The Struggle ends: In 1950, Britain gave Trinidad and Tobago its first Ministerial government. In the elections to the Legislative Council in 1950, Butler’s party, the British Empire Workers and Citizens Home Rule Party, won the largest number of seats, although his rival, Albert Gomes, leader of the Party of Political Progress Groups, was appointed Chief Minister of the new government. The two leaders, however, agreed to use their new political power to end the persecution of the Spiritual Baptists. On March 30th, 1951, they passed the Bill to repeal the Prohibition Ordinance. The Repeal Act was the first legal step in putting the Spiritual Baptists on equal footing with other non-European faiths in the country. With the end of Prohibition, Spiritual Baptists were co-opted as a major force in emerging national party politics under the leadership of Eric Williams, the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Some believe that Williams was secretly baptised as a Spiritual Baptist. Under Williams’ regime, the Baptists rapidly enlarged their legitimacy and status through several Acts of Parliament incorporating their several organizations with local regional and international reach. They also began establishing alliances with Baptists international. For example, Archbishop’s Sandiford’s West Indian United Baptist Sacred Order was incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1960, and in 1964, the West Indian Ecclesiastical Baptist Faith established by Elton Griffith was incorporated by an Act of Parliament. After many years of advocacy for a day to commemorate the Repeal of the Prohibition Act of 1917, In 1996, the government declared March 30th, Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day, a public holiday.
nathaniel lewis
The Struggle ends:
In 1950, Britain gave Trinidad and Tobago its first Ministerial government. In the elections to the Legislative Council in 1950, Butler’s party, the British Empire Workers and Citizens Home Rule Party, won the largest number of seats, although his rival, Albert Gomes, leader of the Party of Political Progress Groups, was appointed Chief Minister of the new government. The two leaders, however, agreed to use their new political power to end the persecution of the Spiritual Baptists. On March 30th, 1951, they passed the Bill to repeal the Prohibition Ordinance.
The Repeal Act was the first legal step in putting the Spiritual Baptists on equal footing with other non-European faiths in the country.
With the end of Prohibition, Spiritual Baptists were co-opted as a major force in emerging national party politics under the leadership of Eric Williams, the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. Some believe that Williams was secretly baptised as a Spiritual Baptist. Under Williams’ regime, the Baptists rapidly enlarged their legitimacy and status through several Acts of Parliament incorporating their several organizations with local regional and international reach. They also began establishing alliances with Baptists international. For example, Archbishop’s Sandiford’s West Indian United Baptist Sacred Order was incorporated by an Act of Parliament in 1960, and in 1964, the West Indian Ecclesiastical Baptist Faith established by Elton Griffith was incorporated by an Act of Parliament.
After many years of advocacy for a day to commemorate the Repeal of the Prohibition Act of 1917, In 1996, the government declared March 30th, Spiritual Baptist Liberation Day, a public holiday.
4 years ago | [YT] | 121