Name: Robert Powell

Date: October 24, 2022

Grade :6S

Teacher: Mrs. Shakespeare

The Right Excellent Sir William Alexander Clarke Bustamante (24 February 1884 – 6 August
1977) was a Jamaican politician and labour leader who became the first prime minister of
Jamaica. Bustamante is honored in Jamaica with the title National Hero of Jamaica in
recognition of his achievements.

Physically impressive, standing approximately 6’5’ with gangling gait. A strong, wiry body and
shock of gray hair made him a sort of living legend to the masses whose cause he championed
against the colonial powers.

Known for his terse and telling phrases that cut to the quick of things, and for remarkable
stamina that made him work tirelessly all over the island, particularly at the waterfront and at the
sugar estates, where there were great concentrations of people. He tended to have a dictatorial
style, marked nevertheless with sparkling magnanimity.

Early life and education

On 24 February 1884, a son was born to Robert Constantine Clarke, and wife Mary nee Wilson
in the district of Blenheim in the parish of Hanover, Jamaica. He was named Alexander.

Sir Alexander Bustamante attended elementary school in rural Hanover. He traveled extensively
as a young man, returning to Jamaica in 1932 and began to lead the struggle against colonial
rule. He first came to the public's attention as a writer of letters to the Daily Gleaner newspaper.
Bustamante became treasurer of the Jamaica Workers Union (JWU) in 1937 which was founded
by labour activist, Allan G.S. Coombs. He was identified as the spokesman for workers during
the 1938 labour rebellion. The Jamaica Workers Union later became the Bustamante Industrial
Trade Union (BITU) and Bustamante was dubbed, "The Chief".

On8 September 1940, Bustamante was detained at Up Park Camp, for alleged violation of the
Defence of the Realm Act. He was released seventeen months later.

Career

In 1943 he founded the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), with himself as head. The first general
election under Universal Adult Suffrage came in 1944 and the JLP won 22 of the 32 seats in the
first House of Representatives which made him the unofficial leader and Minister for
Communication until the position of Chief Minister was created in 1953. He held this position
until the JLP was defeated in 1955.

Though initially a supporter of the Federation of the West Indies, during the 1950s, Bustamente
gradually opposed the union. He agitated for Jamaica to become independent of Great Britain.
He said that the JLP would not contest a by-election to the federal parliament. His rival and
cousin, Premier Norman Manley, called a referendum on the issue in 1961; Jamaicans voted for
the nation's withdrawal from the Federation.

After Jamaica was granted independence in 1962, Bustamante became Jamaica's first Prime
Minister and served until 1967. Bustamante also held the position of Mayor of Kingston in 1947
and 1948. In 1965 he withdrew from active participation in public life, and the true power was
held by his deputy, Donald Sangster.

Honors and awards

In 1969, Bustamante was proclaimed a 'National Hero of Jamaica', along with Norman Manley,
the black liberationist Marcus Garvey and two leaders of the 1865 Morant Bay rebellion, Paul
Bogle and George William Gordon.

Death

Sir Alexander died on 6 August 1977 at the age of 93. He was buried in the National Heroes
Park in Kingston. Sir Alexander married Gladys Longbridge on 17 September 1962. They had
no children.