Milton Cato
Encyclopedia
Robert Milton Cato was the first Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and also held the offices Premier of Saint Vincent and Chief Minister of Saint Vincent before independence
. Cato was the leader of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Labour Party, and led the country through independence
in 1979.
, British Windward Islands
. He participated in WWII as a part of the Canadian
army. After returning to Saint Vincent, Cato became involved in politics. In 1955 he co-founded the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Labour Party. In 1967, when Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became an associated state, he became its Chief Minister. He became Premier in 1969.
Cato's Labour Party lost elections in 1972 and the opposition leader, James Fitz-Allen Mitchell
became Premier. Cato's party and its coalition partners won elections in 1974. He served as Premier, and after independence, Prime Minister, from 1974 until 1984, even though his coalition partners collapsed during the mid 1970s.
Cato led Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to complete independence from Britain in 1979. Cato, a socialist politician, did not support other nearby socialist governments such as those in Cuba
, Grenada
and Guyana
as he opposed Marxism
. Instead, his administration allied with like-minded pro-Western governments such as those in Trinidad and Tobago
and Barbados
, cooperating with them on economic and defense matters.
Cato's Labour Party lost elections the general elections of 1984 to the New Democratic Party. Cato died in Kingstown
, Saint Vincent.
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
. Cato was the leader of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Labour Party, and led the country through independence
Independence
Independence is a condition of a nation, country, or state in which its residents and population, or some portion thereof, exercise self-government, and usually sovereignty, over its territory....
in 1979.
Life and career
Cato was born in Saint VincentSaint Vincent (island)
Saint Vincent is a volcanic island in the Caribbean. It is the largest island of the chain called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. It is located in the Caribbean Sea, between Saint Lucia and Grenada. It is composed of partially submerged volcanic mountains...
, British Windward Islands
British Windward Islands
The British Windward Islands was a British colony existing between 1833 and 1960 and consisting of the islands of Grenada, St Lucia, Saint Vincent, the Grenadines, Barbados , Tobago , and Dominica, previously included in the...
. He participated in WWII as a part of the Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
army. After returning to Saint Vincent, Cato became involved in politics. In 1955 he co-founded the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Labour Party. In 1967, when Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became an associated state, he became its Chief Minister. He became Premier in 1969.
Cato's Labour Party lost elections in 1972 and the opposition leader, James Fitz-Allen Mitchell
James Fitz-Allen Mitchell
Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell was the second Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and the founder of the New Democratic Party . He also served as Premier of the then colony from 1972 to 1974.-Life and career:...
became Premier. Cato's party and its coalition partners won elections in 1974. He served as Premier, and after independence, Prime Minister, from 1974 until 1984, even though his coalition partners collapsed during the mid 1970s.
Cato led Saint Vincent and the Grenadines to complete independence from Britain in 1979. Cato, a socialist politician, did not support other nearby socialist governments such as those in Cuba
Cuba
The Republic of Cuba is an island nation in the Caribbean. The nation of Cuba consists of the main island of Cuba, the Isla de la Juventud, and several archipelagos. Havana is the largest city in Cuba and the country's capital. Santiago de Cuba is the second largest city...
, Grenada
Grenada
Grenada is an island country and Commonwealth Realm consisting of the island of Grenada and six smaller islands at the southern end of the Grenadines in the southeastern Caribbean Sea...
and Guyana
Guyana
Guyana , officially the Co-operative Republic of Guyana, previously the colony of British Guiana, is a sovereign state on the northern coast of South America that is culturally part of the Anglophone Caribbean. Guyana was a former colony of the Dutch and of the British...
as he opposed Marxism
Marxism
Marxism is an economic and sociopolitical worldview and method of socioeconomic inquiry that centers upon a materialist interpretation of history, a dialectical view of social change, and an analysis and critique of the development of capitalism. Marxism was pioneered in the early to mid 19th...
. Instead, his administration allied with like-minded pro-Western governments such as those in Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
and Barbados
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...
, cooperating with them on economic and defense matters.
Cato's Labour Party lost elections the general elections of 1984 to the New Democratic Party. Cato died in Kingstown
Kingstown
Kingstown is the chief port of Saint Vincent, and the capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. With a population of 25,418 Kingstown is a centre for the island's agricultural industry and a port of entry for tourists...
, Saint Vincent.