ingraham led government.
Sir Roland Symonette died on 13 March 1980 at his home in Nassau
; his widow, Lady Margaret Symonette died twenty-four years later in 2004.
Symonette's portrait appears on the Bahamian $50 dollar note.
The community park in the settlement of Current, Eleuthera, Bahamas just feet away from where Sir. Roland was born was named and commemorated in his Honor on what would have been his 111th birthday on 16 December 2009. On hand for the dedication ceremony were Sir Roland's two sons, the Hon. Brent Symonette, Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas, and his brother Mr. Craig Symonette, a well accomplished businessman, along with their families.
Politics of the Bahamas
The politics of the Bahamas takes place within a framework of parliamentary democracy, with a Prime Minister as the head of government. The Bahamas is an independent country and - as a former British colony - a member of the Commonwealth of Nations. Political and legal traditions closely follow...
.
Roland "Pop" Symonette was born on the small island settlement of Current, Eleuthera
Eleuthera
Eleuthera is an island in The Bahamas, lying 50 miles east of Nassau. It is very long and thin—110 miles long and in places little more than a mile wide. According to the 2000 Census, the population of Eleuthera is approximately 8,000...
. Symonette was one of many children of Methodist Minister Edwin Symonette and his wife Lavania (née Weech).
Although he had only six years of formal education, Symonette became one of the wealthiest men of his generation. An autodidact
Autodidacticism
Autodidacticism is self-education or self-directed learning. In a sense, autodidacticism is "learning on your own" or "by yourself", and an autodidact is a person who teaches him or herself something. The term has its roots in the Ancient Greek words αὐτός and διδακτικός...
and life-long advocate of education, Symonette was a school teacher early in his career, but, during Prohibition
Prohibition
Prohibition of alcohol, often referred to simply as prohibition, is the practice of prohibiting the manufacture, transportation, import, export, sale, and consumption of alcohol and alcoholic beverages. The term can also apply to the periods in the histories of the countries during which the...
, Symonette 'ran' rum
Rum
Rum is a distilled alcoholic beverage made from sugarcane by-products such as molasses, or directly from sugarcane juice, by a process of fermentation and distillation. The distillate, a clear liquid, is then usually aged in oak barrels...
to the United States. With the profits from rum-running, Symonette invested in real estate, liquor stores and, eventually, a shipyard. The Symonette family's holdings have never been publicly confirmed, but public speculation has placed it between $700 million and $2.5 billion USD.
In 1925, Symonette campaigned successfully for a seat in the Bahamas' House of Assembly
Parliament of the Bahamas
The Parliament of The Bahamas is the bicameral national parliament of Commonwealth of The Bahamas. The parliament is formally made up by the Queen , an appointed Senate, and an elected House of Assembly...
. Symonette served in the House, representing the Shirlea district, without interruption until his retirement in 1977. Symonette's 52 years as a Member of Parliament is the longest record of service in the House of Assembly.
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, Sir Roland Symonette became the first Premier of the Bahama Islands. In 1959, Symonette was knight
Knight
A knight was a member of a class of lower nobility in the High Middle Ages.By the Late Middle Ages, the rank had become associated with the ideals of chivalry, a code of conduct for the perfect courtly Christian warrior....
ed by Queen Elizabeth II
Elizabeth II of the United Kingdom
Elizabeth II is the constitutional monarch of 16 sovereign states known as the Commonwealth realms: the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Jamaica, Barbados, the Bahamas, Grenada, Papua New Guinea, the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Saint Lucia, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Belize,...
.
Symonette was married three times. By his first wife Nellie, Symonette had one son, Basil Harcourt. By his second wife, the former Thelma Bell Clepper of Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia, Alabama
Andalusia is a city in and the county seat of Covington County, Alabama, United States. At the 2000 census the population was 8,794.According to the 2007 U.S. Census estimates, the city had a population of 8,705...
, Symonette had a one son, Robert "Bobby"
Robert Symonette
Robert "Bobby" Hallam Symonette was a Bahamian yachtsman, businessman and politician.Bobby Symonette was an accomplished international yachtsman. He represented the Bahamas at five Olympic Games, at Melbourne in 1956, Rome in 1960, Tokyo in 1964, Mexico in 1968 and Munich in 1972...
and one daughter, Zelda. In the late 1940s, Symonette married Canadian Margaret Frances. This third marriage produced one daughter, Margaret, who died in infancy, and two sons, Roland Craig and Brent
Brent Symonette
Brent Symonette is a prominent Bahamian businessman, a Member of Parliament for the St. Annes constituency, and the current Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister of the Bahamas. He is a member of the Free National Movement ....
. Symonette's son Bobby served formerly as Speaker of the House of Assembly. His youngest son Brent Symonette is the current Deputy Prime Minister
Deputy Prime Minister
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some counties, a government minister who can take the position of acting prime minister when the prime minister is temporarily absent. The position is often likened to that of a vice president, but is significantly different, though both...
of The Bahamas
The Bahamas
The Bahamas , officially the Commonwealth of the Bahamas, is a nation consisting of 29 islands, 661 cays, and 2,387 islets . It is located in the Atlantic Ocean north of Cuba and Hispaniola , northwest of the Turks and Caicos Islands, and southeast of the United States...
, Free National Movement
Free National Movement
The Free National Movement is a socially liberal and economically conservative political party in The Bahamas. It is currently the ruling party, winning 23 of the 41 seats in the Bahamas House of Assembly on May 2, 2007; two of these seats are currently being contested in Electorial Court by the...
and Minister of Foreign Affairs in the Ingraham led government.
Sir Roland Symonette died on 13 March 1980 at his home in Nassau
Nassau, Bahamas
Nassau is the capital, largest city, and commercial centre of the Commonwealth of the Bahamas. The city has a population of 248,948 , 70 percent of the entire population of The Bahamas...
; his widow, Lady Margaret Symonette died twenty-four years later in 2004.
Symonette's portrait appears on the Bahamian $50 dollar note.
The community park in the settlement of Current, Eleuthera, Bahamas just feet away from where Sir. Roland was born was named and commemorated in his Honor on what would have been his 111th birthday on 16 December 2009. On hand for the dedication ceremony were Sir Roland's two sons, the Hon. Brent Symonette, Deputy Prime Minister of the Bahamas, and his brother Mr. Craig Symonette, a well accomplished businessman, along with their families.
See also
- A Little Bit of Independent, Time Magazine, 24 January 1964
- Consultant's Paradise Lost Time Magazine, 8 Sept 1967
- Bad News for the Bay Street Boys, Time Magazine, 20 January 1967