Clement Payne
Encyclopedia
Clement Osbourne Payne was a Barbadian
pioneer in the Caribbean trade union movement. By an act of Parliament
in 1998, Payne was named as one of the ten National Heroes of Barbados
.
In 1937, Payne led black Barbadians to resist the white planter class. He organized several public meetings and aroused the ire of the police and government. Payne was expelled from Barbados in July of that year on the basis that he had lied to enter the country. Payne was under the impression that he was a Barbadian citizen, but did not know that he was born in Trinidad
to Barbadian parents.
Authorities secreted Payne onto a boat in the early morning to Trinidad. After Payne was deported, four days of rioting ensued. This led to a Commission of Inquiry (The Moyne Commission) to investigate the situation in Barbados and other British West Indies
colonies. The Moyne Commission determined that all of his charges against the island's rulers were accurate. In its report, it insisted on reforms which Payne had proposed, including the introduction of trade union
legislation.
is a leftist Barbadian political party named after Payne.
The Clement Payne Cultural Centre was formed in Barbados in 1989 to perpetuate his memory and to continue his work of enlightening Barbadians about their history and struggle.
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
pioneer in the Caribbean trade union movement. By an act of Parliament
Parliament of Barbados
The Parliament of Barbados is the national legislature of Barbados. It is accorded legislative supremacy by Chapter V of the Constitution of Barbados. The Parliament is bicameral in composition and is formally made up of: HM Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados The Parliament of Barbados is the...
in 1998, Payne was named as one of the ten National Heroes of Barbados
Barbadian national heroes
Barbadian National Heroes are the designees of the Order of National Heroes Act, as passed by the Parliament of Barbados in 1998. The act formally recognized the stature of ten major figures in the history of Barbados....
.
In 1937, Payne led black Barbadians to resist the white planter class. He organized several public meetings and aroused the ire of the police and government. Payne was expelled from Barbados in July of that year on the basis that he had lied to enter the country. Payne was under the impression that he was a Barbadian citizen, but did not know that he was born in Trinidad
Trinidad
Trinidad is the larger and more populous of the two major islands and numerous landforms which make up the island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. It is the southernmost island in the Caribbean and lies just off the northeastern coast of Venezuela. With an area of it is also the fifth largest in...
to Barbadian parents.
Authorities secreted Payne onto a boat in the early morning to Trinidad. After Payne was deported, four days of rioting ensued. This led to a Commission of Inquiry (The Moyne Commission) to investigate the situation in Barbados and other British West Indies
British West Indies
The British West Indies was a term used to describe the islands in and around the Caribbean that were part of the British Empire The term was sometimes used to include British Honduras and British Guiana, even though these territories are not geographically part of the Caribbean...
colonies. The Moyne Commission determined that all of his charges against the island's rulers were accurate. In its report, it insisted on reforms which Payne had proposed, including the introduction of trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
legislation.
Legacy
The Clement Payne MovementClement Payne Movement
The Clement Payne Movement , is a Barbados based political party named in honor of a man who led a 1937 uprising in Barbados. The Clement Payne Movement is generally seen by most Barbadians as more leftist in ideology when compared to either the more moderate BLP or DLP.The CPM also seeks the...
is a leftist Barbadian political party named after Payne.
The Clement Payne Cultural Centre was formed in Barbados in 1989 to perpetuate his memory and to continue his work of enlightening Barbadians about their history and struggle.