Bustamante, Sir William Alexander (1884-1977), became Jamaica’s first prime minister when the island gained independence in 1962. He held office until his retirement from active politics in 1967. As leader of the Jamaican Labor Party (JLP), Bustamante worked to advance the interests of underprivileged people and helped build Jamaica into an independent nation.
Bustamante was born William Alexander Clarke near Lucea, Jamaica. As a young man, he lived and worked in Europe and the United States. He returned to Jamaica in 1932 and became a trade union leader. In 1942, Bustamante was imprisoned on a charge of sedition (undermining the authority of the state). After his release later that year, he founded the JLP. The party swept to power in the 1944 general election. From 1958 to 1961, Bustamante successfully campaigned for Jamaica’s withdrawal from the Federation of the West Indies. He was proclaimed a National Hero of Jamaica during his lifetime.
