Remembering Sir Alexander Bustamante: First P.M. Of Jamaica

By Rupert Johnson

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.

It is to be noted that he was born at Blenheim in the parish of Hanover, Jamaica, and that his birth name was 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 the badly needed trade union movement which bore his name—the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU).

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. Immediately after he was set free he formed the Jamaica Labour Party.

There is no doubt that 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. This meant that every adult age 21 and over was able to vote and elect parliamentary representatives.

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

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.

In the 1944 election that followed the granting of adult suffrage his party won 22 of the 32 seats in the House of Representatives. He won again in 1949 and was given the title of Chief Minister in 1953; a title that he held until 1955 when his party was defeated.

Although he 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, the Second.

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 can be reached at: r.b.johnson@sympatico.ca.