Frank Leslie Walcott
Sir Frank Leslie Walcott, KA, OBE (16 September 1916 – 24 February 1999) was a Barbadian trade unionist, politician, ambassador and one of the ten National Heroes of Barbados.[1] He played a key role in organizing the Barbados labour movement and was a major figure in stimulating participation in the nation's political process.[2]
Frank Walcott was born in Saint Peter, and his policeman father died when Walcott was very young. He was raised in Bridgetown, where he attended Wesley Hall Boys' School, excelling in mathematics and debate from an early age. Becoming an active unionist in his mid-twenties, Walcott served the Barbados Workers' Union for over fifty years. He also served three separate terms as president of the Caribbean Congress of Labour, as well as serving in the Governing Body of the International Labour Organisation and as Vice-President of the Executive Board of the International Confederation of Free Trade Unions. In addition to these posts, Walcott also served with the American Institute for Free Labour Development and was Chairman of the World Employment Conference.
In politics, Walcott served as a Member of Parliament in the Barbados House of Assembly representing the Democratic Labour Party from 1945 to 1966 and again from 1971 to 1976. During the time between these terms he served as a Senator, and was President of that body from 1986 to 1991. After Barbados gained its independence in 1966, Walcott served as the nation's first Ambassador to the United Nations. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1954 Queen's Birthday Honours.[3] In 1987 Walcott was conferred the highest honour in Barbados; he was made a Knight of St. Andrew (KA) of the Order of Barbados.
The Sir Frank Walcott building in Saint Michael, Barbados, is named in his honour. Walcott is also noted for having been an exceptional cricket umpire.[4]
References
Notes
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- ↑ The London Gazette: (Supplement) no. 40188. p. 3281. 1 June 1954. Retrieved 2006-06-26.
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External links
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- 1916 births
- 1999 deaths
- Barbadian activists
- Barbadian diplomats
- Members of the Senate of Barbados
- Presidents of the Senate of Barbados
- Caribbean Congress of Labour
- Trade union leaders
- Barbadian cricket umpires
- Officers of the Order of the British Empire
- People from Bridgetown
- Permanent Representatives of Barbados to the United Nations
- Democratic Labour Party (Barbados) politicians
- Members of the House of Assembly of Barbados
- Knights and Dames of St Andrew (Barbados)
