Sir Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds,
KCMG KCMG may refer to
* KC Motorgroup, based in Hong Kong, China
* Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George, British honour
* KCMG-LP, radio station in New Mexico, USA
* KCMG, callsign 1997-2001 of Los Angeles radio station KKLQ (FM) ...
(born 12 April 1936), is a Saint Kittitian and Nevisian politician who served as the first
prime minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis
The prime minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis is the head of government of the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis. The current Prime Minister is Terrance Drew since 6th August 2022.
Chief Ministers (1960–1967) Elizabeth II (1960–1967) ...
from 1983 to 1995.
Life and career
Simmonds was born in
Basseterre
Basseterre (; Saint Kitts Creole: ''Basterre'') is the capital and largest city of Saint Kitts and Nevis with an estimated population of 14,000 in 2018. Geographically, the Basseterre port is located at , on the south western coast of Saint Kit ...
on 12 April 1936. He graduated as a
physician
A physician (American English), medical practitioner (Commonwealth English), medical doctor, or simply doctor, is a health professional who practices medicine, which is concerned with promoting, maintaining or restoring health through th ...
from the
University of the West Indies in 1962.
He married Mary Matthew, and they had five children.
Simmonds was a founding member of the
People's Action Movement
The People's Action Movement (PAM) is a political party in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The party currently holds four (largest share) of the 11 seats in the National Assembly. PAM operates only in Saint Kitts and for the 2022 general election is in a ...
(PAM) party. He was the Premier of Saint Kitts and Nevis from 21 February 1980, until the twin-island state gained independence from the
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, commonly known as the United Kingdom (UK) or Britain, is a country in Europe, off the north-western coast of the European mainland, continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotlan ...
on 19 September 1983. Upon independence, he became the 1st
Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis
The prime minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis is the head of government of the Federation of Saint Christopher and Nevis. The current Prime Minister is Terrance Drew since 6th August 2022.
Chief Ministers (1960–1967) Elizabeth II (1960–1967) ...
and as such has been hailed as "The Father of the Nation."
Simmonds and his party ruled with the support of
Nevis Reformation Party
The Nevis Reformation Party is a Nevis-based political party in Saint Kitts and Nevis. The party currently holds none of the eleven seats in the National Assembly of Saint Kitts and Nevis, National Assembly. It is the official opposition party on ...
. He had three
deputy prime ministers
A deputy prime minister or vice prime minister is, in some countries, 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 ...
:
Michael Oliver Powell 1980-1992,
Sydney Earl Morris 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. In 2015, Simmonds became the fifth person to be named as a
National Hero
The title of Hero is presented by various governments in recognition of acts of self-sacrifice to the state, and great achievements in combat or labor. It is originally a Soviet-type honor, and is continued by several nations including Belarus, Ru ...
by the National Assembly. He is the first living person to receive this honour. In 2021, Simmonds received an honorary
DSc DSC may refer to:
Academia
* Doctor of Science (D.Sc.)
* District Selection Committee, an entrance exam in India
* Doctor of Surgical Chiropody, superseded in the 1960s by Doctor of Podiatric Medicine
Educational institutions
* Dalton State Col ...
from the University of the West Indies.
Simmonds published an
autobiography in 2019 entitled ''The Making of a National Hero.''
References
External links
An interview with Dr Kennedy Simmonds, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis (1993)
1936 births
Living people
Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George
Prime Ministers of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Recipients of the Order of the National Hero (Saint Kitts and Nevis)
People's Action Movement politicians
People from Saint Kitts
Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom
National Heroes of Saint Kitts and Nevis
Foreign Ministers of Saint Kitts and Nevis
University of the West Indies alumni
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