There was a time in this place when entrepreneurship was discussed in terms of creativity and innovativeness. There was also a man, in that time and place, who was characterised by creativity and innovativeness – a musician and “industrialist”. That man was Robert C. Lightbourne. His capacity to lead change was informed by the idea “that the Jamaican entrepreneur had a mercantile background and was not equipped by experience or background in industrial development”, among other things. He was responsive to the declining plantation economy, bold policy initiatives in international trade negotiations as well as building the foundation for an industrial Jamaica. He was also a product of an interesting and instructive history of Western St Thomas. Imagine a Jamaica under Lightbourne as prime minister.

Western St Thomas has a colourful history, especially the period 1944 to 1962. The 1944 election saw the leader of the powerful Jamaica Agricultural Society, Rudolph Burke (PNP), defeated by Jehoida Agustus McPherson (JLP). In later years McPherson was defeated by Ken Clarke of the PNP. The history is also associated with a consistent role of independent candidates and also some from minor political parties – these entities declined by the 1959 elections. Notable independent and minor party candidates were SH Reid, SW Norton, Milton Urquhart and Robert Obadiah Gordon who introduced his United People’s Party (UPJ). There were others such as RO Gordon and TJ Saunders, as well as Sam Reid as the representative of the Farmers’ Party. It is interesting to note that JA McPherson was the Minister of Education from St Thomas in the earliest years of Universal Adult Suffrage, but the first high school was built in that parish in 1961, largely by the initiative of a “little” man known as Mr Winston Clarke.

The PNP’s victory in 1955 was not repeated in 1959. Robert Lightbourne (JLP) made his dramatic entry on the political scene and defeated Ken Clarke and Lawrence Telfer (PNP) in 1962. The portrait of the history of West St Thomas became more colourful with the emergence of Robert Lightbourne. In its 60th anniversary feature of the Jamaica Manufacturers’ Association (JMA, March 2007) dubbed Robert Lightbourne as “pioneer of industry”. The feature informs us, “The story of Robert G Lightbourne is the story of Jamaica’s entry into 20th century industrial development.” Who celebrates this great Jamaican?

The JMA feature provides an important background description of this great Jamaican: how Lightbourne had a “quick and innovative mind” that he applied to bankrupt companies during the Second World War period, and turned them into viable industrial enterprises. Out of this crisis his own business interest that he built from a small operation to a large industrial giant. It was against this background that he was invited to Jamaica by the Bustamante-led Jamaica Labour Party in 1951 after the 1951 hurricane that created a disaster of crisis proportions. He was made head of the Industrial Development Corporation to respond to that crisis. In 1959 he became Minister of Trade and Industry. The story emerged – it was one of jobs, attracting foreign investments, developing viable enterprises – especially areas in food technology application, and how “Made in Jamaica” became a part of our national life and helped to create a new page in our history. He made a valuable contribution to international negotiations, especially his hallmark role in the 1968 World Conference on Sugar. The idea behind his thinking was “that the Jamaican entrepreneur had a mercantile background and was not equipped by experience or background in industrial development”.

Before reading the JMA feature, I had my own view of Mr Lightbourne, especially his role in Western St Thomas. I saw him as that person who was preparing Jamaica for the post-plantation/mercantilist society. He established several factories in Yallahs, one telephone assembling plant and a few agricultural plants out of his food technology division. Serge Island Sugar Factory, one of the two sugar factories in St Thomas and one of the largest employers was about to close down. Mr Lightbourne saved the moment with the GoodYear Tyre Factory. This industrial site became a new and major employer for people in and out of the parish. This pragmatic and progressive approach to politics had its educational component. He provided scholarships for students to go abroad to study to become engineers. He was increasing our stock of workers in engineering to take the level of what some call “screwdriver” industries to a higher level. In addition, we should not forget that it was Mr Lightbourne who wrote the music for our national anthem.

Many commentators have argued that Singapore and some other places were behind or even on the same level with Jamaica in the early 1960s and now they are “emerging economies”. For example, South Korea and Singapore jumped from Third World to First World in one generation, while Jamaica remains at the same level of underdevelopment. The answer may be this, in part: what if Robert Lightbourne had become the prime minister of Jamaica after the death of Donald Sangster?

It is interesting to ask why Mr Lightbourne was “prevented” from becoming the leader of the JLP and prime minister to fill the vacancy created by the death of Donald Sangster. Who was behind the conspiracy? Who celebrates the life and times of this great Jamaican? Can you imagine a Jamaica under the leadership of Lightbourne in the first decade of independent Jamaica? His contribution to Jamaica was monumental and as such he deserves greater recognition and respect.

Have a wonderful 2011, everyone.

Louis EA Moyston

thearchives01@yahoo.com