George Charles
Encyclopedia
Sir George Frederick Lawrence Charles (7 June 1916 – 26 June 2004) is a former trade unionist, politician, founder of the Saint Lucia Labour Party
and Chief Minister
of Saint Lucia
(1 January 1960 - April 1964). He is a recipient of Saint Lucia's second-highest honour, the St. Lucia Cross (1987), and was knighted in 1988 by Queen Elizabeth II. George F. L. Charles Airport
, in Castries
, Saint Lucia, is named in his honour.
Born on 7 June 1916, George Charles had a privileged education at St. Mary’s College. But like many young West Indians of his time, he migrated to Aruba and worked there for a year with the Largo Oil and Transport Company. In Aruba, he was exposed to trade union activities and on his return to Saint Lucia, in 1945, he championed the cause of the workers at the Vigie Airport - now George F. L. Charles Airport - Renovation Project, where he was employed as a timekeeper. His solidarity on that occasion propelled him to the General Secretaryship of the Saint Lucia Workers Cooperative Union.
Sir George played an increasingly active role in trade unionism and by 1948 was elected to the Castries Town Board, as trade union representative. He stepped up the efforts to secure a more democratic mode of representation and in 1950, he and his father James Charles
were among the key personalities involved in the organization of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP). The SLP immediately became the dominant force in Saint Lucia for over a decade. He and his party had a moderate socialist agenda, emphasizing workers' rights and more autonomy, or independence, for Saint Lucia - then an overseas colony of the United Kingdom
.
In the 1951 General Elections
, the first held under universal adult suffrage, the St. Lucia Labour Party under his leadership won five of the eight seats against the middle class-oriented Peoples Progressive Party
. Sir George’s first resolution as an elected member was for legal recognition of the right to paid leave, which was rejected by the Colonial Authorities. The Labour Party was again victorious in 1954 general elections
.
The struggle that Sir George led resulted in a series of constitutional reforms, obtaining a responsible ministerial government system. Sir George was named as the first Chief Minister (1960 reform), as well as first Minister for Education and Social Affairs.
Charles was Chief Minister until April 1964 when the government fell. The SLP subsequently lost the elections
for the first time. From then on, Charles played a lesser role in politics. After Charles' tenure as Chief Minister, the SLP spent most of the next three decades in opposition. The SLP returned to power from 1979 to 1982, from 1997 to 2006, and again from 2011.
Charles, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998, received his country's second-highest honour, the St. Lucia Cross in 1987.
Sir George Frederick Lawrence Charles died on 26 June 2004 at age 88, after a short illness.
Saint Lucia Labour Party
The Saint Lucia Labour Party is a social democratic political party in Saint Lucia. It currently holds ten of the 17 seats in the House of Assembly.-History:...
and Chief Minister
Chief Minister
A Chief Minister is the elected head of government of a sub-national state, provinces of Sri Lanka, Pakistan, notably a state of India, a territory of Australia or a British Overseas Territory that has attained self-government...
of Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia is an island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 620 km2 and has an...
(1 January 1960 - April 1964). He is a recipient of Saint Lucia's second-highest honour, the St. Lucia Cross (1987), and was knighted in 1988 by Queen Elizabeth II. George F. L. Charles Airport
George F. L. Charles Airport
- Charter :-Cargo Services:* Federal Express* DHL* Ameriflight* Corporate Air...
, in Castries
Castries
Castries , population 10,634, aggl. 37,963 , is the capital city of Saint Lucia, a country in the Caribbean. The district with the same name had a population of 61,341 in 2001-05-22, and stretches over an area of ....
, Saint Lucia, is named in his honour.
Born on 7 June 1916, George Charles had a privileged education at St. Mary’s College. But like many young West Indians of his time, he migrated to Aruba and worked there for a year with the Largo Oil and Transport Company. In Aruba, he was exposed to trade union activities and on his return to Saint Lucia, in 1945, he championed the cause of the workers at the Vigie Airport - now George F. L. Charles Airport - Renovation Project, where he was employed as a timekeeper. His solidarity on that occasion propelled him to the General Secretaryship of the Saint Lucia Workers Cooperative Union.
Sir George played an increasingly active role in trade unionism and by 1948 was elected to the Castries Town Board, as trade union representative. He stepped up the efforts to secure a more democratic mode of representation and in 1950, he and his father James Charles
James Charles
James Charles was one of the founding members of the Richmond Football Club.He was Richmond's inaugural Club Secretary, serving in 1885 and 1886, at the same time as being the Club's delegate to the Victorian Football Association...
were among the key personalities involved in the organization of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP). The SLP immediately became the dominant force in Saint Lucia for over a decade. He and his party had a moderate socialist agenda, emphasizing workers' rights and more autonomy, or independence, for Saint Lucia - then an overseas colony of the United Kingdom
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
.
In the 1951 General Elections
Saint Lucian general election, 1951
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 12 October 1951. The result was a victory for the Saint Lucia Labour Party, which won five of the eight seats. Voter turnout was 59.1%.-Results:...
, the first held under universal adult suffrage, the St. Lucia Labour Party under his leadership won five of the eight seats against the middle class-oriented Peoples Progressive Party
People's Progressive Party (Saint Lucia)
The People's Progressive Party was a political party in Saint Lucia. It was the only opposition party in the country from 1951 until 1964.-History:...
. Sir George’s first resolution as an elected member was for legal recognition of the right to paid leave, which was rejected by the Colonial Authorities. The Labour Party was again victorious in 1954 general elections
Saint Lucian general election, 1954
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 23 September 1954. The result was a victory for the Saint Lucia Labour Party, which won five of the eight seats. Voter turnout was 49.4%.-Results:...
.
The struggle that Sir George led resulted in a series of constitutional reforms, obtaining a responsible ministerial government system. Sir George was named as the first Chief Minister (1960 reform), as well as first Minister for Education and Social Affairs.
Charles was Chief Minister until April 1964 when the government fell. The SLP subsequently lost the elections
Saint Lucian general election, 1964
General elections were held in Saint Lucia on 25 June 1964. The result was a victory for the United Workers Party, which won six of the ten seats. Voter turnout was 51.9%.-Results:...
for the first time. From then on, Charles played a lesser role in politics. After Charles' tenure as Chief Minister, the SLP spent most of the next three decades in opposition. The SLP returned to power from 1979 to 1982, from 1997 to 2006, and again from 2011.
Charles, knighted by Queen Elizabeth II in 1998, received his country's second-highest honour, the St. Lucia Cross in 1987.
Sir George Frederick Lawrence Charles died on 26 June 2004 at age 88, after a short illness.