The Right Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante
- tcollins66
- Jul 29
- 4 min read
Updated: Aug 12
1962 - 1967
Sir. Alexander Bustamante was born on February 24, 1884, in the parish of Hanover, Jamaica. He was originally given the name William Alexander Clarke by his parents, Constantine and Mary Clarke, which he later changed to William Alexander Bustamante in 1944.
It is said that Mr. Bustamante spent 30 of his earlier years travelling among countries such as Cuba, Panama and the USA, engaging in various occupations including dairy farming, transportation, pen keeping and security. Mr. Bustamante later returned to Jamaica and thereafter began his journey of advocating for poor and underprivileged Jamaicans. Specifically, he wrote to The Gleaner and at times to The British Newspaper to bring attention to their social and economic problems.
Early Political Career and Rise to Leadership
As early as the 1930s, Sir. Alexander Bustamante was an advocate and mediator for the rights of civilians and labourers in Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbados and other Islands across the West Indies. Between 1935 and 1937, he made it his point of duty to engage in every activity that brought attention to the unfortunate predicaments of numerous Jamaicans. In particular, he led an 'anti-water meter protest', intervened in a Strike at Serge Island Estate and became the treasurer of the Jamaican Workers Tradesman Union founded by AGS Coombs.
This, in addition to his efforts to reduce tension between parties of the labour unrest in 1938, later earned him an unofficial title and reputation as the country’s potential 'Labour Leader'. He soon formed the Bustamante Industrial Trade Union (BITU) in 1939 to advocate for workers’ rights, later using the membership to build a political party, the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP), in 1943. Sir Bustamante’s ability to obtain tremendous benefits for large groups of workers resulted in increased support for the Jamaica Labour Party. As a result, they won 22 of 32 seats during the first general elections under universal suffrage in December 1944.
Jamaica’s 1st Prime Minister - Social and Economic Contributions
Self-Governance: After the Jamaica Labour Party’s victory in the first general election, Sir. Bustamante was appointed Minister of Communications and was also the principal spokesman for the Government in the House of Representatives. During the latter years of the JLP administration, strides were made towards joining a federation of the British West Indian Islands, which was designed to help British colonies collectively address their social and economic problems.
Jamaica eventually became a founding member in 1958 under the PNP administration; however, Mr. Bustamante was of the impression that federations were not in the best interest of Jamaican workers. He was also confident that the country could attain independence or self-governance on its own, and therefore encouraged Jamaicans to 'vote no' to federation. As a result, Jamaicans voted against federation on September 1st 1961.
Independence: The continued demonstration of his leadership abilities contributed to pivotal decisions in Jamaica’s transition to independence. He was one of several people who signed the independence agreement when it was finalised in London. Having won the general election on April 10, 1962, Bustamante rose to further prominence in the governance and public affairs of Jamaica, and was later named as Jamaica’s first Prime Minister when the nation became independent on the 6th of August 1962.
National Development & Infrastructure: In November 1963, he, along with his wife, the Most Honourable Gladys Maud Bustamante, converted a British military hospital in Kingston into the Bustamante Hospital for Children, which was later handed over to the Jamaican government in 1962. To date, the Bustamante Hospital for Children remains the only specialist paediatric hospital in the English-speaking Caribbean.
Other Noteworthy Achievements and Recognition
Sir Alexander Bustamante received several recognitions for his achievements and contributions to Jamaica. In 1955, Queen Elizabeth II conferred the title of Knight Bachelor on Bustamante, meaning from that day onward, he would officially be addressed as 'Sir.' Additionally, the American University in Fairfield, Connecticut, awarded him an honorary degree, and he was also made a member of the Privy Council in that same year.
In 1966, Sir Alexander was awarded the National Order of Knight Grand Cross, as well as the Distinguished Order of the Brilliant Star with special Grand Cordon by the Government of the Republic of China.
Additionally, he was also awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Laws ‘honoris causa’ of the University of the West Indies. Sir Bustamante retired from active politics in 1967 and received a tribute from the Jamaican House of Representatives in February 1968.
The Bustamante Foundation was simultaneously launched in four countries later that month, as a permanent lasting memory of his service to Jamaica. In the following year, Prime Minister Bustamante received the Order of National Hero along with a life-size statue of himself erected at South Parade. His birthplace was converted into a National Monument, and his picture currently appears on the rear of the Jamaican one-dollar coin. Just two years after becoming Jamaica’s 1st Prime Minister, the Right Excellent Sir Alexander Bustamante became ill and later retired from active politics in 1967. He died on August 6 1977, at the age of 93.
