Clement Payne

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Clement Osbourne Payne was a Barbadian pioneer in the Caribbean trade union movement. He is officially recognized as a "national hero". In 1937, Payne led Black Barbadians to resist the white planter class. He organized several public meetings and aroused the ire of the police and government. Payne was expelled from Barbados in July of that year on the basis that he had lied to enter the country. Payne claimed to come from Barbados when he actually came from Trinidad.

After Payne was deported, four days of rioting ensued. This lead to Commission of Inquiry (The Moyne Commission), to investigate the situation in Barbados and other British West Indies colonies. The Moyne Commission determined that all of his charges against the island's rulers were accurate and in its report, insisted on reforms which Payne had proposed, including the introduction of trade union legislation.

[edit] Legacy

The Clement Payne Movement is named after Payne. It is a leftist Barbadian political party.

The Clement Payne Cultural Centre was formed in Barbados in 1989 to perpetuate his memory and to continue his work of enlightening Barbadians about their history and struggle.

[edit] References

Clement Payne on the Barbadian national site : [1]