Organisation for National Reconstruction
Encyclopedia
The Organisation for National Reconstruction (ONR) was a political party in Trinidad and Tobago
. The party received the second-highest number of votes in the 1981 general elections
, but failed to win a seat. Prior to the 1986 elections
it merged into the new National Alliance for Reconstruction
.
, who had resigned from the ruling People's National Movement
in 1973 when Prime Minister
Eric Williams
reversed his decision to resign from politics. Hudson-Phillips had been the main contender to succeed Williams - once Williams returned there was no longer room for a person who had openly expressed an interest in leading the party. Hudson-Phillips went on to form the National Land Tenants and Ratepayers Association of Trinidad and Tobago in 1974, a right-of-centre body. After building a support base among the middle and upper classes, he launched the ONR in 1980. Despite receving 22.2% of the vote, the party failed to win any seats, whilst the United Labour Front
(which had received 15.2% of the vote) won ten seats.
This setback led to the ONR forging a closer relationship with the other opposition parties, which had organised themselves as the National Alliance prior to the elections. In the 1983 local elections the ONR won 26 of the 120 local government seats, while the National Alliance won 40. This was the first time since 1959 that the PNM had not won the majority of seats contested in any election in Trinidad (the DAC had taken control of the Tobago House of Assembly
in 1980). Following on this success, the three parties making up the National Alliance and the ONR merged to form a single party, the National Alliance for Reconstruction
. In the 1986 general elections
the NAR won 33 of the 36 seats in Parliament and was able to form the new government.
Hudson-Phillips did not take a major role in the NAR government (according to Basdeo Panday
this was because of animosity between Hudson-Phillips and A. N. R. Robinson
, the "compromise" leader of the NAR). However, several other ONR members held prominent posts in the NAR government. After the NAR folded, many former ONR members joined the United National Congress
, while others returned to the PNM.
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...
. The party received the second-highest number of votes in the 1981 general elections
Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1981
General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 9 November 1981. The result was a victory for the People's National Movement, which won 26 of the 36 seats. Voter turnout was 56.4%.-Results:...
, but failed to win a seat. Prior to the 1986 elections
Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1986
General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 15 December 1986. The result was a victory for the National Alliance for Reconstruction, which won 33 of the 36 seats. Voter turnout was 65.5%.-Results:...
it merged into the new National Alliance for Reconstruction
National Alliance for Reconstruction
The National Alliance for Reconstruction was the governing party in Trinidad and Tobago between 1986 and 1991.-History:The party was established in 1986, aiming to be a multi-racial party...
.
History
The party was founded by Karl Hudson-PhillipsKarl Hudson-Phillips
Karl Terrence Hudson-Phillips, ORTT, QC is a former Attorney General of Trinidad and Tobago and a former judge of the International Criminal Court...
, who had resigned from the ruling People's National Movement
People's National Movement
The People's National Movement is the present-day opposition political party in Trinidad and Tobago. Founded in 1955 by Eric Williams, it won the 1956 General Elections and went on to hold power for an unbroken 30 years. After the death of Williams in 1981 George Chambers led the party...
in 1973 when Prime Minister
Prime minister
A prime minister is the most senior minister of cabinet in the executive branch of government in a parliamentary system. In many systems, the prime minister selects and may dismiss other members of the cabinet, and allocates posts to members within the government. In most systems, the prime...
Eric Williams
Eric Williams
Eric Eustace Williams served as the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. He served from 1956 until his death in 1981. He was also a noted Caribbean historian, and is widely regarded as "The Father of The Nation."...
reversed his decision to resign from politics. Hudson-Phillips had been the main contender to succeed Williams - once Williams returned there was no longer room for a person who had openly expressed an interest in leading the party. Hudson-Phillips went on to form the National Land Tenants and Ratepayers Association of Trinidad and Tobago in 1974, a right-of-centre body. After building a support base among the middle and upper classes, he launched the ONR in 1980. Despite receving 22.2% of the vote, the party failed to win any seats, whilst the United Labour Front
United Labour Front
The United Labour Front was a political party in Trinidad and Tobago and the main opposition party between 1976 and 1986.-History:The party was established in 1975 by union leaders in an attempt to unify the mainly black workers in the oil industry with the mainly Indian workers in the sugar...
(which had received 15.2% of the vote) won ten seats.
This setback led to the ONR forging a closer relationship with the other opposition parties, which had organised themselves as the National Alliance prior to the elections. In the 1983 local elections the ONR won 26 of the 120 local government seats, while the National Alliance won 40. This was the first time since 1959 that the PNM had not won the majority of seats contested in any election in Trinidad (the DAC had taken control of the Tobago House of Assembly
Tobago House of Assembly
The Tobago House of Assembly is the local government body responsible for the island of Tobago within the twin-island nation of Trinidad and Tobago. The THA was established in 1980 to rectify some of the disparities in the relationship between the two islands, though a prior body using the same...
in 1980). Following on this success, the three parties making up the National Alliance and the ONR merged to form a single party, the National Alliance for Reconstruction
National Alliance for Reconstruction
The National Alliance for Reconstruction was the governing party in Trinidad and Tobago between 1986 and 1991.-History:The party was established in 1986, aiming to be a multi-racial party...
. In the 1986 general elections
Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1986
General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 15 December 1986. The result was a victory for the National Alliance for Reconstruction, which won 33 of the 36 seats. Voter turnout was 65.5%.-Results:...
the NAR won 33 of the 36 seats in Parliament and was able to form the new government.
Hudson-Phillips did not take a major role in the NAR government (according to Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday
Basdeo Panday was the 5th Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1995 to 2001 and has served as Leader of the Opposition from 1976–1977, 1978–1986, 1989–1995 and 2001–2010. He was first elected to Parliament in 1976 as the Member for Couva North. He is the former...
this was because of animosity between Hudson-Phillips and A. N. R. Robinson
A. N. R. Robinson
Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson, OCC, TC was the third President of Trinidad and Tobago, serving from 19 March 1997 to 17 March 2003. He was also Trinidad and Tobago's third Prime Minister, serving in that capacity from 18 December 1986 to 17 December 1991...
, the "compromise" leader of the NAR). However, several other ONR members held prominent posts in the NAR government. After the NAR folded, many former ONR members joined the United National Congress
United National Congress
The United National Congress is one of the two major political parties in the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago and one of the parties in the current ruling coalition. It was founded by Basdeo Panday, a lawyer and former trade unionist. The UNC was formed as the result of a split in the ruling...
, while others returned to the PNM.