Roland Theodore Symonette

Sir Roland Symonette
1st Premier of the Bahamas
In office 7 January 1964 – 16 January 1967
Personal details
Born	16 December 1898(1898-12-16) Current, Eleuthera
Died	13 March 1980(1980-03-13) (aged 81)
Spouse(s)	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 (16 December 1898 – 13 March 1980) achieved high office as a Bahamian political figure. Roland "Pop" Symonette was one of many children of Methodist minister Edwin Symonette and his wife Lavania (nee Weech) on the small island settlement of Current, Eleuthera.

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 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 knighted 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. producing one daughter, Margaret, who died in infancy, and two sons, Roland Craig and Brent. Symonette's son Bobby served as Speaker of the House of Assembly. His youngest son Brent Symonette is the 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. A community park in the settlement of Current, Eleuthera, Bahamas just feet from his birthplace, was named and commemorated in his Honor on what would have been his 111th birthday on 16 December 2009. On hand were sons Brent and Craig Symonette and 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