- Frank Leslie Walcott
Sir Frank Leslie Walcott, OBE (
September 16 1916 –February 24 1999 ) was a Barbadiantrade union ist, politician,ambassador and one of the tenBarbadian national heroes . [Citation |last= |first= |title=Barbados National Heroes |url=http://www.barbados.gov.bb/bdosnathero.htm |publisher= |date= |accessdate=2008-06-22] He played a key role in organizing the Barbados labour movement and was a major figure in stimulating participation in the nation's political process. [cite book |last=Alexander |first=Robert Jackson |authorlink= |title=Biographical Dictionary of Latin American and Caribbean Political Leaders |publisher=Greenwood Press |date=1988 |pages=453 |isbn=]Walcott was born in Saint Peter, and his policeman father died when Walcott was very young. He was raised in
Bridgetown where he attended Wesley Hall Boys' School, excelling in mathematics and debate from an early age. Becoming an active unionist in his mid-twenties, Walcott served theBarbados Workers' Union for over fifty years. He also served three separate terms as president of theCaribbean Congress of Labour , as well as serving in the Governing Body of theInternational Labour Organisation and as Vice-President of the Executive Board of theInternational Confederation of Free Trade Unions . In addition to these posts, Walcott also served with the American Institute for Free Labour Development and was Chairman of the World Employment Conference.In politics, Walcott served as a
Member of Parliament in theBarbados House of Assembly representing the Democratic Labour Party from 1945 to 1966 and again from 1971 to 1976. During the time between these terms he served as a Senator, and was President of that body from 1986 to 1991. After Barbados gained its independence in 1966, Walcott served as the nation's first Ambassador to theUnited Nations . He was appointed anOfficer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1954Queen's Birthday Honours . [LondonGazette|issue=40188|supp=yes|startpage=3281|date=1 June 1954 |accessdate=2006-06-26]The Sir Frank Walcott building in
Saint Michael, Barbados is named in his honour. Walcott is also noted as having been an exceptionalcricket umpire. [cite journal |last=Beckles |first=Hilary |title=Just cricket: black struggles for racial justice and equality |journal=African Studies |volume=58 |issue=2 |pages=171-189 |date=December 1999]References
* [http://www.barbados.gov.bb/frankw.htm Biography from Government of Barbados]
* [http://dlpbarbados.wordpress.com/2007/09/20/where-there-is-vision-the-people-prosper/ Biography from the Democratic Labour Party]Notes
External links
* [http://www2.ilo.org/public/english/standards/relm/gb/docs/gb274/gb-16.htm Obituary from the International Labour Organization]
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