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SCHOOL FOR STUDIES IN LEARNING COGNITION AND
EDUCATION
BACHELOR OF EDUCATION PROGRAMME
COURSE NAME: History of Education in Trinidad and Tobago
COURSE CODE: EDFN 107B
GROUP 1.1
ASSIGNMENT: LOCAL HISTORY PROJECT
INSTRUCTOR: Dr. Melisse Thomas-Bailey Ellis
GROUP MEMBERS:
Azeema Mohammed 109002093
Nadia Ragoonanan 51670
Ria Dwarika 51307
Savitri Ramcharan 51684
Tracyann Maharaj 51658
Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler Local history Project
Introduction
Trinbagonians have much for which they should be thankful although we are not too sure
that we always realize it. We never really think about who is responsible for our economic
success which is why on June 19th we need to give thanks to those who fought so gallantly to
make us who we are and those who were responsible for bringing us to where we are today. One
man in particular, Uriah Butler, was important for transforming poor working conditions.
Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler was born in Grenada on January 21st, 1897. The struggle for
survival struck Butler at an early age. His father was involved in the maintenance of an Anglican
Church and so Tubal was privy to free tuition at St George’s Anglican primary school.
However, his father could not meet the necessary expenses to send him to a secondary school.
Jobs in the town were unavailable to the “young black boy” hence the reason, he grew in
a town where there were no agricultural background, so Tubal dabbled various trades including
that of a blacksmith and joiner.
The Grenadian social structure was rigid; the only available avenue for Butler was to
leave Grenada. He was now seventeen years of age and identified himself to authorities as
twenty a year old and so, he was accepted as a volunteer in the First Contingent of the West
Indian Regiment.
For the first four years in the Contingent, Butler was engaged in preparing and
participating in arm struggle. He then formed the Grenada Representative Government and the
Grenada union of returned soldiers. On returning to Grenada, he was unable to acquire a steady
and rewarding job, Butler then decided to join the Trek of Grenadians who was migrating to
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Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler Local history Project
Trinidad in search for employment, at the age of twenty four in January 1921. Butler secured a
job as a ‘pipe fitter’ at the Roodal Oilfields. Butler then resided at Fyzabad.
For eight years he did the backbreaking menial task for minimal financial reward. Like
other Grenadians, who also came to Trinidad in search for money, Butler was willing and
prepared to do almost anything to gain money.
In 1929 Butler was seriously injured in an industrial accident which left him with a
permanent limp. Here after, at age thirty four, Butler became the Chief Pastor of “Butlerite
Moravian Baptist Church” where many oilworkers were also members. From the pulpit, Butler
called for better working conditions, more land and greater security for farmers.
Butler got married in May, 1929 to Maria Wiseman. They resided at 5 Mello Street,
Glace Bay. They were blessed with four daughters, three sons and a foster son, twenty
grandchildren, thirteen great grandchildren.
Butler and the people of his class struggled for survival, dignitary job opportunities,
reasonable wages and conditions of work. By then, the average wages were seven cents per
hour, a rate that couldn’t feed, clothe nor house a bread winner and his family. There were no
trade unions to defend workers’ jobs, unemployment was high and racism was rampant, as the
oil companies were owned and managed by the whites.
In 1935, the workers of Apex Trinidad Limited Oil companies operating out of Fyzabad
could not take the oppression any longer so they went on strike. This strike however, was short
lived and after three days, production resumed. The company reacted harshly and a sum of two
hundred and twelve workers lost their jobs. As a result, the dismissed workers began a “Hunger
March” from Fyzabad to Port of Spain. This was the first struggle for workers for which Butler
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Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler Local history Project
was recognized ‘leader’. He wanted worldwide independence for all people who were oppressed
and colonized.
When Butler organised his grand “Hunger March” Cipriani, another trade unionist, was
sent to stop him, who admitted, that what wasn’t in his power in sixteen years, Butler had done it
in three years. In July 1936 he resigned from Trinidad labour party and formed the British
Empire Workers and Citizen Home Rule Party.
After the information of this party he sold his house in Fyzabad and used the money to
make oilfield workers members of his union. On the 19th June 1937 another strike took place at
Apex Oilfields. That evening seven hundred workers from Fyzabad prevented the arrest of
Butler. One police officer Charlie King, who attempted to do the impossible by attempting to
arrest Butler, was killed in the process.
Picture of statue of Butler in front OWTU,
Charlie King Junction, Fyzabad
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Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler Local history Project
In December 1937 Butler was jailed and incarcerated until May 1939 for sedition. On his
release from jail he was made Chief Organiser for the Oil Workers Trade Union (OWTU). He
immediately resumed his militant agitation, a line that did not favour with the Union Executive.
In light of June 1937 a number of important developments arose. The most important was the
formation of several trade unions: OWTU, All Trinidad Sugar Estate, Factory Workers Trade
Union, The Seamen and Waterfront Workers Trade Union, and Federation Workers Union and
National Union of Government Employers, known presently as NUGFW. Due to the formation
and relationship between workers racial conflict was absent.
On 26th July, 1939 the workers at Trinidad Lake Asphalt went on strike. Butler supported
this move whilst the Executives did not. He was called in before a disciplinary committee but
refused to go. Butler was again jailed for alleged subversive acts.
On April 9th 1945 he was released. He was accustomed to travelling throughout the oil
belt, holding meetings and agitating around the problems that faced oilworkers. Wages were still
very low, housing and health improved relatively little and unemployment had not improved.
The hardships on the poor people were greater due to the recently ended war which created food
and commodity shortages and generally depressed the level of economic activity in the country.
Butler was expelled from the OWTU in 1939 and many workers being loyal to Butler left
the union and formed new unions. The British Empire Workers Peasants and Ratepayers Union
attempted to get recognition from employers and succeeded in at least two companies, The Lake
Asphalt Company and a local independent oil company owned by Timothy Roodal.
In late 1946 to January 1947 oilworkers struck again. On 17th January 1947 several oil
wells were set on fire and striking workers poured crude oil in the road in various areas to disrupt
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Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler Local history Project
transportation. Workers were encouraged to return to work. Several did return given the
economic pressures. This caused the Governor to ban Butler from oilfield areas which provoked
another march from Fyzabad to Port-of-Spain. On 21st January, the Governor realized that the
strike could escalate into national proportions so a state of emergency was declared. The strike
lost many workers who took part. They were never getting employment in the oil industry. The
union became powerless. Butler continued his plight until the 1950’s. At this time the party
moved into politics but never won. However, he continued his plight throughout the years.
In the 1980’s there were so many of the 1937 problems remaining that people had lost
faith in the Government. Butler was once again on the agenda. This hike soon became
nationwide embracing workers in the sugar and agricultural estate. Butler showed the world that
they too could make an effort. With the Indians on his side, he received cables from people like
Mahatma Gandhi and the British Empire. His slogan was “We mix in oil and sugar” meaning the
unity between the Indians and the black workers.
When Trinidad gained independence Butler contributed as a labour leader. His reputation
as a fighter for the masses took on special significance. He was a hero of the people and was seen
as the man who struck the first damaging blow against colonialism, thus giving courage to the
people for independence.
In recognition of this, Butler was, in 1970, decorated with the country’s highest award,
the Trinity Cross. The greatest tribute came in 1973 when the anniversary of the oilfield riots of
19th June 1937 was declared a national holiday. He died on February 20 th, 1977. The former
Princes Margaret Highway has since been renamed in his honour.
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Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler Local history Project
Pictures illustrate
The funeral of Butler Highway renamed in his honour
Butler was a charismatic leader and superb orator. He was not big on education but he
had street sense, common sense and tactical abilities. The church impacted greatly on his life. It
gave him the opportunity to preach to the people about rights, gave lands and houses to the
workers to build the economy of Trinidad, provided island-wide electricity, free education and
medical care. He used to say, ‘what is good for the children of England is better for the children
of Trinidad.’ Butler’s activities paved the way for universal adult suffrage which contributed to
the development of large political parties.
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Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler Local history Project
As we remember Butler and his remarkable contributions, let us also remember that
development is about people and that political liberation cannot be achieved without cultural
development. It is only through cultural education and the development of our history can we
ever hope to be free.
Picture illustrates statue of Butler and the words written on it.
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Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler Local history Project
REFERENCES
http://www.trinicenter.com/Cudjoe/2007/1006.htm
http://www.guardian.co.tt/sites/default/files/event/highway%20plan.png?1296784889
http://ngb.chebucto.org/Newspaper-Obits/coastal-courier-ns.shtml
http//www.caricom.org/jsp/projects/personalities/tubal_uriah_butler.jsp?menu=projects
Butler- The Man and His Contributions to the Workers’ Struggle by David Abdulah.
Butler: A Life of Struggle by W. Richard Jacobs pg. 32 – 36
Pictures provided by Oil Fields Workers Trade Union Library
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Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler Local history Project
Rubric for Local History 2011Content
Category 4 pts 3 pts 2pts 1 pt Your Mark
Content-Appropriate
The person interviewed and the content researched are appropriate given the mandate of the assignment
The person interviewed and the content researched were somewhat appropriate given the mandate of the assignment
The person interviewed or the content researched was inappropriate given the mandate of the assignment
The person interviewed had little knowledge of the content and was not an appropriate given the mandate of the assignment
Cultural Context
Gives a clear and thorough description of the setting and context of the person or object under consideration
Gives a clear description of the setting and context of the person or object under consideration.
Gives an incomplete description of the setting and context of the person or object under consideration.
Setting and context are missing key components
Tells a story
Gives viewer / reader a vivid sense of his/ her life story by showing how events and values shape life choices
Gives adequate sense of his/ her life story by showing how events and values shape life choices
Gives limited view of the interviewee’s life story
Gives incomplete view of the interviewee’s life story
Visual
Category 5-4 pts 3 pts 2-1pts 0 Your Mark
Pictures-relevance to content
Student included rich, relevant, visual material that helps viewer/reader to understand the text
Student included visual material that was somewhat relevant to understand the text
Student included very limited visual material that was somewhat relevant to understand the text
No Visual Material provided/ or Visual Material selected was inappropriate / irrelevant to the text
Historical Value Rarity/Uniqueness/
Student included rare/ unique/ interesting photos and/ or scans of original documents, that could not be seen elsewhere, of historical value
Student included interesting photos or scans of original documents of historical value
Student included photos, but they did not add greatly to what we have already seen or know of the subject. Were not rare. Likely to have been seen elsewhere
No Visual Material
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Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler Local history Project
Research Skills & Analysis
Category 4 pts 3 pts 2pts 1 pt Your Mark
QuestioningKnowledge
Questioning demonstrated a strong grasp of the topic and excellent research into it.
Questioning demonstrated a fair grasp of the topic and good research into it.
Questioning demonstrated some grasp of the topic and weak research.
Poor questioning due to poor research and a weak understanding of the content investigated.
Thesis
Establishes very sound historical value of interview and textual sources
Establishes sound historical value of interview and textual sources
Establishes weak historical value of interview and textual sources
Establishes very weak historical value of interview and textual sources
Analysis and Interpretation
Draw specific conclusions from conclusions from oral and textual sources
Draw general conclusions from oral and textual sources
Draw limited conclusions from oral and textual sources
Draw vague conclusions from oral and textual sources
Documentation
You have properly documented 3 or more good sources for your topic.
You have properly documented less than 3 good sources for your topic.
You have properly documented less than 3 sources for your topic, some of which are weak.
You have not properly documented the sources for your topic and the sources are inappropriate.
Presentation
Category 2 pts 1pt 0 pts Your Mark
Cover page / Title pageRubric included at back
All elements included with accurate and complete information
Some elements included with mostly accurate and complete information
None included
Grammar and Punctuation
Work presented has no grammatical and/or punctuation errors
Work presented has no more than three grammatical and/or punctuation errors
Work presented has more than three grammatical and/or punctuation errors
Spelling Presentation has no misspellings
Presentation has no more than three misspellings
Presentation has many misspellings
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