NASSAU, Bahamas, June 2, 2023 –Thousands of Bahamians participated in parades celebrating Randol Fawkes Labour Day, a public holiday that was established in honour of the man who is often referred to as “the Father of Labour”in The Bahamas.
Celebrated annually on the first Friday in June, Randol Fawkes Labor Day is so named because of Sir Randol Fawkes’ contribution to making the day a reality for the people of The Bahamas. As other nations had started celebrating Labor Day, there was a need for someone to advocate for it on behalf of all workers in The Bahamas. The day is marked as a public holiday and all workers in The Bahamas get to take the day off. This allows them to spend the day having fun with their families or friends.
Sir Randol Francis Fawkes was born on March 20, 1924. He was a Bahamian politician, trade unionist, and lawyer who served as a member of Parliament for the St. Barnabas constituency. He also served as a Cabinet Minister in the first Pindling government.
Fawkes is referred to as “the father of Labor” in the Bahamas for his efforts in establishing the trade union movement in the country. In 1961, he successfully passed a bill through the House of Assembly that established Labor Day as a public holiday.
Fawkes’ contributions to the trade union movement and the Bahamas were so notable that Queen Elizabeth knighted him in 1978. Sir Randol Fawkes sadly passed away in the year 2000 and to honor him, senators passed a bill in 2013 to rename the Labor Day holiday Randol Fawkes Labor Day.
To celebrate the day, a parade is held. Members of political parties and the labor unions from different organizations march in this large parade through the streets of downtown Nassau.
