Emmanuel Christopher Loblack
Encyclopedia
Emmanuel Christopher Loblack O.B.E.
(August 29, 1898- June 3, 1995) was a Dominica
n trade union
ist and politician
.
. He was a mason
and builder
by trade; he was employed by the Public Works Department in 1939, and this job would be the impetus that would begin his long political career.
In 1939, Loblack met with London’s
Moyne Commission, who were visiting the island
to investigate conditions in Dominica. He, along with several other people, appeared before the Commission and took its members to view areas of Roseau
. He made complaints about wage
rates and the working conditions that tenant farmer
s were working in. One member of the commission, Lord Citrine, encouraged the establishment of a trade union, which he had also suggested done in other territories.
On January 11, 1945, Loblack, with the assistance of Austin Winston and Ralph Nicholls, launched the Dominica Trade Union
. The union grew quickly, largely through changing work hours of most Dominicans from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. It soon grew to 26 branches around the island.
As leader of the Trade Union, Loblack, represented Dominica in Britain at the International Confederation of Trade Unions in 1949. It was at this meeting that Loblack successfully lobbied for electricity
, bridge
s, and road
s, which were all needed in many parts of the country.
, he created the Dominica Labour Party
. However, at the same time, the visions of new Trade Union members and Loblack began to differ, and in 1957 he left.
His perseverance and commitment towards the Dominica Labour Party garnered him a nominated seat in the legislative council when the Dominica Labour Party won the 1961 general elections. However, with the expulsion of co-founder of the party Phyllis Shand Allfrey, in September 1962 Loblack removed himself from the party.
In 1968, with much political clout he, along with Edward Scobie, Anthony Moise, Mary Eugenia Charles, and several others founded the Dominica Freedom Party
, and were known as Freedomites.
.
With his passing Dominica also recognized his outstanding achievements and Loblack was given a State Funeral on June 10, 1995. To honour his achievements and vision, the government of Dominica re-named Dominica's Roseau East Bridge to the E.C. Loblack Bridge.
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(August 29, 1898- June 3, 1995) was a Dominica
Dominica
Dominica , officially the Commonwealth of Dominica, is an island nation in the Lesser Antilles region of the Caribbean Sea, south-southeast of Guadeloupe and northwest of Martinique. Its size is and the highest point in the country is Morne Diablotins, which has an elevation of . The Commonwealth...
n 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...
ist and politician
Politician
A politician, political leader, or political figure is an individual who is involved in influencing public policy and decision making...
.
Trade union
Loblack was raised in Grand Bay, DominicaGrand Bay, Dominica
Grand Bay , known officially as Berekua, is a village in the south of Dominica. It has a population of 2,288, and is the largest settlement in St. Patrick Parish....
. He was a mason
Masonry
Masonry is the building of structures from individual units laid in and bound together by mortar; the term masonry can also refer to the units themselves. The common materials of masonry construction are brick, stone, marble, granite, travertine, limestone; concrete block, glass block, stucco, and...
and builder
Building
In architecture, construction, engineering, real estate development and technology the word building may refer to one of the following:...
by trade; he was employed by the Public Works Department in 1939, and this job would be the impetus that would begin his long political career.
In 1939, Loblack met with London’s
London
London is the capital city of :England and the :United Kingdom, the largest metropolitan area in the United Kingdom, and the largest urban zone in the European Union by most measures. Located on the River Thames, London has been a major settlement for two millennia, its history going back to its...
Moyne Commission, who were visiting the island
Island
An island or isle is any piece of sub-continental land that is surrounded by water. Very small islands such as emergent land features on atolls can be called islets, cays or keys. An island in a river or lake may be called an eyot , or holm...
to investigate conditions in Dominica. He, along with several other people, appeared before the Commission and took its members to view areas of Roseau
Roseau
-Architecture:The central district of Roseau is tightly packed with small and large houses and even larger modern concrete structures. There is little green or open space situated within the city, and this is even more so today, as many of the courtyards which was once commonplace within the city...
. He made complaints about wage
Wage
A wage is a compensation, usually financial, received by workers in exchange for their labor.Compensation in terms of wages is given to workers and compensation in terms of salary is given to employees...
rates and the working conditions that tenant farmer
Tenant farmer
A tenant farmer is one who resides on and farms land owned by a landlord. Tenant farming is an agricultural production system in which landowners contribute their land and often a measure of operating capital and management; while tenant farmers contribute their labor along with at times varying...
s were working in. One member of the commission, Lord Citrine, encouraged the establishment of a trade union, which he had also suggested done in other territories.
On January 11, 1945, Loblack, with the assistance of Austin Winston and Ralph Nicholls, launched the Dominica Trade Union
Dominica Trade Union
The Dominica Trade Union is a trade union in Dominica. Founded in 1954 by Emmanuel Christopher Loblack, the DTU has declined from a membership of 8000 down to several hundred members. It is affiliated with the International Trade Union Confederation....
. The union grew quickly, largely through changing work hours of most Dominicans from 6 a.m. – 6 p.m. to 8:00 a.m. – 4:00 p.m. It soon grew to 26 branches around the island.
As leader of the Trade Union, Loblack, represented Dominica in Britain at the International Confederation of Trade Unions in 1949. It was at this meeting that Loblack successfully lobbied for electricity
Electricity
Electricity is a general term encompassing a variety of phenomena resulting from the presence and flow of electric charge. These include many easily recognizable phenomena, such as lightning, static electricity, and the flow of electrical current in an electrical wire...
, bridge
Bridge
A bridge is a structure built to span physical obstacles such as a body of water, valley, or road, for the purpose of providing passage over the obstacle...
s, and road
Road
A road is a thoroughfare, route, or way on land between two places, which typically has been paved or otherwise improved to allow travel by some conveyance, including a horse, cart, or motor vehicle. Roads consist of one, or sometimes two, roadways each with one or more lanes and also any...
s, which were all needed in many parts of the country.
Political career
In May 1955, with long time Dominican political activist Phyllis Shand AllfreyPhyllis Shand Allfrey
Phyllis Byam Shand Allfrey was a West Indian writer, socialist activist, newspaper editor and politician of the island of Dominica in the Caribbean....
, he created the Dominica Labour Party
Dominica Labour Party
The Dominica Labour Party is a social-democratic political party in Dominica.-History:Founded in 1955 by Phyllis Shand Allfrey and Emmanuel Christopher Loblack, it is the oldest political party in Dominica. It first contested general elections in 1961, winning seven of the eleven seats. In the next...
. However, at the same time, the visions of new Trade Union members and Loblack began to differ, and in 1957 he left.
His perseverance and commitment towards the Dominica Labour Party garnered him a nominated seat in the legislative council when the Dominica Labour Party won the 1961 general elections. However, with the expulsion of co-founder of the party Phyllis Shand Allfrey, in September 1962 Loblack removed himself from the party.
In 1968, with much political clout he, along with Edward Scobie, Anthony Moise, Mary Eugenia Charles, and several others founded the Dominica Freedom Party
Dominica Freedom Party
The Dominica Freedom Party is a conservative political party in Dominica.The party lost all of its seats in the House of Assembly at 2005 general election, held on 5 May 2005. This was the first time since 1975 that the DFP was not elected in any seats...
, and were known as Freedomites.
Late career and passing
For the last 27 years of his life, Loblack championed for the success of the Dominica Freedom Party. He received a Meritorious Service Award from the State and a Certificate of Commendation from the University of the West IndiesUniversity of the West Indies
The University of the West Indies , is an autonomous regional institution supported by and serving 17 English-speaking countries and territories in the Caribbean: Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, The Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, Bermuda, the British Virgin Islands, the Cayman Islands, Dominica,...
.
With his passing Dominica also recognized his outstanding achievements and Loblack was given a State Funeral on June 10, 1995. To honour his achievements and vision, the government of Dominica re-named Dominica's Roseau East Bridge to the E.C. Loblack Bridge.