Career
Fawkes is best 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.
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. lieutenant 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 1978.