HISTORICAL PROCESS

GRANTLEY ADAMS

He was from Barbados, and his work on behalf of the people earned him the nicknames ‘Moses’
or ‘Messiah’. In 1937 he was chosen to report to England about the riots and he stressed the need
for reforms to alleviate poverty and injustice. He charted the labour movement in Barbados and
he was a supporter of the failed WIF.

VERE BIRD

He became the first prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, and he formed the Antigua Trades
and Labour Union in 1943 and he was also the leader of the Antigua Labour Party. He was an
advocate for sugar workers and he lobbied for better wages for them in the 1940’s; he also
supported the WIF.

ALEXANDER BUSTAMANTE

He represented Jamaica and in May of 1938 he formed the B.I.T.U; this organisation worked on
behalf of workers all over the island. In 1943, he formed the JLP following disagreements with
the PNP. He was the first prime minister of independent Jamaica and he opposed the WIF.

URIAH ‘BUZZ’ BUTLER

He was born in Grenada, but he represented Trinidad; he was an advocate for the oil workers and
he organised and led strikes on their behalf. In 1937 he organised what became known as the
Butler/Oilfield Riots and he was arrested for two years. During WW2 he was detained by the
government for 6 years, because they did not want him to make any trouble.

CPT. ARTHUR CIPRIANI

He represented Trinidad and in 1919 he organised an industrial strike of wharf workers in Port of
Spain. While in the Legislative Council after 1925, he fought for pension, women’s rights,
minimum wages and compulsory education.

NATHANEAL CRITCHLOW

He represented Guyana and he was responsible for the birth and growth of the trade union
movement in his country. He supported this movement because he wanted to end the depressing
conditions of workers; he led the waterfront workers in their 1905 strike.

Critchlow started the British Guiana Labour Union and in 1921, he was able to achieve legal
recognition for trade unions.

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NORMAN MANLEY

He formed the PNP in 1938 and he advocated for universal adult suffrage in 1944; he was also a
supporter of the WIF.

ADRIAN COLA RIENZI

He represented Trinidad and he was a friend of Butler; Rienzi wanted to improve the standard of
living of workers, especially the sugar workers and he wanted to put an end to imperial power in
Trinidad.

INDEPENDENCE IN THE CARIBBEAN

BARBADOS – November, 30, 1966

CUBA – August, 12, 1898

DOMINICA – November, 03, 1978

DOMINICAN REPUBLIC – February, 27, 1844

GRENADA – February, 07, 1974

GUYANA – May, 26,, 1966

HAITI – January, 01, 1804

JAMAICA – August, 06, 1962

St. KITTS and NEVIS – September, 19, 1983

SURINAME – November, 25, 1975

TRINIDAD and TOBAGO – August, 31, 1962

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