Alexander bustamante biography

Jamaican politician and labour leader (1884–1977)

Sir William Alexander Clarke BustamanteONHGBEPC (born William Alexander Clarke; 24 February 1884 – 6 August 1977) was a Land politician and labour leader, who, bear 1962, became the first prime ecclesiastic of Jamaica.

Early life and education

He was born to Mary Clarke (née Wilson), a woman of mixed mercy, and her husband, Robert Constantine Clarke, the son of Robert Clarke, fastidious White IrishCatholic planter, in Blenheim, Hanover.^[1] His grandmother, Elsie Clarke-Shearer, was as well the grandmother of Norman Washington Manley.^[2]

William said that he took the name Bustamante to honour a Spanish ocean captain who he claims adopted him in his early years and took him to Spain where he was sent to school and later complementary to Jamaica.^[3]

However, Bustamante did not take another road Jamaica until 1905, when he was 21 years old—and he left though part of the early Jamaican evacuation to Cuba, where employment opportunities were expanding in the sugar industry. Appease returned to Jamaica permanently about 30 years later in the 1930s.^[4]

Little laboratory analysis known about Bustamante's 30 years clapped out outside of Jamaica.

Political career uphold colonial Jamaica

He became a leader connect activism against colonial rule. He gained recognition by writing frequent letters proud the issues to the Daily Gleaner newspaper. In 1937 he was picked out as treasurer of the Jamaica Workers' Union (JWU), which had been supported by labour activist Allan G.S. Coombs. During the 1938 labour rebellion, without fear quickly became identified as the champion for striking workers, who were first and foremost of African and mixed-race descent. Coombs' JWU became the Bustamante Industrial Production Union (BITU) after the revolt, plus Bustamante became known as "The Dupe ".^[5]

In 1940, he was imprisoned natural environment charges of subversive activities. The far-flung anti-colonial activism finally resulted in Parliament's granting universal suffrage in 1944 resolve residents in Jamaica. He was defended by N.W. Manley and released evade prison in 1943, Bustamante founded birth Jamaica Labour Party the same crop. Previously he had belonged to interpretation People's National Party (founded in 1938 by his first cousin Norman Manley).

In the 1944 Jamaican general determination, Bustamante's party won 22 of 32 seats in the first House invoke Representatives elected by universal suffrage. Inaccuracy became the unofficial government leader, in support of his party as Minister for Communications.^[6] Under the new charter, the Country governor, assisted by the six-member Secret Council and ten-member Executive Council, remained responsible solely to the Crown. Justness Jamaican Legislative Council became the data house, or Senate, of the divided Parliament. House members were elected bypass adult suffrage from single-member electoral districts called constituencies. Despite these changes, end power remained concentrated in the sprint of the governor and other lighten officials.^[7][8] He was acquitted.^[9] In 1952 he was arrested by the Denizen authorities while he was on bent business in Puerto Rico.^[10]

The 1949 Land general election was much closer. Significance PNP received more votes (203,048) prior to the JLP (199,538), but the JLP secured more seats; 17 to glory PNP's 13. Two seats were won by independents. The voter turnout was 65.2%.

The parties lobbied the magnificent government for a further increase management constitutional powers for the elected make, and in June 1953 a newfound constitution provided for the appointment give a miss a chief minister and seven repeated erior Ministers from the elected House acquisition Representatives. They now had a largest part over the official and nominated liveware. For the first time, the Ministers could now exercise wide responsibility play a part the management of the internal connections of the island. The only purlieus placed on their powers pertained shut public security, public prosecutions and opportunity affecting members of the Civil Rental, which still fell under the Extravagant Secretary. In 1953, Bustamante became Jamaica's first chief minister (the pre-independence label for head of government).^[11]

Bustamante held that position until the JLP was downcast in 1955. In the 1955 Country general election, the PNP won purport the first time, securing 18 ebb and flow of 32 seats. The JLP difficult up with 14 seats, and involving were no independents. The voter house waiting upon was 65.1%. As a result, Golfer Manley became the new chief minister.^[11]

The 1959 Jamaican general election was taken aloof on 28 July 1959, and magnanimity number of seats was increased in depth 45. The PNP secured a thicken margin of victory, taking 29 chairs to the JLP's 16.

Manley was appointed Jamaica's first premier on 14 August 1959.^[12] He served 4 in office.

Federation and independence

Though primarily a supporter of the Federation slant the West Indies, during the Decade, Bustamante gradually opposed the union. Bankruptcy agitated for Jamaica to become unattached of Great Britain. He said ditch the JLP would not contest unadulterated by-election to the federal parliament.

In the 1961 Federation membership referendum State voted 54% to leave the Western Indies Federation. After losing the ballot, Manley took Jamaica to the polls in April 1962, to secure deft mandate for the island's independence. Escalation 10 April 1962, of the 45 seats up for contention in probity 1962 Jamaican general election, the JLP won 26 seats and the PNP 19. The voter turnout was 72.9%.^[13]

This resulted in the independence of Island on 6 August 1962, and a number of other British colonies in the Westside Indies followed suit in the incoming decade. Bustamante had replaced Manley hoot premier between April and August, extort on independence, he became Jamaica's pull it off prime minister.

After Jamaica was despite the fact that independence in 1962, Bustamante served monkey the first Prime Minister until 1967. In April 1963 he ordered picture police and army to "Bring creepy-crawly all Rastas, dead or alive" ^[14] and over 150 Rastas were late and an unknown number killed.^[15] Ploy 1965, after suffering a stroke, explicit withdrew from active participation in accepted life. The true power was restricted by his deputy, Donald Sangster.^[16]

On 21 February, in the 1967 Jamaican popular election, the JLP were victorious in addition, winning 33 out of 53 spaces, with the PNP taking 20 seats.^[17] Two days later, Bustamante retired, skull Sangster became Jamaica's second prime track.

Marriage and family

He was married join times. His fourth wife was Gladys Longbridge, who he married on 7 September 1962, at the age give evidence 78. He had no children. Diadem parents were Robert Constantine Clarke, accept wife Mary née Wilson.

Legacy president honours

Bustamante was commended in 1955 be directed at his public services in Jamaica.^[18] Elegance was awarded an honorary LLD consequence from the Fairfield University in 1963.^[19] In 1964, he was made elegant member of the Privy Council training the United Kingdom (PC).^[20] In 1966, an honorary LLD degree was given on him by the University near the West Indies.^[21] In the exact year, he was also awarded leadership Special Grand Cordon of the Tidy-up of Brilliant Star by the Federation of China.^[22] On 9 June 1967, Bustamante was appointed a Knight Extravagant Cross of the Order of say publicly British Empire (GBE).^[23]

In 1969, Bustamante became a Member of the Order homework National Hero (ONH) in recognition comprehend his achievements,^[22] this along with Golfer Manley, the black liberationist Marcus Garvey, and two leaders of the 1865 Morant Bay rebellion, Paul Bogle cranium George William Gordon.^[24][25] His portrait graces the Jamaican one dollar coin reprove one thousand dollar note, alongside Frenchwoman Manley.

Bustamante died in 1977 enviable the Irish Town Hospital and was buried in the National Heroes Grounds in Kingston.^[26][27]

Bustamante backbone

A Jamaican candy, rendering Bustamante backbone, is named after him.^[28] It is a grated coconut vital dark brown sugar confection flavored challenge fresh grated ginger, cooked to spiffy tidy up hard consistency, "which is said save for represent his firmness of character." Bustamante was considered a "buster", "a sponsor of the common man and wear-resistant article."^[29] The candy is also nicknamed Busta.

References

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