Founders of the Barbados Labour Party

One year after the 1937 riots during the period referred to as the “Hungry Thirties” the Barbados Labour Party was founded.

The Party’s commitment is the same today as it was in 1938, when the eight founding fathers momentously fought for social reform for the underprivileged, industrial peace, and a measure of stability. Seventy years later BLP continues to be recognised for its contribution to the social and economic development of Barbados.

Rt. Excellent Sir Herbert Grantley Adams, National Hero became the leader of the Barbados Labour Party and he inspired and led it for more than three decades. The people called him “Moses” and he has been rightly described as “Emancipator of the Oppressed”, “a Visionary” and the “Father of Democracy”. Sir Grantley along with his early colleagues fought for better social and economic conditions for the working class and enacted many important major pieces of legislation including adult suffrage.

He served in Parliament from 1934-1958 and 1966-1970 when he retired. He became the first Premier of Barbados in 1954 and in 1958 the Prime Minister of the West Indies Federation. He was also the first President of the Barbados Workers Union which was formed by the BLP in 1941 and at one time President of the Caribbean Labour Congress.

Under Sir Grantley’s leadership the Barbados economy was diversified and free education introduced with the building of new secondary schools. He was knighted in 1957. In Parliament he was a great debater and a brilliant speaker, a person of intellect, wit and good manners.

Dr. Hugh Gordon Cummins was a medical practitioner and one of the first Barbados Labour Party members of Parliament in 1940. In 1951 he together with Grantley Adams, Mencea Cox (Sir Mencea) and Frank Walcott (Rt. Excellent Sir Frank) was appointed a member of the Executive Committee of the BLP. He also became a Minister in 1954 when Ministerial Government was introduced. He became the second Premier of Barbados when Sir Grantley was elected Prime Minister of the Federal Government.

His outstanding achievement was the abolition of the Located Labourers Act and he is commemorated by the naming of the ABC Highway and the Gordon Cummins Hospital in St. Thomas, the constituency that he represented.

Mr. James Martineau used his home as the meeting place for the founding of the Barbados Labour Party in 1938. Mr. Martineau was born in Grenada in 1882 of a Barbadian mother and a Grenadian father. As a young man he traveled quite extensively within and outside and the region. He and a brother Edwin started a sweet drink factory in Brazil and that is where he met Fan Griffith. He came to Barbados in 1919 and in 1920 and started another drink factory in Clifton Terrace in Bay Street. In 1936 he bought the property at the corner at Beckwith Street. He was a friend and Colleague of Charles Duncan O’Neal and a member of the Democratic League. He served on the St. Michael Vestry on two occasions.

Sir Edwy Talma was one of those that accompanied Sir Grantley when he appeared before the Royal Commission. At the Founder’s meeting he was appointed Secretary however he resigned a few months after its inception. He later became Treasurer of the Party and was a member of Sir Grantley’s Cabinet under the ministerial form of Government. He later joined the Democratic Labour Party and was a Parliamentary Representative.

The Hon. Wynter Crawford CHB was a journalist and owner of the Observer Newspaper. He was a founder member of the Barbados Labour Party and later founded his own Party West Indian Congress Party. He was also a member of the Executive Committee of Barbados which was the forerunner to the Cabinet system. He served as a Minister under Sir Grantley and also a Deputy Premier and Minister in a Democratic Labour Party Government. He was genuinely interested in industrial and tourism development and had interests in the tourism sector. He was regarded as one of the most outstanding debaters in Parliament.

Mr. Chrissie Brathwaite was at first a member of the Democratic League and he introduced a Bill to reduce the income qualification for the franchise and it was strongly supported by Grantley Adams. He then joined the BLP and when a petition was prepared for the Secretary of the State of the Colonies to advise of the state of Barbados, Chrissie Brathwaite was a member of the delegation. He also accompanied Grantley Adams when he appeared before the Royal Commission (Moyne Commission). He was the first President of the BLP. He was a member of the St. Michael’s Vestry and with a deep interest in education he supported the proposal for the establishment of the St. Michael’s Girls’ School.

Mr. Hope R. Stevens according to Sir Alexander Hoyos was the man who brought the progressive founders to the point of forming an organisation. He was a native of Tortola and was then resident in New York City. As a law student of St. Kitts he had organised the St. Kitts Workers Defence Committee and became aware of the situation prevailing in the West Indies in the 1930s and in Barbados in particular. He was the only legally trained individual at the first meeting and was recognised as the person instrumental in shaping the aims and objectives of the Party.

Dr. Philip Payne was a dental surgeon and whilst having a keen interest in politics and the development of Barbados his contribution was made through his dental practice.