Kendal Isaacs

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Sir Kendal George Lamon Isaacs, KCMG, CBE, QC (23 July 1925 – 25 May 1996) was a notable Bahamian lawyer and politician. He served as Leader of the Opposition for much of the 1980s.

Biography[]

Born and raised in Nassau, Isaacs attended the Government High School in Nassau where he was captain of Montague House.[1]

Isaacs served in the North Caribbean Force during World War II and then went to England to study law.[2]

He received a Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws from Queens’ College, Cambridge in 1949 and a Master of Arts in 1953 and was admitted to the Bar of England and Wales at the Middle Temple in 1946.[citation needed]

Isaacs was an accomplished tennis player. In 1955, he and his nephew Robert were the third ranked men's doubles team in the American Tennis Association rankings.[3]

That same year, Isaacs was appointed Solicitor-General of the Bahamas; a post in which he served until 1963 when he became the country's Attorney-General.[2][4][5] Isaacs took silk when he was made Queen’s Counsel on 21 August 1968.[2][6]

Isaacs first foray into politics came in 1965 when he was appointed to the Senate of the Bahamas.[5] In June 1972, Isaacs was elected to the House of Assembly of the Bahamas for the Free National Movement party.[5]

Isaacs served as Leader of the Opposition from 1971 to 1976 and again from 1981 to 1987.[4][5] His agitation resulted in the 1984 Royal Commission of Inquiry into Drug Trafficking and Government Corruption but did not result in the ouster of the Lynden Pindling-led PLP government until 1992.[2]

Honours, decorations, awards and distinctions[]

Appointed Commander of the British Empire in June 1970 while Vice-President of the Senate.[2][7] Isaacs was appointed a Knight Commander of Order of St Michael and St George in the Queen's 1993 New Year's Honours List.[2][8]

In 1990, the Kendal G L Isaacs Gymnasium was opened at the Queen Elizabeth Sports Centre and named in his honour.[9]

References/Notes and references[]

  1. ^ Fawkes, Sir Randol (2003). The Faith that Moved the Mountain (Memorial ed.). Nassau, Bahamas. p. 14.
  2. ^ Jump up to: a b c d e f "Obituaries (1) Sir Kendal Isaacs 1925-1996". Fairfax Media. Sydney Morning Herald. 14 June 1996. p. 31.
  3. ^ "Althea Gibson still ATA Racquet Queen: Detroiter 2d in junior singles" (Pages 4 and 5). The Detroit Tribune. January 22, 1955. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  4. ^ Jump up to: a b "Obituary: Sir Kendal Isaacs". London, England: Independent Print Ltd. The Independent (UK). 28 May 1996.
  5. ^ Jump up to: a b c d Gunson, Phil; et al. (1991). The Dictionary of Contemporary Politics of Central America and the Caribbean (2015 Reprint ed.). Routledge. p. 181. ISBN 1317270541. Retrieved 21 February 2019.
  6. ^ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/44668/page/9591 London Gazette, Issue 44668
  7. ^ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/45117/supplement/6382 London Gazette, Issue 45117
  8. ^ https://www.thegazette.co.uk/London/issue/53155/supplement/37 London Gazette, Issue 53155
  9. ^ https://www.bahamas.com/vendor/kendal-g-l-isaacs-national-gymnasium

External links[]

Retrieved from ""