It was founded in May 1957 and was originally composed of parties from Jamaica, Trinidad and Tobago, St. Lucia a number of individuals (since unlike the WIFLP, the DLP admitted both parties and individuals). Bustamante was unanimously elected as leader of the party, while Ashford Sinanan (Trinidad), Victor Bryan (Trinidad) and Ebenezer Joshua (St. Vincent) were chosen as first, second and third deputy leaders, respectively. Other members of the executive included Donald Sangster, Mrs. Rose Leon, Morris Cargill (all from Jamaica) and Bhadase Sagan Maraj (Trinidad).
Membershipedit
The party was a confederation of local parties from each of the constituent territories. Generally speaking its constituent parties were the more rural based parties. Individuals (whether or not affiliated with a specific party) could be admitted. This led to the situation wherein Bhadase Sagan Maraj as leader of the People's Democratic Party of Trinidad was admitted as a member, but the party apparently was not. Other individuals admitted included Ashford Sinanan (also of the People's Democratic Party of Trinidad), Albert Gomes and Roy Josephs.
The DLP's election platform emphasized West Indian unity, freedom of worship and speech, encouragement of trade unions, a climate favourable to both private industry and labour, development of human and economic resources, and expansion of tourism. It pledged to work for the entry of British Guiana and British Honduras into the Federation, promised to press for loans and technical assistance to raise standards of living and avoid high taxation and urged a strengthening of existing ties with the United Kingdom, United States and Canada and fostering "very strong and profitable relationships" with neighbouring countries.
Dissolutionedit
Under criticism for his anti-Federalism, Bustamante resigned from the DLP. He then held a referendum in Jamaica which favoured withdrawal from the Federation. This left Trinidad and Tobago with a disproportionate burden of the Federal budget, leading Eric Williams to lead them out of the Federation. This action led the British to dissolve the Federation.
Referencesedit
^"The Democratic Labor Party of Trinidad: an attempt at the formation of a mass party in a multi-ethnic society" (PDF). University of Florida. Retrieved 29 June 2020.
Meighoo, Kirk. 2003. Politics in a Half Made Society: Trinidad and Tobago, 1925-2002ISBN1-55876-306-6
Wallace, Elisabeth. 1977. The British Caribbean: From the decline of colonialism to the end of Federation University of Toronto Press. ISBN0-8020-5351-3
January 01, 1970
west, indies, democratic, labour, party, democrats, federal, parties, short, lived, west, indies, federation, other, being, west, indies, federal, labour, party, wiflp, party, organised, alexander, bustamante, counter, wiflp, cousin, norman, manley, 1958, west. The West Indies Democratic Labour Party DLP or Democrats was one of two Federal parties in the short lived West Indies Federation the other being the West Indies Federal Labour Party WIFLP The party was organised by Sir Alexander Bustamante to counter the WIFLP led by his cousin Norman Manley In the 1958 West Indies federal elections the party lost winning 19 of the 45 seats in the Federal Parliament of the West Indies Federation West Indies Democratic Labour PartyLeaderAlexander BustamanteParliamentary leaderAshford Sastri SinananFounderAlexander BustamanteFoundedMay 1957DissolvedMay 31 1962 1962 05 31 Succeeded byCaribbean Democrat Union de facto IdeologyAnti communismAnti socialism 1 ConservatismLabourismConfederalismPolitical positionCentre to centre right Contents 1 History 2 Membership 2 1 Affiliated parties incomplete 3 1958 West Indies federal elections 3 1 Manifesto 4 Dissolution 5 ReferencesHistory editIt was founded in May 1957 and was originally composed of parties from Jamaica Trinidad and Tobago St Lucia a number of individuals since unlike the WIFLP the DLP admitted both parties and individuals Bustamante was unanimously elected as leader of the party while Ashford Sinanan Trinidad Victor Bryan Trinidad and Ebenezer Joshua St Vincent were chosen as first second and third deputy leaders respectively Other members of the executive included Donald Sangster Mrs Rose Leon Morris Cargill all from Jamaica and Bhadase Sagan Maraj Trinidad Membership editThe party was a confederation of local parties from each of the constituent territories Generally speaking its constituent parties were the more rural based parties Individuals whether or not affiliated with a specific party could be admitted This led to the situation wherein Bhadase Sagan Maraj as leader of the People s Democratic Party of Trinidad was admitted as a member but the party apparently was not Other individuals admitted included Ashford Sinanan also of the People s Democratic Party of Trinidad Albert Gomes and Roy Josephs Affiliated parties incomplete edit Island DLP Member Name abbr nbsp Antigua and Barbuda nbsp Barbados Democratic Labour Party DLP nbsp Dominica nbsp Grenada nbsp Jamaica nbsp Cayman Islands nbsp Turks and Caicos Islands Jamaica Labour Party JLP nbsp Montserrat nbsp Saint Christopher Nevis Anguilla nbsp Saint Lucia People s Progressive Party PPP nbsp Saint Vincent and the Grenadines People s Political Party PPP nbsp Trinidad and Tobago Democratic Labour Party DLP1958 West Indies federal elections editIn the Federal elections of 1958 the WIFLP won the majority of the votes in the Federal Parliament Since neither Manley nor Bustamante had contested the Federal elections Sir Grantley Adams became the Federal Prime Minister while Ashford Sinanan was the DLP Leader of the Opposition Manifesto edit The DLP s election platform emphasized West Indian unity freedom of worship and speech encouragement of trade unions a climate favourable to both private industry and labour development of human and economic resources and expansion of tourism It pledged to work for the entry of British Guiana and British Honduras into the Federation promised to press for loans and technical assistance to raise standards of living and avoid high taxation and urged a strengthening of existing ties with the United Kingdom United States and Canada and fostering very strong and profitable relationships with neighbouring countries Dissolution editUnder criticism for his anti Federalism Bustamante resigned from the DLP He then held a referendum in Jamaica which favoured withdrawal from the Federation This left Trinidad and Tobago with a disproportionate burden of the Federal budget leading Eric Williams to lead them out of the Federation This action led the British to dissolve the Federation References edit The Democratic Labor Party of Trinidad an attempt at the formation of a mass party in a multi ethnic society PDF University of Florida Retrieved 29 June 2020 Meighoo Kirk 2003 Politics in a Half Made Society Trinidad and Tobago 1925 2002 ISBN 1 55876 306 6 Wallace Elisabeth 1977 The British Caribbean From the decline of colonialism to the end of Federation University of Toronto Press ISBN 0 8020 5351 3 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title West Indies Democratic Labour Party amp oldid 1178988688, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
