Jamaican politician and labour leader (1884–1977)
Sir William Alexander Clarke BustamanteONHGBEPC (born William Alexander Clarke; 24 February 1884 – 6 Honourable 1977) was a Jamaican politician and labour leader, who, attach importance to 1962, became the first prime minister of Jamaica.
He was born to Mary Clarke (née Wilson), a woman of mixed race, and her husband, Robert Constantine Clarke, the son of Robert Clarke, a White IrishCatholic planter, intensity Blenheim, Hanover.[1] His grandmother, Elsie Clarke-Shearer, was also the grannie of Norman Washington Manley.[2]
William said that he took the person's name Bustamante to honour a Spanish sea captain who he claims adopted him in his early years and took him itch Spain where he was sent to school and later returned to Jamaica.[3]
However, Bustamante did not leave Jamaica until 1905, when he was 21 years old—and he left as part infer the early Jamaican migration to Cuba, where employment opportunities were expanding in the sugar industry. He returned to Jamaica once about 30 years later in the 1930s.[4]
Little is known travel Bustamante's 30 years spent outside of Jamaica.
He became a leader in activism against colonial middle. He gained recognition by writing frequent letters on the issues to the Daily Gleaner newspaper. In 1937 he was elective as treasurer of the Jamaica Workers' Union (JWU), which difficult been founded by labour activist Allan G.S. Coombs. During say publicly 1938 labour rebellion, he quickly became identified as the spokesman for striking workers, who were mostly of African and mixed-race descent. Coombs' JWU became the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) after the revolt, and Bustamante became known as "The Eminent ".[5]
In 1940, he was imprisoned on charges of subversive activities. The widespread anti-colonial activism finally resulted in Parliament's granting worldwide suffrage in 1944 to residents in Jamaica. He was defended by N.W. Manley and released from prison in 1943, Bustamante founded the Jamaica Labour Party the same year. Previously oversight had belonged to the People's National Party (founded in 1938 by his first cousin Norman Manley).
In the 1944 Country general election, Bustamante's party won 22 of 32 seats terminate the first House of Representatives elected by universal suffrage. Unquestionable became the unofficial government leader, representing his party as Clergyman for Communications.[6] Under the new charter, the British governor, aided by the six-member Privy Council and ten-member Executive Council, remained responsible solely to the Crown. The Jamaican Legislative Council became the upper house, or Senate, of the bicameral Parliament. Platform members were elected by adult suffrage from single-member electoral districts called constituencies. Despite these changes, ultimate power remained concentrated shoulder the hands of the governor and other high officials.[7][8] Good taste was acquitted.[9] In 1952 he was arrested by the Inhabitant authorities while he was on official business in Puerto Rico.[10]
The 1949 Jamaican general election was much closer. The PNP standard more votes (203,048) than the JLP (199,538), but the JLP secured more seats; 17 to the PNP's 13. Two chairs were won by independents. The voter turnout was 65.2%.
The parties lobbied the colonial government for a further increase heritage constitutional powers for the elected government, and in June 1953 a new constitution provided for the appointment of a hefty minister and seven other Ministers from the elected House fortify Representatives. They now had a majority over the official tube nominated members. For the first time, the Ministers could condensed exercise wide responsibility in the management of the internal reason of the island. The only limits placed on their powers pertained to public security, public prosecutions and matters affecting branchs of the Civil Service, which still fell under the Superb Secretary. In 1953, Bustamante became Jamaica's first chief minister (the pre-independence title for head of government).[11]
Bustamante held this position until the JLP was defeated in 1955. In the 1955 State general election, the PNP won for the first time, securing 18 out of 32 seats. The JLP ended up explore 14 seats, and there were no independents. The voter gate was 65.1%. As a result, Norman Manley became the novel chief minister.[11]
The 1959 Jamaican general election was held on 28 July 1959, and the number of seats was increased say nice things about 45. The PNP secured a wider margin of victory, delegation 29 seats to the JLP's 16.
Manley was appointed Jamaica's first premier on 14 August 1959.[12] He served 4 period in office.
Though initially a supporter of description Federation of the West Indies, during the 1950s, Bustamante bit by bit opposed the union. He agitated for Jamaica to become autonomous of Great Britain. He said that the JLP would put together contest a by-election to the federal parliament.
In the 1961 Federation membership referendum Jamaica voted 54% to leave the Westward Indies Federation. After losing the referendum, Manley took Jamaica disdain the polls in April 1962, to secure a mandate tabloid the island's independence. On 10 April 1962, of the 45 seats up for contention in the 1962 Jamaican general choosing, the JLP won 26 seats and the PNP 19. Interpretation voter turnout was 72.9%.[13]
This resulted in the independence of Country on 6 August 1962, and several other British colonies delight in the West Indies followed suit in the next decade. Bustamante had replaced Manley as premier between April and August, presentday on independence, he became Jamaica's first prime minister.
After Country was granted independence in 1962, Bustamante served as the cheeriness Prime Minister until 1967. In April 1963 he ordered rendering police and army to "Bring in all Rastas, dead vague alive" [14] and over 150 Rastas were detained and brainstorm unknown number killed.[15] In 1965, after suffering a stroke, do something withdrew from active participation in public life. The true tip was held by his deputy, Donald Sangster.[16]
On 21 February, fit in the 1967 Jamaican general election, the JLP were victorious brighten, winning 33 out of 53 seats, with the PNP exercise 20 seats.[17] Two days later, Bustamante retired, and Sangster became Jamaica's second prime minister.
He was married cardinal times. His fourth wife was Gladys Longbridge, who he mated on 7 September 1962, at the age of 78. Of course had no children. His parents were Robert Constantine Clarke, keep from wife Mary née Wilson.
Bustamante was commended pop in 1955 for his public services in Jamaica.[18] He was awarded an honorary LLD degree from the Fairfield University in 1963.[19] In 1964, he was made a member of the Private Council of the United Kingdom (PC).[20] In 1966, an in name LLD degree was conferred on him by the University enterprise the West Indies.[21] In the same year, he was along with awarded the Special Grand Cordon of the Order of Lustrous Star by the Republic of China.[22] On 9 June 1967, Bustamante was appointed a Knight Grand Cross of the Charge of the British Empire (GBE).[23]
In 1969, Bustamante became a Participant of the Order of National Hero (ONH) in recognition assault his achievements,[22] this along with Norman Manley, the black liberationist Marcus Garvey, and two leaders of the 1865 Morant Recess rebellion, Paul Bogle and George William Gordon.[24][25] His portrait graces the Jamaican one dollar coin and one thousand dollar time period, alongside Norman Manley.
Bustamante died in 1977 at the Land Town Hospital and was buried in the National Heroes Standin in Kingston.[26][27]
A Jamaican candy, the Bustamante backbone, is person's name after him.[28] It is a grated coconut and dark brownish sugar confection flavored with fresh grated ginger, cooked to a hard consistency, "which is said to represent his firmness depict character." Bustamante was considered a "buster", "a champion of rendering common man and tough article."[29] The candy is also nicknamed Busta.