Trinidad Labour Party
Encyclopedia
The Trinidad Labour Party was a political party in Trinidad and Tobago
. Formed in in 1924 when the Trinidad Workingmen's Association changed its name, it was the country's first party.
was elected to the Legislative Council
in the 1925 elections. It was renamed the Trinidad Labour Party in 1934, becoming the country's first political party. The party's ambution was to reform the colony's system from within through a series of gradual improvements for workers. However, economic problems caused by the Great Depression
made progress difficult. The Butler Party
was established by the more radical Tubal Uriah Butler
, and took over from the TLP as the main voice of the islands' workers. The Butler Party supported strikes and riots in the 1930s, whilst the Labour Party opposed them.
In the 1946 general elections
, the first held under universal suffrage, the Labour Party received just 1.1% of the vote and failed to win a seat. In the 1950 elections
its vote share rose to 7.9% and it won two seats. For the 1956 elections
it ran as the Trinidad Labour Party-National Development Party and retained both seats. In 1957 it merged into the Democratic Labour Party
.
The party was resurrected for the 1981 elections
, but received just 34 votes and failed to win a seat. It did not contest any further elections.
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...
. Formed in in 1924 when the Trinidad Workingmen's Association changed its name, it was the country's first party.
History
The party was originally a trade union named the Trinidad Workingmen's Association. Its leader Arthur Andrew CiprianiArthur Andrew Cipriani
Captain Arthur Andrew Cipriani was a [Trinidad and Tobago] labour leader and politician. He served as mayor of Port of Spain, elected member of the Legislative Council, leader of the Trinidad Workingmen's Association and founder of the Trinidad Labour Party.Cipriani served with the West Indies...
was elected to the Legislative Council
Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago
The Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago served as an advisory commission to the Governor in British-ruled Trinidad and Tobago, between 1925 and independence in 1961. The Legislative Council consisted of a mixture of appointed and elected members...
in the 1925 elections. It was renamed the Trinidad Labour Party in 1934, becoming the country's first political party. The party's ambution was to reform the colony's system from within through a series of gradual improvements for workers. However, economic problems caused by the Great Depression
Great Depression
The Great Depression was a severe worldwide economic depression in the decade preceding World War II. The timing of the Great Depression varied across nations, but in most countries it started in about 1929 and lasted until the late 1930s or early 1940s...
made progress difficult. The Butler Party
Butler Party
The British Empire Citizens' and Workers' Home Rule Party, also known as the Butler Home Rule Party and more commonly as the Butler Party, were a series of political parties in Trinidad and Tobago organised by T.U.B. Butler.-History:...
was established by the more radical Tubal Uriah Butler
Tubal Uriah Butler
Tubal Uriah "Buzz" Butler , was a Grenadian-born Spiritual Baptist preacher and labour leader in Trinidad and Tobago...
, and took over from the TLP as the main voice of the islands' workers. The Butler Party supported strikes and riots in the 1930s, whilst the Labour Party opposed them.
In the 1946 general elections
Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1946
General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 28 October 1946. The British Empire Citizens' and Workers' Home Rule Party and the United Front won three seats each. Voter turnout was 83.9%.-Results:...
, the first held under universal suffrage, the Labour Party received just 1.1% of the vote and failed to win a seat. In the 1950 elections
Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1950
General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 18 September 1950. The result was a victory for the British Empire Citizens' and Workers' Home Rule Party, which won 6 of the 18 seats. Voter turnout was 70.1%.-Results:...
its vote share rose to 7.9% and it won two seats. For the 1956 elections
Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1956
General elections were held in Trinidad and Tobago on 24 September 1956. The result was a victory for the People's National Movement, which won 13 of the 24 seats...
it ran as the Trinidad Labour Party-National Development Party and retained both seats. In 1957 it merged into the Democratic Labour Party
Democratic Labour Party (Trinidad and Tobago)
The Democratic Labour Party was the main opposition party in Trinidad and Tobago between 1957 and 1971. The party was the party which opposed the People's National Movement at the time of Independence...
.
The party was resurrected for the 1981 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 received just 34 votes and failed to win a seat. It did not contest any further elections.