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
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 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
The University of the West Indies (UWI), originally University College of the West Indies, is a public university system established to serve the higher education needs of the residents of 17 English-speaking countries and territories in th ...
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 continental mainland. It comprises England, Scotland, Wales and North ...
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:
Michael Oliver Powell 1980-1992,
Sydney Earl Morris
Sydney ( ) is the capital city of the state of New South Wales, and the most populous city in both Australia and Oceania. Located on Australia's east coast, the metropolis surrounds Sydney Harbour and extends about towards the Blue Mountains ...
1992-1994 and
Hugh Heyliger
Hugh may refer to:
*Hugh (given name)
Noblemen and clergy French
* Hugh the Great (died 956), Duke of the Franks
* Hugh Magnus of France (1007–1025), co-King of France under his father, Robert II
* Hugh, Duke of Alsace (died 895), modern-day ...
1994-1995.
Honours
In 2004, Simmonds was made a Knight Commander of the
Order of St Michael and St George
The Most Distinguished Order of Saint Michael and Saint George is a British order of chivalry founded on 28 April 1818 by George IV, George IV, Prince of Wales, while he was acting as prince regent for his father, George III, King George III.
...
. 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
An autobiography, sometimes informally called an autobio, is a self-written account of one's own life.
It is a form of biography.
Definition
The word "autobiography" was first used deprecatingly by William Taylor in 1797 in the English peri ...
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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