Sir Randol Fawkes

Sir Randol Fawkes was a Bahamian politician, trade unionist and lawyer. He is most remembered for the part he played in swinging the Bahamas' 1967 general election to bring about "black majority rule."

In 1967, the Bahamas was a British colony ruled, despite its approximately 85% black population, by a white elite known as the Bay Street Boys. The predominantly white United Bahamian Party (UBP) government called a snap election in January 1967. Of the 38 seats contested, the ruling UBP won 18 seats and the black Progressive Liberal Party (PLP), which had previously only won six seats, won 18 seats. Alvin Braynen, an independent, won 1 seat and Fawkes, leader of the Labour Party (which had fielded four candidates) won one seat.

Braynen became the speaker, therefore, he could not exercise his vote. Fawkes threw his vote behind the Lynden Pindling-led PLP, creating a coalition government. It was the first time that the Bahamas was run by a black government ("majority rule"). Braynen became the Speaker of the House and Fawkes the Minister of Labour and Commerce.

Fawkes was knighted in the 1977 Birthday Honours.

• Wikipedia: Randol Fawkes