By OSWALD T. BROWN
WASHINGTON, D.C., June 3, 2022 –Michael Brown posted these photos on Facebook in the group Bygone Bahamas that I had to share with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE. He posted them with the following narrative:
“JUNE 3RD, 1951 – SIR RANDOL AND LADY FAWKES WERE MARRIED AT ST. AGNES CHURCH, GRANTS TOWN
Officiating at the ceremony was Canon Milton Cooper. Standing at the altar are Canon Dudley Strachan and Archdeacon William Thompson. Kneeling at the altar are Rev. Dr. Susan Wallace, Lady Jacqueline Fawkes, Sir Randol Fawkes and William “Bill” Fawkes.”
As I noted, when I saw this post, I had to share it with readers of BAHAMAS CHRONICLE. Here are some of the reasons why I was compelled to share it.
I joined the staff of The Tribune in May of 1960 and as a journalist I got to know Sir Randol Fawkes very well during his years as a labour leader and politician. Unquestionably, he was the greatest labour leader in history of The Bahamas. He was also a seasoned, savvy politician.
In his early years as a politician, he was even more popular among voters than Lynden O. Pindling. In fact, when he and Pindling ran as Progressive Liberal Party (PLP) candidates for New Providence South in the 1956 general election, the campaign slogan was, FAWKES AND PINDLING ALL THE WAY. The results of the 1956 election confirmed his popularity when he finished first with the most votes and Pindling finished second, as both were elected to the House of Assembly.
Four other PLP candidates won seats in the House in 1956 – Milo Butler, New Providence West; Cyril St. John Stevenson, Andros & Berry Islands; Clarence A. Bain, Andros & Berry Islands; and Samuel L. Isaacs, New Providence East.
In the 1962 general election, however, Fawkes ran as a Labour Party candidate in New Providence South and retained his seat in the House of Assembly.
With women voting for the first time in 1962, it was widely anticipated that the PLP would become The Bahamas’ first Black government, but although the PLP got more votes overall than the United Bahamian Party (UBP), which was established after the 1956 general election by a group of white “Bay Street Boys” who ran as Independents in the 1956 election, the UBP won 18 seats compared to 8 for the PLP.
In the historic January 10, 1967, general election, Fawkes again ran successfully as a Labour candidate. After both the PLP and the UBP each won 18 seats, Fawkes and A.R. Braynen, who won his seat in Harbour Island as an Independent, threw their support behind the PLP, establishing for the first time a Black majority rule government in The Bahamas.
Fawkes became Minister of Labour and Commerce and Braynen was installed as Speaker of the House of Assembly.
