I must have been missing something before, because it works now.
Thanks, Ivan and Doug.

> > I'm still not having luck in getting the permissions to
> > work. I granted the role using the syntax you suggested,
> > and I specified the role while logging in. Still no access.
>
> I just run simple script, and this is copy-pasted result.
> It works for me.
>
> CREATE DATABASE 'C:\TEST.GDB' USER 'SYSDBA' PASSWORD 'masterkey';
> CREATE TABLE Customer (cust VARCHAR(20));
> INSERT INTO Customer VALUES ('abc');
> Create Role BasicRole;
> Grant Select on Customer to BasicRole;
> Grant BasicRole to John;
>
>
> CONNECT 'C:\TEST.GDB' USER 'John' PASSWORD 'john' ROLE 'BasicRole';
> SELECT * FROM Customer;
>
> CUST
> ====================
> abc
>
>
> CONNECT 'C:\TEST.GDB' USER 'John' PASSWORD 'john';
> SELECT * FROM Customer;
>
> Statement failed, SQLCODE = -551
> no permission for read/select access to TABLE CUSTOMER
>
>
>
> Ivan
> http://www.volny.cz/iprenosil/interbase