James Fitz-Allen Mitchell
New Democratic Party | |
---|---|
In office 3 December 1975 – 27 October 2000 | |
Preceded by | Office established |
Succeeded by | Arnhim Eustace |
Minister of Finance | |
In office 30 July 1984 – 9 July 1998 | |
Prime Minister | himself |
Preceded by | Milton Cato |
Succeeded by | Arnhim Eustace |
Personal details | |
Born | New Democratic Party (from 1975) | 15 May 1931
Other political affiliations | Saint Vincent Labour Party (until 1972) |
Spouse |
Patricia Mae Parker (m. 1965) |
Children | 4 |
Alma mater |
|
Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell
Early life
Mitchell was born in Bequia on 15 May 1931.[1] He was the oldest of four children born to Captain Reginald and Lois Mitchell. Reginald was lost at sea during a January 1940 voyage in the Bermuda Triangle. Lois remarried Alfred Baynes of Saint Lucia, leaving the children with their paternal grandmother Sarah. Some time after Mitchell left Bequia to enter St. Vincent Grammar School, his grandmother died; his younger siblings then joined their mother in Saint Lucia.[2]
After studying for three years at the
Political career
Mitchell initially entered politics in 1966 by winning a legislative seat as a candidate of the Saint Vincent Labour Party. He was the Minister of Agriculture from 1967 to 1972.[8] In that year, Mitchell resigned from Labour and won re-election as an Independent. He then became Premier with the support of the People's Political Party (PPP), serving from 1972 until 1974.[9] After PPP leader Ebenezer Joshua withdrew his party's support, Mitchell formed the Mitchell/Sylvester Faction together with former PPP ministers Othniel Sylvester, Alphonso Dennie, and others. Although Mitchell was the only successful Faction candidate in 1974,[10] they reorganized and founded the New Democratic Party (NDP) in 1975.[1]
Mitchell and the NDP became the main Parliamentary Opposition, serving until the NDP's victory in the 1984 elections.[5] Mitchell became Prime Minister, Minister of Finance and Foreign Affairs in July 1984[8] and was re-elected for a fourth successive term when his Party scored an 8–7 victory in the 1998 parliamentary elections.[11]
Mitchell retired as Prime Minister and NDP President in 2000 but stayed on as Senior Minister until 2001.
Mitchell led the Commonwealth observer team at the election in Lesotho in 2002.[14] He also was a member of the InterAction Council.[12]
Political positions
Mitchell endorsed the Grenadines becoming a separate nation from St. Vincent: in a 1984 election campaign speech, he opined that the incumbent government was continuing the colonial policy of favouring St. Vincent.[15] He also supported greater political integration of Caribbean countries. In 1987, at the eighth conference of heads of government in the Caribbean Community, he stated, "As I see it, we must have one flag, one anthem and freedom of movement of people, services and capital."[5]
Role as agronomist
During his time as prime minister, Mitchell co-founded the Caribbean Agricultural Regional Development Institute (CARDI).[5]
In his opening address at the 1st Caribbean Agricultural Technology Conference (CATC) held in St Vincent and the Grenadines in 2000, Mitchell emphasized that "agriculture must thrive" and overcome regional challenges. Using the regional banana industry as an example, he pointed out that disruptions would affect not only farmers, but also related sectors such as transportation. To aid the industry, Mitchell outlined his government's policies to promote crop diversification as well as land redistribution to increase production.[5]
Mitchell wrote on a variety of issues in agriculture and Caribbean society, included the topics of fungicide usage and land reform.[5] His autobiography Beyond the Islands was published by Macmillan Caribbean in 2006.[16]
Illness, death and tributes
On 31 October 2021, Mitchell was admitted to Milton Cato Memorial Hospital in Saint Vincent due to multiple illnesses, including
On 18 November 2021, he was transferred to Port Elizabeth Hospital in Bequia. He died there five days later, on 23 November, at the age of 90.[17] Mitchell was the last living parliamentarian to have served at independence in 1979.[18] The government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines announced three days of national mourning through 25 November, with flags flown at half-mast. A state funeral will be held at a later date.[19]
The OECS flag was flown at half-mast, while
References
- ^ ISBN 978-1-55395-298-5. Retrieved 27 June 2015.
- ^ "Sir James' sister killed in St. Lucia". searchlight.vc. 21 October 2011. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ a b c Blair, R; Nicholls, CR (2007). "Sir James Mitchell". Faculty of Land and Food Systems. University of British Columbia. Archived from the original on 30 November 2020.
- .
- ^ CARICOM Secretariat. Archived from the originalon 14 December 2010.
- ^ "Former wife of Sir James passes". searchlight.vc. 4 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ "Former wife of Sir James laid to rest". searchlight.vc. 18 December 2015. Retrieved 27 November 2021.
- ^ a b c "Members of Parliament from Legislative Council 1951 to Independence 1979 to Present" (PDF). House of Assembly of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Retrieved 20 October 2020.
- ^ John, Kenneth. "The later Cato- Inside the house 1967-84". The Vincentian. Retrieved 9 December 2020.
- ^ "St. Vincent and the Grenadines General Election Results 1974". Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 8 December 2020.
- ^ "General Election Results – 15 June 1998". Caribbean Elections. Retrieved 1 December 2017.
- ^ InterAction Council. Archived from the originalon 23 November 2021. Retrieved 30 January 2021.
- ^ a b "Regional leaders mourn passing of Sir James Mitchell | Loop Caribbean News". Loop News. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ "Lesotho Opposition Challenges Election Result – 2002-05-27". VOA. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- .
- OCLC 150591229.
- ^ a b "Sir James Mitchell, former St Vincent and the Grenadines PM, dies at 90". news784.com. 23 November 2021. Archived from the original on 24 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Sir James Mitchell, 90, dies in Bequia". NationNews. 23 November 2021. Retrieved 23 November 2021.
- ^ "Sir James to get state funeral". iWitness News. 24 November 2021. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
- ^ "Former St. Kitts PM Sir Kennedy's reflections on Sir James' passing". iWitness News. Retrieved 25 November 2021.
https://www.stvincenttimes.com/stvincent-former-prime-minister-sir-james-mitchell-has-died/