Jump to content

A. N. R. Robinson: Difference between revisions

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
Browse history interactively
← Previous editNext edit →
Content deleted Content added
VisualWikitext
re-writing to remove part of copyvio
copyvio cleaned up (afaict)
Line 1: Line 1:
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=April 2014}}
{{copypaste | url=http://www.ttparliament.org/members.php?mid=26&pid=12&id=ANR01|date=April 2014}}
{{Infobox President
{{Infobox President
|honorific-prefix = [[Excellency|His Excellency]]
|honorific-prefix = [[Excellency|His Excellency]]
Line 40: Line 39:


==Political life==
==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.<ref name="nalis"/> In 1961 he was elected to the the [[Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago]] where he served as [[member of parliament]] for Tobago. He was the country's first Minister of Finance (from 1961 to 1967).<Ref name="t+t"/> Following the [[Black Power Revolution]] in 1970, Robinson resigned from the PNM and formed the Action Committee of Dedicated Citizens (ACDC) which joined forced with the [[Democratic Labour Party (Trinidad and Tobago)|Democratic Labour Party]] to contest the [[Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1971|1971 General Elections]]; Robinson and the DLP ended up boycotting the elections in protest over the use of voting machines.<ref name = "Premdas">{{cite web|url=http://www.open.uwi.edu/sites/default/files/bnccde/sk&n/conference/papers/RRPremdas.html|title=Self-Determination and Decentralisation in the Caribbean: Tobago and Nevis|last=Premdas|first=Ralph|publisher=University of the West Indies|accessdate=10 April 2014}}</ref>
Robinson was elected to the [[West Indies Federation|Caribbean Federation]] in 1958 and to the Trinidad and Tobago parliament as MP from Tobago in 1961. He served as the first Minister of Finance from 1961-1967 in which he partook in restructuring and reforming national financial institutions and instruments. In the early 1970s, he also worked towards decentralisation and devolution for his constituency of Tobago. He was president from 1997-2003.<Ref name="t+t"/> He has also served Minister of Foreign Affairs.<Ref name="bio">http://guardian.co.tt/news/2014-04-09/arthur-nr-robinson-former-president-and-prime-minister-passes</ref>

He broke with the [[People's National Movement]] following the [[Black Power]] disturbances in 1970{{vague|date=April 2014}} and founded the [[Democratic Action Congress]] following the [[Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1971]].<ref name="death1"/> This was after his alliance with the [[Democratic Labour Party (Trinidad and Tobago)|Democratic Labour Party]] and the ill-fated "no-vote" campaign in the election which has sought to protest the use of [[voting machine]]s which the opposition DLP considered to be used for election fraud in the 1961 and 1966 elections.{{Fact|date=April 2014}}


After the 1971 election, ACDC became the [[Democratic Action Congress]] which won both Tobago seats in the [[Trinidad and Tobago general election, 1976|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.<ref name = "Premdas"/>
In 1981 Robinson allied with the [[United Labour Front]] (ULF), under the leadership of [[Basdeo Panday]], and the [[Tapia House Movement]], under the leadership of [[Lloyd Best]], to form the [[National Alliance]]. It entered into an alliance with the [[Organisation for National Reconstruction]], under the leadership of [[Karl Hudson-Phillips]], to successfully fight the [[Trinidad and Tobago local elections, 1983]]. Building on this victory the four parties combined to form the [[National Alliance for Reconstruction]] (NAR).<ref name="death1"/>{{dubious|date=April 2014}}<!--verbatim WP copy on his political life-->
In 1981 Robinson allied with the [[United Labour Front]] (ULF), under the leadership of [[Basdeo Panday]], and the [[Tapia House Movement]], under the leadership of [[Lloyd Best]], to form the [[National Alliance]]. It entered into an alliance with the [[Organisation for National Reconstruction]], under the leadership of [[Karl Hudson-Phillips]], to successfully fight the [[Trinidad and Tobago local elections, 1983]]. Building on this victory the four parties combined to form the [[National Alliance for Reconstruction]] (NAR).<ref name="death1"/>{{dubious|date=April 2014}}<!--verbatim WP copy on his political life-->

He has also served Minister of Foreign Affairs.<Ref name="bio">http://guardian.co.tt/news/2014-04-09/arthur-nr-robinson-former-president-and-prime-minister-passes</ref>


===Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt===
===Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt===

Revision as of 20:51, 10 April 2014

His Excellency
Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson
SC OCC TC
3rd President of Trinidad and Tobago
In office
19 March 1997 – 17 March 2003
Prime MinisterBasdeo Panday
Patrick Manning
Preceded byNoor Hassanali
Succeeded byProf. George Maxwell Richards
3rd Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
In office
18 December 1986 – 17 December 1991
PresidentEllis Clarke
Noor Hassanali
Preceded byGeorge Chambers
Succeeded byPatrick Manning
Personal details
Born(1926-12-16)16 December 1926
Calder Hall, Trinidad and Tobago
Died9 April 2014(2014-04-09) (aged 87)
St Claire Medical Centre, Port of Spain
NationalityCitizen of Trinidad and Tobago
SpousePatricia Robinson
Alma materUniversity of London
Oxford University

Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson (16 December 1926 – 9 April 2014) (known as A. N. R. (or Ray) Robinson), SC, OCC, TC was born in Calder Hall, Tobago) and was the third President of Trinidad and Tobago, serving from 19 March 1997 to 17 March 2003. He was also Trinidad and Tobago's third Prime Minister, serving in that capacity from 18 December 1986 to 17 December 1991. He is internationally recognized for his proposal that eventually led to the founding of the International Criminal Court.

President 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 People's National Movement (PNM) nominated Justice Anthony Lucky as its candidate for President). President Robinson sparked controversy in his term in office when he refused to appoint certain Senators recommended by the Prime Minister Basdeo Panday following the elections in 2000 and in 2001 when he appointed the Leader of the Opposition Patrick Manning to the position of Prime Minister after a tied election.

Early life

Robinson was born in Tobago in 1926 to James[1] and Isabella Robinson.[2] He was educated at Castara Methodist School (where his father served as head master) and Bishop's High School where he obtained a Higher School Certificate with distinction in Latin and competed for an Island Scholarship. He obtained a Bachelor of Laws degree from London University as an external student. In 1951 he left for the United Kingdom[1] where he was called to the bar at Inner Temple and obtained a degree in philosophy, politics and economics from St. John's College, Oxford.[3] Robinson returned to Trinidad and Tobago where he practised as a Barrister-at-Law.[1]

Robinson married Patricia 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 the Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago where he served as member of parliament for Tobago. He was the country's first Minister of Finance (from 1961 to 1967).[1] Following the Black Power Revolution in 1970, Robinson resigned from the PNM and formed the Action Committee of Dedicated Citizens (ACDC) 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.[4]

After the 1971 election, ACDC 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.[4]

In 1981 Robinson allied with the United Labour Front (ULF), under the leadership of Basdeo Panday, and the Tapia House Movement, under the leadership of Lloyd Best, to form the National Alliance. It entered into an alliance with the Organisation for National Reconstruction, under the leadership of Karl Hudson-Phillips, to successfully fight the Trinidad and Tobago local elections, 1983. Building on this victory the four parties combined to form the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR).[5][dubious – discuss]

He has also served Minister of Foreign Affairs.[6]

Jamaat al Muslimeen coup attempt

During the 1990 coup d'état attempt by the Jamaat al Muslimeen, Robinson and much of his cabinet were held hostage for six days by gunmen under the leadership of Yasin Abu Bakr. When instructed to order the army to stop firing on the Red House, where they were held hostage, Robinson instead instructed them to "attack with full force," an action that earned him a beating from his captors. He was also shot in his leg.[7]

Illness and death

Robinson suffered from a number of ailments including a stroke and prostate complications and was hospitalized at the St Claire Medical Hospital after he complained of feeling unwell.[8] Following an illness of several months, he died at St Clair Medical Centre at about 6:00 am. The death was was confirmed by National Security Minister Gary Griffith, who added that a state funeral was being planned.[5] 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." Leader of the Opposition Keith Rowley added that he was "resolute in his role as leader. I acknowledge his distinguished contribution to this country's development and join the rest of the nation in mourning his loss."[9]

Honours

In May 2011 for his great service to this country, the airport in Tobago was renamed the A.N.R. Robinson International Airport, replacing the name "Crown Point International Airport".[10][11]

In November 2011, A. N. R. Robinson was the recipient of Tobago's highest award, the Tobago Medal of Honour.[12][13]

During the investiture of President Thomas Boni Yayi of Benin as a titled Yoruba chieftain on 20 December 2008, the reigning Ooni of Ile-Ife, Nigeria, Olubuse II, referred to President Robinson and his wife as previous recipients of the same royal honour. [14]

References

  1. ^ a b c d e http://www.ttparliament.org/members.php?mid=26&pid=12&id=ANR01
  2. ^ Ira Mathur (20 March 1997). "Memories of Mother Robinson". Iramathur.org. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  3. ^ a b "Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson". Biographies. Nalis: Trinidad and Tobago National Library and Information System Authority. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  4. ^ a b Premdas, Ralph. "Self-Determination and Decentralisation in the Caribbean: Tobago and Nevis". University of the West Indies. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  5. ^ a b http://www.trinidadexpress.com/news/Robinson-has-died-254518361.html
  6. ^ http://guardian.co.tt/news/2014-04-09/arthur-nr-robinson-former-president-and-prime-minister-passes
  7. ^ Taitt, Ria (25 January 2011). "Robbie: I was shot and beaten; Former PM describes hostage ordeal". Trinidadexpress.com. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  8. ^ "Robinson has died". Trinidad Express. 9 April 2014. Retrieved 9 April 2014.
  9. ^ http://www.bbc.com/news/world-latin-america-26964308
  10. ^ "TAU praises ANR Robinson Airport honour". Thetobagonews.com. 12 May 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  11. ^ "The airport has been officially renamed to A.N.R. Robinson International Airport". Tobagoairport.com. 19 May 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  12. ^ "ANR Robinson receives Tobago's highest award". Thetobagonews.com. 1 December 2011. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  13. ^ Parasram, Jai (30 November 2011). "Tobago honours Robinson with island's highest award". Jyoticommunication.blogspot.co.uk. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
  14. ^ "His Imperial Majesty, Alayeluwa Oba Okunade Sijuwade, Olubuse ll- The Ooni of Ife". Theooni.org. 20 December 2008. Retrieved 10 April 2014.
Political offices
Preceded by President of Trinidad and Tobago
1997–2003 		Succeeded by
Preceded by Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago
1986–1991 		Succeeded by

Template:Persondata

Retrieved from "https://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=A._N._R._Robinson&oldid=603650467"