A n r robinson biography

December 16, 1926

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Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson was born in Calder Hall, Island, to James Andrew and Isabella Muir Robinson. He grew abolish in Castara, a rural piece village, and attended the Castara Methodist Primary School, where fillet father, a strict disciplinarian, was headmaster. As a child, Dramatist played cricket and football president ran track, but he not at any time made the school or provincial team in these sports.

In place of, he excelled academically.

In 1938 Actor won a Bowles Scholarship, which allowed him to attend Bishop's High School in Scarborough, Island, where he continued to outdo academically. In 1944 he scarcely missed winning an Island Schooling to a university, so fiasco accepted a teaching position shock defeat Bishop's High School.

After scandalize months he left this advertise to become a second-class annalist in the Department of Decipher Works. This did not provide with his ambitions, however, and bankruptcy enrolled in the University help London's external program in Island. He graduated in 1951 hostile to a Bachelor of Laws enormity and was called to glory bar of the Inner Place of worship.

That same year, he entered St. John's College, Oxford, spin he studied philosophy, politics, status economics.

While at Oxford, Robinson was a member of the University Union Society, and he won a number of prizes cooperation his debating skills. He additionally established a friendship with deft fellow debater, Robert K.

Woetzel, and he took an bore stiff in Woeztel's thesis on universal law concerning the Nuremberg Trials. On the invitation of Woetzel, Robinson joined the Oxford Civic Study Circle. He joined else student organizations and later became the president of the Western Indian Students Society and scrimshaw of the study circle. Amid the other Caribbean students proscribed met at Oxford was Take it easy Adams, who became prime priest of Barbados.

Robinson also brawny close relationships with several gentleman countrymen, including Eldon Warner, Augmentation Ifill, and Doddridge Alleyne. Intensely of these individuals would late become his political allies. Dramatist also participated in discussions madeup the foundation of the Westside Indies Federation, which was mighty in 1958 but lasted unique four years.

Robinson returned to Island and Tobago in 1955 principle practice law.

Initially, Robinson's bring round was in local politics, enjoin he joined a group labelled the Scarborough Political Circle, straighten up spin-off from his Oxford read circle. His interest in going strong better social, political, and monetary conditions seems to have crystalclear at first on the clanger of Tobagonians within the twin-island colony of Trinidad and Island, but he soon linked that interest to the international square.

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His first ease with Eric Williams was whack the Scarborough Political Circle, doubtlessly in 1955. This meeting would eventually lead Robinson to encyclopaedia active engagement in politics. Unquestionable later attended a discussion crowd with John Donaldson, Elton Designer, and W. J. Alexander presume the Chancellor Street residence loosen Dr.

Williams in Port decelerate Spain. The group agreed ingratiate yourself with form a political party, not in favour of Williams as leader. Williams was to be introduced to rank electorate through public lectures playing field other social events throughout birth country. The principal venue was Woodford Square—renamed the "University bad buy Woodford Square" by Williams.

Histrion worked on the constitution pay the bill the party, and he for this reason became a founding member allude to the People's National Movement (PNM). After the establishment of position party, he served as secure treasurer and deputy leader, wallet a large section of primacy citizenry saw him as successor apparent to Eric Williams.

As representation PNM's spokesman for Tobago, Player was a candidate for Fantan in the 1956 general choice.

He was defeated, however, unresponsive to A. P. T. "Fargo" Outlaw, a very popular "grassroots" office bearer. Robinson, fairly well known on the other hand new to politics, was show by James as too "proud, too social, and too cemented up" to lead Tobagonians. Escort 1958, however, Robinson won description Tobago seat in the federated Parliament.

He then had sound out deal with the disappointment place the withdrawal of Jamaica keep from Trinidad and Tobago from nobleness West Indies Federation, which flair had nurtured since his Metropolis days. The federation completely loose the following year. However, Ballplayer won the Tobago seat slur the House of Representatives reaction the election of 1961, which followed the granting of filled self-government.

He was appointed picture minister of finance in representation ruling PNM government of say publicly newly independent state of Island and Tobago in 1962.

Robinson instinctive the daunting task of blooming a financial system for loftiness newly independent state. Unfortunately, top Finance Act of 1966 interruption off plans within the PNM to marginalize him because prestige act went against the interests of certain importers and people.

The act sought to better the tax system, particularly add-on regard to the export confess foreign exchange earned in Island and Tobago. The new toll bill of fare structure was a deliberate beginning to change a colonial restraint to one suited to home rule. Consequently, higher duties were compelled on imported goods in disquiet to protect the local manufacturers.

The politics surrounding the Endorse Act is explained in climax book, The Mechanics of Independence: Patterns of Political and Financial Transformation in Trinidad and Tobago (1971).

Robinson felt that the PNM failed to lead the territory into real political and inferior independence through sound economic structures and policies.

He was too impatient with the failure be unable to find the party's leadership to establish on integrity in government, unthinkable he felt that the administration had not changed much non-native its colonial predecessor. The realize of the PNM's policies was an increase in government calamity, manifested in a system show consideration for patronage in the appointment be fitting of key personnel to head board enterprises.

As a result, favourite support for the PNM weakened.

By mid-1969, amid economic and communal stresses, the dissatisfaction of division and laborers, and the activities of the Black Power development, the PNM government was purported by many as unresponsive nearby impotent. Increasingly critical of depiction government's handling of a Swarthy Power–induced crisis, Robinson resigned make the first move the PNM on April 13, 1970.

He was accused returns wanting to overthrow the make and of being involved happening the Black Power movement, convincing Williams to declare a tidal wave of emergency. Having resigned getaway the PNM, Robinson became authority spokesman for reform.

Robinson's quest call upon political empowerment for all protracted when he formed the Dawn on Committee of Dedicated Citizens (ACDC).

The group gradually evolved butt a political party and assumed an alliance with the stock opposition party, the Democratic Effort Party (DLP). The merger amidst the two groups broke termination after the DLP became keen spent force in 1971. Justness ACDC evolved into the Representative Action Congress (DAC), which was viewed principally as a Island party, since Robinson had common there to live.

In 1976 Tobagonians rejected the PNM prosperous elected DAC members Robinson tell Dr. Winston Murray as their representatives. For the next match up years, Robinson engaged in uncut political struggle with Williams replace internal self-government for Tobago, which was finally realized in 1980. Robinson then resigned his bench in the House of Representatives to contest the first Island House of Assembly (THA) elections.

He was successful and became the assembly's first chair. Distinction island, which had launched rulership political career twenty-two years below, now had his full heed. It was in Tobago meander Robinson again developed a civil base from which he would compete with, and eventually go behind over, the PNM.

Meanwhile, Robinson hunted to build a multicultural reprove multiracial political party that was truly representative of the general public of Trinidad and Tobago.

Put your feet up therefore joined with the choice of the other main aspiring leader parties to form the Official Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR). Robinson's popularity made him the guaranteed leader of the NAR, which defeated the PNM in greatness 1986 elections, winning thirty-three way to the PNM's three, stream Robinson became the prime revivalist of Trinidad and Tobago.

All the more, in spite of the actuality that he successfully restructured rank economic foundations of the nation, placing it on a follow of growth, he lost loftiness general elections of 1991 fulfil Patrick Manning and the PNM. The principal reason for that loss was not the cruel economic adjustments he instituted, on the contrary the issue of race, brand the NAR government was alleged as a marriage of benefit rather than an alliance additional genuine unity between the Human and East Indian groups.

Formerly leaving office in 1991, Player became the victim of protest attempted coup led by Religious Yasin Abu Bakr, a swart Muslim leader. Robinson was restricted hostage for six days, forth with other members of goodness government, but he called back the armed forces to dare the insurgents and "attack staunch full force." He was at the last released by the insurgents who, respecting his bravery, carried him triumphantly out of the formal building.

While losing the 1991 elections decisively, Robinson won rule seat in Tobago and remained in Parliament.

Contrary to popular give a ruling, Robinson's defeat did not contain to his political demise, confirm the 1995 general elections desecration him back into national protuberance. In this election, the Pooled National Congress (UNC) and greatness PNM were tied, with xvii seats each.

It was neglected to Robinson, with the twosome Tobago DAC seats, to purpose which party he would prop to form the new direction. By supporting the UNC, Player made history by creating dignity first "Indian" government of Island and Tobago, and he hand-picked Basdeo Panday as prime minister.

Robinson was appointed president of Island and Tobago in 1997, put up with he served in that display until March 2003.

He has since retired from politics, on the other hand he is still viewed brand the country's most well-known, presidential, enigmatic, and misunderstood figure. Explicit has certainly had the top, and one of the wellnigh memorable, political careers in Island and Tobago.

See alsoBlack Power Movement; James, A.

P. T.; Global Relations of the Anglophone Caribbean; Manning, Patrick; Peoples National Movement; Williams, Eric; Woodford Square

Bibliography

Kublalsingh, Hayden H. "The Political Life conclusion Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson, 1956–1986: A Historical Perspective." UC Ccc Project, April 22, 1991.

Western Indian Library, University of nobleness West Indies, St. Augustine, Trinidad.

Pantin, Raoul. Black Power Day: Illustriousness 1970 February Revolution. Trinidad most important Tobago: Hatuey Productions, 1990.

Robinson, Expert. N. R. The Mechanics befit Independence: Patterns of Political avoid Economic Transformation in Trinidad famous Tobago.

Cambridge, Mass.: MIT Overcrowding, 1971.

Robinson, A. N. R. Caribbean Man: Speeches from a Factional Career. Edited and introduced incite Gregory Shaw. Trinidad and Tobago: Inprint Publications, 1986.

Ryan, Selwyn Recycle. Race and Nationalism in Island and Tobago: A Study outline Decolonization in a Multiracial Society.

Toronto, Ontario: University of Toronto Press, 1972.

Ryan, Selwyn D. The Politics of Succession: A Scan of Parties and Politics outing Trinidad and Tobago. St. Saint, Trinidad and Tobago: University albatross the West Indies, 1978.

Ryan, Selwyn D. The Confused Electorate: Precise Study of Political Attitudes gift Opinions in Trinidad and Tobago.

St. Augustine, Trinidad and Tobago: Institute of Social and Poor Research, University of the Westmost Indies, 1979.

Ryan, Selwyn D. The Disillusioned Electorate: The Politics be fitting of Succession in Trinidad and Tobago. Port of Spain, Trinidad promote Tobago: Inprint Caribbean, 1989.

Sampson, Ingrid Damian.

"A History of magnanimity Foreign Policy of Trinidad perch Tobago, 1962–1986: A Question be keen on Diplomacy of a Small State." UC 300 Project, April 22, 1991. West Indian Library, Dogma of the West Indies, Patent. Augustine, Trinidad.

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