Herbert Blaize

The Right Honourable Herbert Augustus Blaize
Prime Minister of Grenada
In office 4 December 1984 – 19 December 1989
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Governor General	Paul Scoon
Preceded by	Nicholas Brathwaite
Succeeded by	Ben Jones
Member of Parliament for Carriacou and Petite Martinique
In office 1957 – 19 December 1989
Preceded by	Hon. Frederick B Paterson
Succeeded by	Hon. Nicholas Brathwaite
Premier of Grenada
In office 3 March 1967 – 25 August 1967
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Premier established
Succeeded by	Eric Matthew Gairy
Chief Minister of Grenada
In office September 1962 – March 1967
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Eric Matthew Gairy
Succeeded by	Chief Minister abolished
Chief Minister of Grenada
In office January 1960 – March 1961
Monarch	Elizabeth II
Preceded by	Eric Matthew Gairy
Succeeded by	George E. D. Clyne
Personal details
Born	February 26, 1918(1918-02-26) Beausejour, Carriacou, Grenada
Died	December 19, 1989(1989-12-19) (aged 71) St George's, Grenada
Nationality	Carriacouan
Political party	Grenada National Party New National Party
Spouse(s)	Dame Venetia Blaize
Children	Norma Blaize Carol Jerome Marion Fleary Samuel Blaize Marvin Blaize Christopher Blaize.

Herbert Augustus Blaize (February 26, 1918 – December 19, 1989) was a Grenadian politician and leader of the Grenada National Party. When Grenada was still a British Crown Colony he served as the first Chief Minister from 1960-61, and again, from 1962-67. He became the first Premier of the autonomous Associated State of Grenada briefly in 1967. In the first free elections following the 1983 coups and US led invasion of Grenada, he served as Prime Minister from 1984 until his death in 1989.

Early Years

Blaize was born in the island of Carriacou, which along with the island of Petite Martinique is a part of Grenada.

Grenada National Party

In 1953 he formed the Grenada National Party, as a rival party to the Grenada United Labour Party of Eric Gairy, who would be Blaize's main political rival for the next 25 years. Blaize entered the legislature in 1957 and became Minister of Trade and Production.

Chief Minister & Premier

He was appointed as Chief Minister in 1960, lost power to Gairy in 1961, and was reappointed in 1962 after Gairy was dismissed. In 1967 Grenada became an associated state within the British Empire, gaining more internal self-government. Soon afterwards, Blaize lost power and Gairy began a long tenure as Prime Minister.^{[citation needed]}

In Opposition

In 1976 Blaize's center-right National Party joined forces with the left-wing New Jewel Movement led by Maurice Bishop for the elections that year, which Gairy and the GULP won. The alliance between Blaize and Bishop ended by 1979 when Bishop seized power. Blaize retired from politics and moved back to Cariacou, until after the intervention by the United States in 1983.

Prime Minister

During the election campaign of 1984, Blaize merged his parties with several other center-right parties to form the New National Party, which took 14 of 15 seats in the election. He was sworn in on December 4, 1984, and his Cabinet was announced 11 days later.^{[citation needed]}

In addition to being Prime Minister, Blaize became Minister of Home Affairs, Security, Information, Finance, Trade, Planning, Industrial Development and Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs.^[1]

Blaize's government advocated a strong economic and military alliance for Grenada with the United States, and other overseas investment. Blaize was often criticized for being authoritarian.^{[citation needed]}

Death

He died near St. George's, Grenada following a several years long battle with prostate cancer, aged 71.

Family

Hebert Blaize was survived by his wife, Dame Venetia Blaize, DBE (née Venetia Ursula Davidson); three daughters, Norma Blaize (a former Consul-General of Grenada in New York), Carol Jerome and Marion Fleary; three sons,Samuel Blaize, Marvin Blaize and Christopher Blaize. He was also survived by a sister, Muriel Noel.^[2][3]

References

1. ^ "January 1985 - General election and resumption of Parliament - Formation of Blaize government - Foreign relations Opening of airport - Start of murder trial", Keesing's Record of World Events, vol 31, January 1985 Grenada (page 33327)
2. ^ New York Times obituary for Herbert Blaize
3. ^ Ebony magazine article on Blaize family

Political offices
Preceded by New Office	Chief Minister of Grenada January 1960 - March 1961	Succeeded by George E.D. Clyne
Preceded by Eric Gairy	Chief Minister of Grenada September 1962 - 3 March 1967	Succeeded by Post Abolished
Preceded by New Office	Premier of Grenada 3 March - 25 August 1967	Succeeded by Eric Gairy
Preceded by Nicholas Brathwaite	Prime Minister of Grenada 4 December 1984 - 19 December 1989	Succeeded by Ben Jones

Source

• LA GRENADE : mort du premier ministre., Le Monde. Jeudi 21 décembre 1989, p. 3; accessed October 7, 2006.

Persondata
Name	Blaize, Herbert
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	26 February 1918
Place of birth	Beausejour, Carriacou, Grenada
Date of death	1989-12-19
Place of death	St George's, Grenada