Sir Alexander Bustamante
(1884-1977), Jamaica, Statesman

Born Alexander Clarke in the parish of Westmoreland, he took the name Bustamante from an Iberian sea captain who befriended him in his early life. After acquiring some wealth on the American stock exchange, he returned to Jamaica in 1932 and in 1938 lead the resistance to the colonial government.

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

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

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

Bustamante first impressed his name on the society by a series of letters to Jamaica’s newspaper, 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 troublous days of 1938 the security forces were everywhere eyeball to eyeball with Bustamante and the workers. Labour unrest continued on and off.

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

On his release, he formed the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union and the Jamaica Labour Party in 1943. He was the first Premier of Jamaica (1944-1954) and Prime Minister at independence in 1962.

The first general election under Universal Adult Suffrage came in 1944 and the JLP won 22 of the 32 seats.

Alexander Bustamante was an aggressive, outspoken young man who understood the dynamics of labor relations. A charismatic and impressive speaker who criticized the prevailing political system and its attendant social problems.

He is Jamaica’s first Chief Minister, a position he held until 1954, being knighted that same year by the queen.

On August 6, 1962 Jamaica was granted full independence. At the first session of Parliament, Bustamante received the Instruments of Independence from the queen’s representative, Princess Margaret.

In 1962 Sir Alexander Bustamante became Jamaica’s first Prime Minister.

He retired from active politics in 1967. He died on August 6, 1977 at the age of 93.

This time in Jamaica’s history drastic changes were heralded, not by bloodshed but by peaceful negotiations.