The Founder
Enoch Pedro Roberts, Rph, M.B.E.
As an astute businessman who was meticulous in every facet of his life and accepted nothing but excellence, the late Mr. E. Pedro Roberts II was one of the first licensed Pharmacists of The Bahamas.
As a child, Mr. Roberts attended the St. Agnes day school, and later moved on to the Western Junior and Senior Schools. Upon the establishment of the Oakes Field Teachers Training College and Demonstration School, he transferred to the Demonstration School for the final year of secondary school. It was at that time that science subjects were introduced to the curriculum of schools in The Bahamas. The keen interest of Pedro Sr. in science subjects from his time at Tuskegee University guided Pedro Junior into the technical schools as a pupil science teacher under Mr. Robert Cunningham, a Scotsman on contract to the then Board of Education in 1952. In an effort to better qualify themselves for university he and Claudius Lafleur, both pupil science teachers, attended the Continuing Education Evening Schools at both Western Junior School under Mr. Carlton Francis and Eastern Senior School under Mr. Donald Davis, and with the assistance of Woolsley Hall (an Oxford University Extension Studies) completed successfully various G.C.E. Examinations.
Pedro resigned from teaching to join the British Caribbean Meteorological Service where he served as an Assistant meteorologist for a short period of time. Sensing his deeper need for more involvement in the sciences, Pedro gained entry to Temple University School of Pharmacy (Philadelphia, Pennsylvania) in 1957.
After spending one year at the University and become eligible to start apprenticeship, the next three years were spend at Hampton's Pharmacy and Gumbs' Pharmacy in retail practice: Mercy Douglas Hospital and Temple University Hospital in hospital pharmacy and pharmacy administrative. The late Francis Nicholas, Chief Pharmacist of Mercy Douglas Hospital played a major role in Pedro's preparation for Hospital practice.
In 1961 Pedro graduated from Temple University with a degree in pharmacy and continued to practice in both hospital pharmacy at Mercy Douglas Hospital during the day and Hampton's Pharmacy in the evening and into the night. In January 1962 after the post of Senior Pharmacist was established to accommodate a pharmacist of Pedro's training he returned to The Bahamas and worked at Princess Margaret Hospital.
While working at Princess Margaret as Senior Pharmacist Pedro availed himself of courses in Clinical Pharmacy at Mercy Hospital, Long Island, New York and Nassau County Hospital, New York. Then on the retirement of Mr. G. Bert Strachan, Pedro was promoted to that post of Chief Pharmacist, a position he held substantively until his retirement from the public service in 1987. During 1969, he acted for a short period as hospital administrator of P.M.H. and from 1984 to 1987 acted as Director of Materials Management, Ministry of Health.
All during his tenure at Princess Margaret Hospital, he was a tutor in the School of Nursing in Pharmacology and Drug Dosage from Application. Additionally, he was a Pharmacy Preceptor to local pharmacy apprentices and lectured in pharmacology, pharmaceutics and clinical pharmacology and has consequently instructed virtually all pharmacists in active practice in The Bahamas today.
His professional life has been closely involved with professional associations. He has served as President of the Bahamas Pharmaceutical Association, held executive office in the Caribbean Association of Pharmacists and occupied the Americas Regional Executive position of the Commonwealth Pharmaceutical Association for many years. These professional involvements afforded him the opportunity to represent The Bahamas in many countries of the world and the Caribbean Island, having met many Prime Ministers and Heads of State and other influential persons of The British Commonwealth of Nations.
He was appointed to the committee sponsored by the United Nation's Agency to develop programmes and strategies for pharmaceutical development in the Caribbean through the Caribbean Community Secretariat in Georgetown, Guyana. Also, he was involved in the United Nations programme on illicit drug detection and destruction through the Attorney General's office – Foreign Affairs Ministry of Mexico City.
In addition to his professional association, he has been involved with service and personal improvement clubs for many years as a member of the Kiwanis Club for Fort Montague and as a founding member and later President of Toastmasters Club 1600.
A devoted family and churchman, Mr. Roberts was actively involved in the Methodist Church. He served as Senior Society Steward and as Congregational Board Chairman with zest and enthusiasm, committing both time and financial support to his Church community of St. Michael's Methodist Church. He was instrumental in providing much material for the construction and renovation of the church. To Mr. Roberts no sacrifice was too great for his beloved St. Michaels. His faith and values were paramount to his existence.
His love for medicine, pharmacy, community health, the desire to succeed and impact the lives of many, fueled the creation of Commonwealth Drugs & Medical Supplies, Apothecary Pharmacy along with other business ventures.
Today the team continued to improve upon the legacy of Mr. Roberts II, with the same drive and motivation, carrying Commonwealth Drugs to higher heights, reaching his goals and dreams.