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Walter Roban
Bermudian politician (born 1966) From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Walter Henri Roban (born 13 August 1966) is a former Bermudian politician who served as the 11th Deputy Premier of Bermuda. He retired in February 2025, having served concurrently as Minister of Home Affairs. Roban was Deputy Leader of the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) from November 2016 to February 2025.
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Early life and education
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Roban was born in Bermuda to Matthew Roban, originally from St. Vincent and the Grenadines[1] and Charlotte Powell (nee Pavy) of Bermuda.[1] He attended Mount Saint Agnes Academy and graduated from Robert Crawford High School.[1] His interest in Civics, Social Studies, and History developed under educator Dale Butler, who brought Caribbean and African history to life for him.[1][2]
After finishing secondary school in Bermuda, Roban attended Fryeburg Academy in Maine, United States. Returning home to Bermuda, he briefly attended Bermuda College. He earned a bachelor's degree in Business and International Studies from Morehouse College in Atlanta, Georgia and a master's degree in International Studies from the University of Birmingham, UK, focusing on international politics and foreign policy analysis.[3]
Professionally, Roban worked as a paralegal researcher at the law firm Milligan-Whyte & Smith, and in banking roles at HSBC and Bank of Bermuda.[1][3][4]
During his time in Atlanta, he worked on Maynard Jackson’s 1989 mayoral campaign, giving him the opportunity to witness the 1988 Democratic National Convention, where Jesse Jackson campaigned for the presidency.[2][5] This had a huge impact on the future minister.[2] It was during this election that Roban met several leaders of the PLP, an experience that influenced his decision to return to Bermuda and engage in local politics.[2]
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Early political involvement
Roban joined the Progressive Labour Party in the late 1980s, serving as chairman of its youth wing, Progressive Youth (1991-1993) and General Secretary of the PLP (1995-1999).[6][3][7]
He contributed to policy development and served as an aide to opposition leader L. Frederick Wade.[3] He served on the PLP Campaign Committee in 1993 on the Public Relations Team and later as Deputy Chair of the PLP Campaign Committee between 1996 and 1998. Following the PLP General Election victory in 1998, Roban also chaired Bermuda’s Ports Authority from 1998 to 1999. He served again as Ports Authority Chair from 2000 to 2003[8]
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Parliamentary roles
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Appointed to the Senate in 2003, Roban served until 2006, overseeing legislation establishing the Bermuda Health Council and introducing mental health reforms.[6][3][9][10] He was elected to the House of Assembly for Pembroke East Central in 2007 and held junior ministerial roles, including Tourism & Transport, Health & Family Services, and Education & Development.[6][11][12][3]
Roban joined the cabinet in 2009 as Minister Without Portfolio with responsibility for Municipal Reform.[3] He later held portfolios including Health, the Environment, Planning, Infrastructure, and briefly, Public Works.[3][11] In 2012, he served as Minister of Transport, introducing GPS systems for taxis.[3][13][14]
After serving as Shadow Minister (2012 to 2017), Roban was appointed Deputy Leader of the PLP IN November 2016.[6][3][15] He became Deputy Premier following the PLP's victory in 2017, subsequently overseeing Transport, Regulatory Affairs, and Home Affairs portfolios.[3][6]
Controversies
Roban resigned briefly from cabinet in 2011 after overturning two planning decisions involving PLP colleagues, related to protected environmental and agricultural lands.[16] These decisions were reversed by his successor.[17]
In 2023, Roban faced criticism for similarly overturning planning refusals related to developments near Devonshire Marsh, against professional recommendations.[16][17]
Roban publicly clashed with the Bermuda Electric Light Company (BELCO) and the Regulatory Authority over pollution issues and electricity rate increases in 2023, threatening legal action against the Regulatory Authority.[18][19][20]
Environmental initiatives
As Minister of Home Affairs, Roban initiated the conversion of Bermuda’s bus fleet from internal combustion engine to electric vehicles.[21]
As Minister of the Environment (2010), Roban supported the creation of the Sargasso Sea Commission, an advisory body established to develop conservation methods for the Sargasso Sea in 2014.[22] He led Bermuda's "Blue Prosperity Plan" (2019), establishing Marine Protected Areas covering 20% of the island's waters..[23][24][25] He represented Bermuda internationally, advocating renewable energy and climate resilience, including at COP26 and the United Nations Ocean Conference.[26][27][28]
Roban received the Caribbean Renewable Energy Forum's "Renewable Energy Leader MVP" award in 2021.[3] He was selected to be the inaugural chair of The Blue Prosperity Leader’s Forum, leading Bermuda, the Maldives, the Azores, Vanuatu and the Federated States of Micronesia from 2022 to 2024.[29]
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Retirement
Roban announced in July 2024 he would retire from politics at the end of his term.[30] One of his final actions as Minister of Home Affairs was signing a land lease agreement with Google in February 2025 for a subsea cable project connecting Bermuda, Portugal, and the United States.[31]
References
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