Frank Leslie Walcott
Encyclopedia
Sir Frank Leslie Walcott, KA
, OBE
(September 16, 1916 – February 24, 1999) was a Barbadian
trade union
ist, politician
, ambassador
and one of the ten National Heroes of Barbados
. 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.
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
. 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 as having been an exceptional cricket
umpire
.
Knight or Dame of St. Andrew (Barbados)
The Knight or Dame of St. Andrew is an award within the Order of Barbados.The Order of Barbados was instituted by Letters Patent on July 25, 1980, as part of the Barbados National Honours and Decorations System. The Knight or Dame of St...
, OBE
Order of the British Empire
The Most Excellent Order of the British Empire is an order of chivalry established on 4 June 1917 by George V of the United Kingdom. The Order comprises five classes in civil and military divisions...
(September 16, 1916 – February 24, 1999) was a Barbadian
Barbados
Barbados is an island country in the Lesser Antilles. It is in length and as much as in width, amounting to . It is situated in the western area of the North Atlantic and 100 kilometres east of the Windward Islands and the Caribbean Sea; therein, it is about east of the islands of Saint...
trade union
Trade union
A trade union, trades union or labor union is an organization of workers that have banded together to achieve common goals such as better working conditions. The trade union, through its leadership, bargains with the employer on behalf of union members and negotiates labour contracts with...
ist, politician
Politics of Barbados
The politics of Barbados function within a framework of constitutional monarchy and a parliamentary government with strong democratic traditions; constitutional safeguards for nationals of Barbados include: freedom of speech, press, worship, movement, and association.Executive power is vested in...
, ambassador
Ambassador
An ambassador is the highest ranking diplomat who represents a nation and is usually accredited to a foreign sovereign or government, or to an international organization....
and one of the ten National Heroes of Barbados
Barbadian national heroes
Barbadian National Heroes are the designees of the Order of National Heroes Act, as passed by the Parliament of Barbados in 1998. The act formally recognized the stature of ten major figures in the history of Barbados....
. 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.
Walcott was born in Saint Peter, and his policeman father died when Walcott was very young. He was raised in Bridgetown
Bridgetown
The city of Bridgetown , metropolitan pop 96,578 , is the capital and largest city of the nation of Barbados. Formerly, the Town of Saint Michael, the Greater Bridgetown area is located within the parish of Saint Michael...
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
Barbados Workers' Union
The Barbados Workers' Union is a trade union in Barbados. It was established in October, 1941. It has 25,000 members and represents them directly, negotiating with individual companies in each sector....
for over fifty years. He also served three separate terms as president of the Caribbean Congress of Labour
Caribbean Congress of Labour
The Caribbean Congress of Labour is a regional trade union federation. It represents 500,000 members in 33 affiliated unions across 17 Caribbean nations....
, 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
International Confederation of Free Trade Unions
The International Confederation of Free Trade Unions was an international trade union. It came into being on 7 December 1949 following a split within the World Federation of Trade Unions , and was dissolved on 31 October 2006 when it merged with the World Confederation of Labour to form the...
. 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
Member of Parliament
A Member of Parliament is a representative of the voters to a :parliament. In many countries with bicameral parliaments, the term applies specifically to members of the lower house, as upper houses often have a different title, such as senate, and thus also have different titles for its members,...
in the Barbados House of Assembly
Barbados House of Assembly
The House of Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of Barbados. It has 30 Members of Parliament , MPs are directly elected in single member constituencies using the simple-majority system for a term of five years....
representing the Democratic Labour Party
Democratic Labour Party (Barbados)
The Democratic Labour Party is a political party in Barbados, and currently the ruling party of the country. It is led by Freundel Stuart.-History:...
from 1945 to 1966 and again from 1971 to 1976. During the time between these terms he served as a Senator
Senate of Barbados
The Senate is the name given to the Upper House of the bicameral legislature the Parliament of Barbados. The Senate is accorded legitimacy by Chapter V of the Constitution of Barbados. It is the smaller of both chambers and also includes HM Queen Elizabeth II, Queen of Barbados...
, 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
Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations
The Permanent Representative of Barbados to the United Nations is in charge of the Barbados's diplomatic mission to the United Nations Headquarters in New York City, United States of America.*Sir Frank Leslie Walcott...
to the United Nations
United Nations
The United Nations is an international organization whose stated aims are facilitating cooperation in international law, international security, economic development, social progress, human rights, and achievement of world peace...
. He was appointed an Officer of the Order of the British Empire (OBE) in the 1954 Queen's Birthday Honours
Queen's Birthday Honours
The Queen's Birthday Honours is a part of the British honours system, being a civic occasion on the celebration of the Queen's Official Birthday in which new members of most Commonwealth Realms honours are named. The awards are presented by the reigning monarch or head of state, currently Queen...
. In 1987 Walcott was conferred the highest honour in Barbados; he was made a Knight of St. Andrew
Knight or Dame of St. Andrew (Barbados)
The Knight or Dame of St. Andrew is an award within the Order of Barbados.The Order of Barbados was instituted by Letters Patent on July 25, 1980, as part of the Barbados National Honours and Decorations System. The Knight or Dame of St...
(KA) of the Order of Barbados
Order of Barbados
The Order of Barbados is part of the National honours system awarded by the government of Barbados, and presented by the Viceroy, which is the Governor-General of Barbados. It comprises four classes, two of which are awarded in two grades. It was instituted under Royal letters patent of Queen...
.
The Sir Frank Walcott building in Saint Michael, Barbados is named in his honour. Walcott is also noted as having been an exceptional cricket
Cricket
Cricket is a bat-and-ball game played between two teams of 11 players on an oval-shaped field, at the centre of which is a rectangular 22-yard long pitch. One team bats, trying to score as many runs as possible while the other team bowls and fields, trying to dismiss the batsmen and thus limit the...
umpire
Umpire (cricket)
In cricket, an umpire is a person who has the authority to make judgements on the cricket field, according to the Laws of Cricket...
.