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| PHOTO TAKEN BY MAKEELA ALEXANDER AT INDEPENDENCE SQUARE, PORT-OF-SPAIN |
Arthur Andrew Cipriani was born in the year 1875. He was involved with recruiting soldiers at the outbreak of World War I and was subsequently made a captain in the British West India Regiment and left for the front in 1917. On his return to Trinidad, he became a leader not just to, the ex-soldiers but to labourers as well. He became known throughout Trinidad and Tobago as the champion of the barefoot man.[1] A memorial to Captain Cipriani was erected in the heart of the capital’s Independence Square; at the base of Frederick Street. This was done on the day of the 50th anniversary of Trinidad and Tobago's Independence. the statue was covered with a lavish coating of black paint.
Cipriani lead the first important industrial strike which occurred in Trinidad, in November 1919, during a labour dispute on Port-of-Spain wharves. He was nominated president of the Trinidad Workingmen’s Association, at that time the country’s leading workers’ organisation and in 1925 became Mayor of Port-of-Spain, which propelled him to a seat on the Legislative Council in Trinidad’s first general elections. He was an advocate, who retired from public life having never lost his seat on the City Council since he has been first elected. Additionally, he had a record of eight terms as Mayor[2].
He played a very instrumental role in terms of upholding the interests of the “unwashed and unsoaped barefoot man” against those of big business and government, Cipriani fought tirelessly for workman’s compensation, old age pensions, an eight-hour day, minimum wage laws and compulsory education. He defended legislation to protect trade unions and in 1932 was successful in getting a Trade Union Ordnance enacted by the British government[3].
Therefore today persons are able to get shorter working hours, he also fought for compulsory education and he attempted to instill a feeling of pride within children; where they are proud of the land in which they were born. Also he battled to end to plantation child labour and the end of the Crown Colony System. Moreover, on the Legislative Council, he championed key issues such as “old age” pension, women’s rights and minimum wage. Consequently, his battles have afforded us the opportunities and rights we have today, which has greatly improved the lives of citizens. As a result, his name is also carried through the Cipriani Labour College and Cipriani Boulevard.
It can be said that Captain Cipriani was the pioneer of the nationalist movement of Trinidad and Tobago. By means of his memorial statue, we commemorate our own historical development, our own positive action, our own native history made by native hands, and the aspiration of our native peoples.” Cipriani Boulevard in Port-of-Spain and Cipriani College of Labour and Cooperative Studies are also named in his honour[4]. Hence, its location in the heart of the city allows citizens to reminisce on the remarkable works this hero has done.
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