As we approach the Diamond Jubilee of nationhood on 31st August 2022, we must reflect on the great achievements that gradually built the foundations of our national identity. The movement towards Independence did not begin with the election of Dr. Eric Williams as 2nd Chief Minister in 1956 with the success of the P.N.M in the general elections of that year, but through various leaders that came to the stage in the early parts of the 20th century.
The World Wars of the 20th century
The 20th century proved to be an extraordinary period for not only the major world powers (UK, France, Spain, USA and Germany) but for the colonies of France and the UK. With the First World War (1914-1918) and the Second World War (1939-1945) many geopolitical, economic and social changes were being implemented either gradually or swiftly. These two wars were indeed very devastating to not only national and regional economies but to those who fought in the war.
The British West Indian Regiment was created to be utilized for additional infantry on the front lines, comprised of military personnel from the British Caribbean colonies. Unfortunate as it was for a senseless war to take place, there were high levels of racism. This was conflicting as many who signed up to fight in the war did so for “King and country” and saw it as their duty as British subjects. Even with the Second World War, there were similar instances of racism and mistreatment of West Indian or British Caribbean soldiers. However, the Second World War proved to be very influential not only in the affairs of Europe but in the colonies as well. Given that India and Pakistan gained Independence in 1947, two years after the end of the war, it started a chain reaction that gradually led to the Independence of British colonies in Asia, Africa and the Caribbean. We must note that the 1920s to the 1950s was a period of great recollection and national identity within many colonies. This is especially true with regard to worker rights which were extremely deplorable and did not protect the workers from brutal powers of the employer.
The movement for self-government in our twin island republic
In Dr. Eric Williams’ book, History of the People of Trinidad and Tobago, he states, “Cipriani, Butler, Solomon – these three will go down in our history as the great trinity in our movement for self-government. Cipriani gave dignity to the barefooted man. Butler brought the inarticulate masses on a national scale on to the political scale. Solomon introduced the intellectual element and dignified the constitution reform movement by placing it squarely in its world democratic context”(Williams 242).
Captain Arthur A. Cipriani was a labour leader who founded the Trinidad Labour Party as well as developed the labour movement and advocated for worker rights in Trinidad, which in the early 20th century were deplorable. Uriah Butler was another labour leader who brought upon the 1937 riots and greatly fought for the rights of oil workers. He established the OWTU (Oil Workers Trade Union) in 1937. Dr. Patrick Solomon, a physician and politician, strived towards developing more local involvement in the matters of governance mainly with constitutional reform in 1950. This constitutional reform allowed local involvement in the governance of Trinidad and Tobago such as the members of the legislative council being appointed as government ministers based on the Chief Minister’s choice.
Additional mention must be made of Krishna Deonarine better known as Adrian ‘Cola’ Rienzi, who worked with Butler to develop the OWTU. Rienzi fought for the rights of Indo- Trinidadians by ensuring that they were able to obtain jobs in the civil service. He also fought for the establishment of Hindu and Muslim schools and cemeteries as well as the protections of sugarcane workers. In the 1940’s, Rienzi joined with Butler to fight for the rights of both oil and sugarcane workers (Greenstien 256-257). As Dr. Williams noted, Cipriani, Butler, and Dr. Solomon, gradually developed the political scene with the drive of more internal self- governance. These were the men who from the 1930’s straight on to the 1950’s brought the masses together based upon the principles of worker rights and better systems of governance in the colony. Many of our decisions were either accepted or declined by the Governor, who was a representative of the Crown, or the social elite who before 1946, were the only ones able to vote and held control over many aspects of the economy and society.
It goes to show that our movement for Independence was built largely from the workers movement and the intellectual movement. The rights of workers and the citizens of the colony of Trinidad and Tobago ended up being the foundation of our Independence. The workers movement led by Cipriani, Butler and later with Rienzi and the Intellectual movement led by Dr. Patrick Solomon were things which have been taken for granting within Trinbagonian society. These entities fought for a better Trinidad and Tobago. They fought through intense political debates, courageous mass rallies and committed leaders for the advancement of the people of Trinidad and Tobago.
References
• Williams, Eric. History of the People of Trinidad and Tobago. London, Andre Deutsch Limited, 1963.
• Greenstein, L. Paizee, D. Nichloson, B. (2018). Secondary Social Sciences 3 for Trinidad and Tobago (pp. 254-257) . Collins Publishers