Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Topic
What was the role of the right Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante on
Jamaica’s Move toward independence?
Rationale
In today s Jamaica, it is often Said That Jamaica would be better off under B
ritish rule, rather than under its own government, This statement begs the quest
ion “Was Jamaica actually ready for independence from the British empire in 1962
?” To answer this question the social and economic state of Jamaica between 19
30 and 1962 as well as the life and works of a significant role playing social a
nd political contributor and leader at the time were both researched and analys
ed during the making of this project.
Introduction
The Right Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante was chosen, for this project, a
s the most Prominent contributor to Jamaican independence. He was selected beca
use he had the privilege to be elected as the first prime minister of independen
t Jamaica and the first Jamaican to receive the Order of National Hero within H
is lifetime. These great Honours Surely were not bestowed upon him by chance, b
ut by the works he did and the influence he possessed to make a difference in t
he state of Jamaica and the life of Jamaicans back then.
Jamaica, like the rest of the British West Indies, in the 1930 s was in the m
idst of a labour unrest stirred up by wide spread poverty, underpayment and une
mployment in an atmosphere of racial tension. In a population of approximately
1,121,823 between 1935 and 1938 (“The politics of labour in the British Caribbea
n”, source) it was estimated that some 404,000 were wage earners 231,000 of whic
h were only dependent on wage income in a colony where wage earners were either
unpaid or underpaid. Jamaica was in need of a dramatic labour reform. Though t
here were some amount of labour reform organisations in Jamaica during the first
thirty years of the twentieth century there was none that was lasting.
According to the author of “Jamaican Politics a Marxist Prospective in Trans
ition” Trevor Monroe “Labour had long craved a Messiah; Bustamante became the me
ssiah for the under enfranchised, the unemployed, the underemployed and the unde
rpaid.” Alexander Bustamante formed the first lasting and influential labour uni
on, namely the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and was the one of the
Patriarchs of the two major political parties in Jamaica.
• Actions Taken
On May Fourth Bustamante denounced Governor Denham at a mass meetin
g in Kingston; Blaming him For Misinforming Britain on the labour cri
sis In Jamaica. On the Twenty-third of May, the he called for a stri
ke at the waterfront by wharf workers and marched a crowd through the
city. They where violently dispersed by the local by the local polic
e and British military troops stationed in Jamaica. Bustamante and St.
William Grant were arrested for sedition and inciting unlawful assembl
y.
Before 1938 the impact of trade unionism was virtually nonexistent;
But in that same year Bustamante established the Bustamante Industrial
Trade Union and was hailed “the People s champion” and “labour leader
”. In 1939 Bustamante called For an Island wide Strike, but received
support only from Banana and waterfront labourers. The following year,
1940, a State of Emergency was declared as the British Empire entered
World War 2. Bustamante along With other Trade Unionist of The TUC
where detained at Gibraltar Camp (now Up park Camp) as a security t
hreat to the defence of the realm of Jamaica. The remaining member o
f The BITU and the PNP tried to negotiate his release.
• Outcome
The stance taken by Bustamante was of critical importance in forming
is image as an influential leader. His active charismatic speeches and
Organizing of strikes Brought the both the needed attention of the pu
blic and the unwanted attention from the authorities.
During the riots of 1938 called by Bustamante the waterfront was rende
red on shutdown and the city of Kingston tense. This as well as the
strikes of 1939 brought the attention of not only the local governm
ent but Britain to the situation in Jamaica.
Bustamante was seen as a security threat and detained on two occasi
ons. On his release he, along with others, Where seen as heroes by their
supporters for their actions.
Labour reform was a major outcome which came with the formation of th
e BITU.
• JLP
Bustamante went on and successfully founded the Jamaica labour pa
rty (JLP) in 1943; a rival to the PNP. In 1944 , the same year Bri
tain granted Jamaica Universal adult suffrage, the first election was
held. The JLP won twenty-two seats out of twenty six seats. Bustamante
became the first leader of the executive council and took the post
of minister of communications and works. In 1947 he was elected as
mayor of Kingston and in 1953 the constitution was changed and Bustam
ante became the first chief minister of the council of ministers. The
JLP lost power to the PNP in the 1955 elections; But that same ye
ar Bustamante was made Knight Bachelor ( an Order of the British Empir
e) by the queen and Was now Sir Alexander Bustamante.
The formation of the JLP as a rival to the PNP contributed to th
e formation of a Bi-Partisan system , which is a key principle of demo
cracy and is still in use in Jamaica to date.
Insignia of the Knight bachelor
From www.NZDF.mil
• INDEPENDENCE
The JLP/DLP Withdrew federal support and forced the Government (PNP)
to Call a referendum . On September 19, 1961 the JLP gained a majority
of votes for National and not Federal independence.
A delegation of both political leaders, Sir Alexander Bustamante and
Norman Washington Manley , Went To London , England to negotiate Jamaica
s Independence. On April 19, 1962 an election took place and Jamaican
s Chose Who should lead the Nation to Independence. Jamaica Was Granted
Independence On August 6, 1962 Under the leadership of The Right Excelle
nt Sir Alexander Bustamante.
Flag of Jamaica
From WWW.CRWFlags.com
CONCLUSION
APPENDIX
Sir Alexander Bustamante
From www.findagrave.com/photos
I
Insignia of the Knight bachelor
From www.NZDF.mil
BIBLIOGRAPHY
Bolland, Nigel; 2001 - “The politics of labour of the British Caribbean: the soc
ial origins of Authoritarianism and democracy in the labour movement” ; chapter
5- the labour rebellions 1934-9
Knox, A. J. G ; 1977 -“Collier s Encyclopaedia”; Vol.13, Jamaica, history
Monroe, Trevor, 1990 -”Jamaican Politics: A Marxist prospective in transition; B
ustamante labour movement”, page 64
Senior, Olive ; 2003 - “Encyclopaedia of Jamaican Heritage”; Bustamante ,the Rt.
Excellent Sir Alexander
Sherlock , Philips; 1977 - “Collier s Encyclopaedia”; Vol.5, Bustamante, Alexand
er
WWW.EncyclopediaBritannica.Com (Encyclopaedia Britannica)
WWW.findagrave.com
WWW.flickr.com
WWW.ITZ Carribean.com
WWW.JIS.COM (Jamaica information Service)
WWW.kingshouse.gov.jm (Kings House , Jamaica , Website)
WWW.NZDF.mil (new Zealand defence force)
U.S. Library of Congress (Online source)