Kennedy Simmonds

Simmonds was born in Basseterre on 12 April 1936. He graduated as a physician from the University of the West Indies in 1962.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2016-08-04|title=St Kitts-Nevis' National Hero Award For UWI Alumnus Sir Kennedy Simmonds|url=https://sta.uwi.edu/news/releases/release.asp?id=1589|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-19|website=sta.uwi.edu}} He married Mary Matthew, and they had five children.{{Cite web|title=Dr. Kennedy Alphonse Simmonds grandfather of keiyon simmonds.|url=https://www.sknvibes.com/politics/sitepage.cfm?p=138|access-date=2021-11-27|website=www.sknvibes.com}}

Simmonds was a founding member of the People's Action Movement (PAM) party. He was the Premier of Saint Kitts and Nevis from 21 February 1980,{{cite book|last=Cameron|first=Sarah|title=Caribbean Islands|year=2004|publisher=Footprint|location=Bath, England|isbn=978-1-903471-71-5|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=G74-rZzX64cC&dq=%22Kennedy+Simmonds%22&pg=PA548|edition=15th|accessdate=24 January 2011|page=548}} until the twin-island state gained independence from the United Kingdom on 19 September 1983. Upon independence, he became the 1st Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis and as such has been described as "The Father of the Nation."

Simmonds and his party ruled with the support of Nevis Reformation Party.{{cite book |last1=Ameringer |first1=Charles D. |title=Political Parties of the Americas, 1980s to 1990s: Canada, Latin America, and the West Indies |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=kD5qi3MyEHYC |publisher=Greenwood Publishing Group |language=en |date=1992|isbn=9780313274183 }} He had three deputy prime ministers: Michael Oliver Powell 1980-1992, Sydney Earl Morris{{cite web |title=Former Deputy Prime Minister of St. Kitts-Nevis Sydney Morris Has Died |url=https://www.myvuenews.com/former-deputy-prime-minister-of-st-kitts-sydney-morris-has-died/}} 1992-1994 and Hugh Heyliger 1994-1995.

In 2004, Simmonds was made a Knight Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2004-10-22|title=Honours and Awards|url=https://www.thegazette.co.uk/notice/L-57445-1005|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-19|website=www.thegazette.co.uk}} In 2015, Simmonds became the fifth person to be named as a National Hero by the National Assembly. He is the first living person to receive this honour.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2015-09-19|title=Sir Kennedy Simmonds Named 5th National Hero|url=https://zizonline.com/sir-kennedy-simmonds-named-5th-national-hero/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-19|website=ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation|language=en-CA}} In 2021, Simmonds received an honorary DSc from the University of the West Indies.{{Cite web|last=|first=|date=2021-01-15|title=Sir Kennedy Expressed Gratitude For Honorary Degree From UWI Open Campus|url=https://zizonline.com/sir-kennedy-expressed-gratitude-for-honorary-degree-from-uwi-open-campus/|archive-url=|archive-date=|access-date=2021-01-19|website=ZIZ Broadcasting Corporation|language=en-CA}}

Simmonds published an autobiography in 2019 entitled The Making of a National Hero.{{Cite web|date=2019-11-21|title=Sir Kennedy Simmonds Releases His Autobiography|url=http://www.timescaribbeanonline.com/sir-kennedy-simmonds-releases-his-autobiography/|access-date=2021-11-27|language=en-US}}

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• [http://www.nzdl.org/cgi-bin/library?e=d-00000-00---off-0hdl--00-0----0-10-0---0---0direct-10---4-------0-1l--11-en-50---20-about---00-0-1-00-0-0-11-1-0utfZz-8-00&cl=CL2.23.15&d=HASH010cd89c5dcc2425e764ec1e.2.1.2>=1 An interview with Dr Kennedy Simmonds, Prime Minister of St Kitts and Nevis (1993)]

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{{succession box|title=Premier of Saint Kitts and Nevis|before=Lee Moore|after=Office abolished|years=1980–1983}}

{{succession box|title=Prime Minister of Saint Kitts and Nevis|before=Office created|after=Denzil Douglas|years=1983–1995}}

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Category:1936 births

Category:Living people

Category:Knights Commander of the Order of St Michael and St George

Category:Prime ministers of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Category:Ministers of finance of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Category:Recipients of the Order of the National Hero (Saint Kitts and Nevis)

Category:People's Action Movement politicians

Category:People from Saint Kitts

Category:Members of the Privy Council of the United Kingdom

Category:Foreign ministers of Saint Kitts and Nevis

Category:University of the West Indies alumni

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