The Right Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante (1962 - 1967) National Hero

Sir Alexander Bustamante attended elementary school in rural Hanover. He travelled extensively as a young man, returning to Jamaica in 1932 and began to lead the struggle against colonial rule. He first came to the public's attention as a writer of letters to the Daily Gleaner newspaper. Bustamante became treasurer of the Jamaica Workers Union (JWU) in 1937 which was founded by labour activist, Allan G.S. Coombs. He was identified as the spokesman for workers during the 1938 labour rebellion. The Jamaica Workers Union later became the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) and Bustamante was dubbed, "The Chief".

A Jamaican labour leader, Bustamante's Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) won 22 of 32 seats in the first House of Representatives which made him the unofficial leader and Minister for Communication until the position of Chief Minister was created in 1953. He held this position until the JLP was defeated in 1955. He became Jamaica's first Prime Minister in 1962 and served until 1967. Bustamante also held the position of Mayor of Kingston in 1947 and 1948. In 1969 Sir Alexander Bustamante was given the distinguished title of "National Hero of Jamaica". Sir Alexander died in 1977 at the age of 93.

Links

Bustamante Museum

JIS Special Section on Bustamante

Bustamante Hospital for Children

Image on $1 coin