A. N. R. Robinson
Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago | |
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In office 18 December 1986 – 17 December 1991 | |
President | Ellis Clarke Noor Hassanali |
Preceded by | George Chambers |
Succeeded by | Patrick Manning |
Personal details | |
Born | Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson 16 December 1926 Colony of Trinidad and Tobago, British Empire |
Died | 9 April 2014 Port of Spain, Trinidad and Tobago | (aged 87)
Political party |
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Spouse | Patricia Robinson |
Alma mater |
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Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson
Robinson was the first active politician to be elected to the presidency, and was the first presidential candidate who was not elected unopposed (the Opposition
Early life
Robinson was born in
Robinson married Patricia Rawlins and had two children, David and Ann-Margaret.[1]
Political life
Robinson was a founding member of the People's National Movement and served in the parliament of the West Indies Federation between 1958 and 1960.[3] In 1961 he was elected to the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago, serving as member of parliament for Tobago. He was the country's Minister of Finance from 1961 to 1966.[4] Following the Black Power Revolution in 1970, Robinson resigned from the People's National Movement and formed the Action Committee of Dedicated Citizens, which joined forced with the Democratic Labour Party to contest the 1971 General Elections; Robinson and the DLP ended up boycotting the elections in protest over the use of voting machines.[5]
After the 1971 election, the Action Committee of Dedicated Citizens became the Democratic Action Congress which won both Tobago seats in the 1976 General Elections. As leader as the DAC, Robinson worked for internal self-government for Tobago, culminating in the passage of the Tobago House of Assembly Act in 1980. Robinson resigned from Parliament to contest the Tobago House of Assembly elections, and became the Chairman of the Assembly following victory by the DLP.[5] He had also proposed the idea of the International Court.
In 1981 Robinson allied with the United Labour Front under the leadership of Basdeo Panday, and the Tapia House Movement, under the leadership of Lloyd Best, to form the National Alliance for Reconstruction. It entered into an alliance with the Organisation for National Reconstruction, under the leadership of Karl Hudson-Phillips, to successfully fight the 1983 Trinidad and Tobago local elections. Building on this victory the four parties combined to form the National Alliance for Reconstruction.[6][dubious – discuss]
ANR Robinson went on to become prime minister through the National Alliance For Reconstruction. Shortly after assuming the position, he dismissed Basdeo Panday, Kelvin Ramnath, Trevor Sudama and John Humphrey from the Cabinet. However, Robinson subsequently lost the 1991 elections. He rejoined the UNC Administration as a coalition member representing the NAR. Panday later offered to nominate him to become the next President of Trinidad and Tobago.
Robinson was instrumental in the creation of the International Criminal Court. In 1989, he asked
Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt
During the 1990
Illness and death
Robinson suffered from a number of ailments including a stroke and prostate complications and was hospitalised at St. Clair Medical Hospital after he complained of feeling ill.[8] Following an illness of several months, he died at St. Clair Medical Centre at about 6:00 am on 9 April 2014.[6] In reaction, Prime Minister Kamla Persad-Bissessar said that he was "one of our nation's outstanding sons...but the legacy he leaves behind shall surely live on to inspire today's and tomorrow's generations."
Honours
In 1997 Robinson was awarded the Trinity Cross, at that time the highest order of Trinidad and Tobago.[9]
During the investiture of President
In May 2011, the airport in Tobago was renamed the
In November 2011, A. N. R. Robinson was the recipient of Tobago's highest award, the Tobago Medal of Honour.[13][14]
References
- ^ a b c d "Trinidad and Tobago Parliament".
- ^ Ira Mathur (20 March 1997). "Memories of Mother Robinson". Iramathur.org. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ a b "Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson". Biographies. Nalis: Trinidad and Tobago National Library and Information System Authority. Archived from the original on 9 January 2015. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "Former Ministers of Finance - Ministry of Finance, Republic of Trinidad and Tobago". 21 February 2014. Archived from the original on 21 February 2014.
- ^ a b Premdas, Ralph (2000). "Self-Determination and Decentralisation in the Caribbean: Tobago and Nevis". University of the West Indies. Archived from the original on 25 September 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ a b "Robinson has died". Trinidad Express Newspaper. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014.
- ^ Taitt, Ria (25 January 2011). "Robbie: I was shot and beaten; Former PM describes hostage ordeal". Trinidadexpress.com. Archived from the original on 13 April 2014. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "Robinson has died". Trinidad Express. 9 April 2014. Archived from the original on 11 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
- ^ "Biographies P-R". Nalis.gov.tt. Retrieved 27 February 2022.
- ^ "His Imperial Majesty, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse ll- The Ooni of Ife". Theooni.org. 20 December 2008. Archived from the original on 3 March 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "TAU praises ANR Robinson Airport honour". Thetobagonews.com. 12 May 2011. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "The airport has been officially renamed to A.N.R. Robinson International Airport". Tobagoairport.com. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ "ANR Robinson receives Tobago's highest award". Thetobagonews.com. 1 December 2011. Archived from the original on 4 February 2013. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
- ^ Parasram, Jai (30 November 2011). "Tobago honours Robinson with island's highest award". Jyoticommunication.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2014.