![]() ![]() It would be interesting to know from which law book Mr Mitchell was quoting. ![]() According to Mr Mitchell, this first Bahamian award does “not fit into the legal definition in the (law) for a national hero”. He was knighted by Queen Elizabeth in 1959.Īpparently, unlike PLP chairman Fred Mitchell, the Queen found Sir Roland a “fit and proper” person to qualify for her knighthood. During that time – 1964 – he became the first Premier of a self-governing Bahamas. His parliamentary record is yet to be broken. He was the longest-serving member of the House of Assembly, successfully contesting the Harbour Island seat in 1925 at the age of 27, and serving in all branches of parliament as a member for Shirlea until his retirement in 1977 – a total of 52 years. Of course, the “rags to riches” life of Sir Roland reads almost like a fairy-tale, but, unlike so many fairy tales which concentrates on the hero, many Bahamians - and even the country - was touched by his generosity. INSTEAD of being ashamed of their ignorance and keeping their mouths firmly shut, the squabbling over the posthumous award of The Bahamas’ first National Heroes is continuing with Englerston MP Gladys Hanna-Martin claiming that to recognise the late Sir Roland Symonette, the longest serving member of parliament, with such a reward was “perverse”. ![]()
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