Kennedy Simmonds

Sir Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds, KCMG (born 12 April 1936), is a Saint Kittitian and Nevisian politician who served as the first prime minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis from 1983 to 1995.

The Right Excellent
Sir Kennedy Simmonds
KCMG
Simmonds in 2020
1st Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis
In office
19 September 1983 – 7 July 1995
MonarchElizabeth II
Governor-GeneralClement Arrindell
DeputyMichael Oliver Powell
Sydney Earl Morris
Hugh Heyliger
Preceded byOffice Established
(Himself as Premier)
Succeeded byDenzil Douglas
4th Premier of Saint Kitts and Nevis
In office
21 February 1980 – 19 September 1983
MonarchElizabeth II
GovernorProbyn Inniss
Clement Arrindell
DeputyMichael Oliver Powell
Preceded byLee Moore
Succeeded byOffice Abolished
(Himself as Prime Minister)
Minister of Finance of Saint Kitts and Nevis
In office
1984 – July 1995
Preceded byRichard Llewellyn Caines
Succeeded byDenzil Douglas
Personal details
Born
Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds

(1936-04-12) 12 April 1936
Basseterre, Saint Kitts and Nevis
Political partyPeople's Action Movement
EducationUniversity of the West Indies

Life and career

Simmonds was born in Basseterre on 12 April 1936. He graduated as a physician from the University of the West Indies in 1962.[1] He married Mary Matthew, and they had five children.[2]

Simmonds was a founding member of the People's Action Movement (PAM) party. He was the Premier of Saint Kitts and Nevis from 21 February 1980,[3] until the twin-island state gained independence from the United Kingdom on 19 September 1983. Upon independence, he became the 1st Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis and as such has been hailed as "The Father of the Nation."[1]

Simmonds and his party ruled with the support of Nevis Reformation Party.[4] He had three deputy prime ministers: Michael Oliver Powell 1980-1992, Sydney Earl Morris[5] 1992-1994 and Hugh Heyliger 1994-1995.

Honours

In 2004, Simmonds was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.[6] In 2015, Simmonds became the fifth person to be named as a National Hero by the National Assembly. He is the first living person to receive this honour.[7] In 2021, Simmonds received an honorary DSc from the University of the West Indies.[8]

Simmonds published an autobiography in 2019 entitled The Making of a National Hero.[9]

References
  1. "St Kitts-Nevis' National Hero Award For UWI Alumnus Sir Kennedy SImmonds". sta.uwi.edu. 2016-08-04. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  2. "Dr. Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds grandfather of keiyon simmonds". www.sknvibes.com. Retrieved 2021-11-27.
  3. Cameron, Sarah (2004). Caribbean Islands (15th ed.). Bath, England: Footprint. p. 548. ISBN 978-1-903471-71-5. Retrieved 24 January 2011.
  4. Ameringer, Charles D. (1992). Political Parties of the Americas, 1980s to 1990s: Canada, Latin America, and the West Indies. Greenwood Publishing Group. ISBN 9780313274183.
  5. "Former Deputy Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis Sydney Morris Has Died".
  6. "Honours and Awards". www.thegazette.co.uk. 2004-10-22. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  7. "Sir Kennedy Simmonds Named 5th National Hero". ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation. 2015-09-19. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  8. "Sir Kennedy Expressed Gratitude For Honorary Degree From UWI Open Campus". ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation. 2021-01-15. Retrieved 2021-01-19.
  9. "Sir Kennedy Simmonds Releases His Autobiography". 2019-11-21. Retrieved 2021-11-27.


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