Dear Editor,

It is to be noted that February 24, 1884 is a very significant date in the history of Jamaica, for the island’s first Prime Minister, Sir William Alexander Bustamante was born on that date. Thus, as part of Black History Month all Jamaicans at home and abroad should remember and celebrate that date.

He was born at Blenheim in the parish of Hanover, Jamaica, his birth name William Alexander Clarke. However, he later changed his surname to Bustamante.

Bustamante came to political prominence during the revolt of striking sugar cane workers on the Frome estate in the parish of Westmoreland, and discontented and exploited labourers in other parts of the island in 1938. He immediately became a very vocal mouthpiece of the working class. This uprising motivated him to form a badly needed trade union movement, which bore his name — the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU).

Bustamante supported Norman Manley as the People’s National Party (PNP) was launched in 1938. But he had his differences with the party’s leadership, and in 1939 he resigned from the PNP.

His strong political activism caused him to be labelled a dangerous, subversive agitator. This led to his imprisonment in 1940. He was eventually released in 1942, but incarceration did not deter him from pursuing his political objectives.

In July 1943, Bustamante formally launched the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP).

The vigorous campaign of this political party awakened the consciousness of the masses so much so that it led to the granting of universal adult suffrage in 1944, allowing every adult age 21 and over to vote and elect parliamentary representatives.

It must be understood that before 1944, only property owners who paid taxes were allowed to vote.

The general election was held in December, 1944, and the JLP basically annihilated the PNP, winning 22 seats in the 32-member House of Representatives. The PNP won four seats and independent candidates won six seats.

At this time Bustamante was adored by the masses. In their eyes he could do no wrong. He was so popular that he was fondly called ‘The Chief’ or ‘Busta’, for short.

He again won the general election in 1949 and was given the title of Chief Minister in 1953: a title that he held until 1955 when the JLP was defeated.

Although he initially supported the idea of a West Indian Federation, he later opposed it. His vigorous opposition led to the withdrawal of Jamaica from the Federation through a referendum in 1961.

The failure of the Federation prompted Norman Manley, premier at the time, to call a general election which he lost on April 10, 1962.

Following the election Jamaica was granted independence on August 6, 1962, and once again Busta, ‘The Chief’, was in charge of the island’s political and economic affairs. Thus, he became Jamaica’s first Prime Minister, a position he held until 1967 when he retired from politics. He was also knighted by Queen Elizabeth II.

Sir William Alexander Bustamante was a remarkable charismatic leader who dominated the political arena for more than three decades. It was, therefore, not surprising that he was proclaimed a National Hero in 1969. After his death on August 6, 1977 he was interred in the National Heroes Park.

There is no doubt that he was a vigorous champion of the working class in Jamaica. He was their voice. He was so adored by the masses that they enthusiastically chanted: “We will follow Bustamante till we die.”

Rupert Johnson

The Right Excellent Sir William Alexander Bustamante, G.B.E., LL.D (Hon.)

FIRST PRIME MINISTER

Aug. 6, 1962 – Feb. 27, 1967

NATIONAL HERO (1969)

LEGACY:

Shares with cousin Norman Washington Manley, the honour of being one of the two ‘Founding Fathers’ of Jamaica’s Independence, attained peacefully, August 6, 1962

PERSONALITY:

Physically impressive, standing approximately 6’5′ with gangling gait. A strong, wiry body and shock of grey 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.

EDUCATION:

Elementary schools, and by Private Tuition

FOUNDER:

The Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (1938) and the Jamaica Labour Party (1943).

WORK EXPERIENCE:

Store Clerk, Bee Keeper, Dairy Farmer, Junior Estate Overseer, Tramcar Inspector, Wall Street Speculator, Money Lender, Trade Unionist.

BORN:

February 24,1884, Blenheim, Hanover, Jamaica

PARENTS:

Robert Constantine Clarke, and wife Mary nee Wilson

MARRIED:

Gladys Longbridge, September 7,1962

CHILDREN:

None

DIED:

August 6, 1977

AGE AT DEATH:

93-years old

When Sir Alexander Bustamante began to make his presence felt in Jamaica, the country was still a Crown Colony. Under this system, the Governor had the right to veto at all times, which he very often exercised against the wishes of the majority.

Bustamante was quick to realise that the social and economic ills that such a system engendered, had to be countered by mobilisation of the working class.

Pay and working conditions were poor in the 1920s and 1930s. Failing harvests and the lay-off of workers resulted in an influx of unemployed people, moving from the rural areas into the city. This mass migration did little to alleviate the already tremendous unemployment problem.

Bustamante first impressed his name on the society with a series of letters to The Gleaner and occasionally to British newspapers, calling attention to the social and economic problems of the poor and underprivileged in Jamaica.

The years 1937 and 1938 brought the outbreak of widespread discontent and social unrest. In advocating the cause of the masses, Bustamante became the undisputed champion of the working class. He also confronted the power of the Colonial Governor, declaring, “Long live the King! But Denham must go.”

During the troublesome days of 1938, the security forces were everywhere eyeball to eyeball with Bustamante and the workers. Labour unrests continued on and off.

On September 8, 1940, Bustamante was detained at Up Park Camp, for alleged violation of the Defence of the Realm Act. He was released seventeen months later.

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.

Sir Alexander became the first Prime Minister of Independent Jamaica in 1962. He retired from active politics in 1967. He died on August 6,1977, at the age of 93.