DR RITA PEMBERTON
The impending arrival of the new inter-island vessel which has been named in honour of the late APT James, Tobago’s representative in the Legislative Council of TT from 1946-1961, has stimulated renewed interest in James and his contribution to Tobago.
James died on January 5, 1962 from a cerebral haemorrhage due to hypertension and this week marks the 59th anniversary of his death.
While there has been much focus on his political life, save for gossip clips, his personal life has not received academic attention.
This is an opportune time to expose the realities of his family life so that the man can be fully understood. In so doing, the parallels between his practices at home and the vision he had for the development of Tobago will become evident.
NJAC Rededication: How the People’s Revolution defied the gov’t and transformed the T&T economy
“[…] The role of the masses is also seen in their response to NJAC’s call for the transformation of the Trinidad and Tobago economy […] where for the first time Africans and Indians began to set up businesses right across the nation, which they also supported to guarantee their success.
“Up to 1970, African and Indian participation was only 3.8% and 4% respectively even though together they comprised 80% of the population their total ownership was only 7.8%.
“[…] The records are there to prove beyond a shadow of a doubt that the very people who have been consistently denied their space in the sun over the years (both before and after Independence), when given one small window of opportunity under the right leadership, were able to set the nation on a pathway to national transformation in every sector and sphere of endeavour…”