Blackwell Reference Online

Extract

In Trinidad's era of indentured servitude (1845–1920) subtle protests emerged in the form of absenteeism and faked illness among Indian laborers on the sugar estates. This was due to strict labor regulations, police harassment, and judicial partiality. There was also a series of disturbances among the Indian working class which culminated in a phenomenal 12 strikes in 1884. In 1903 the Water Riots in Port-of-Spain resulted in violence and repression brought upon the working class at the hands of the government. The initial protestors belonged to the middle and upper class; however, the working class was misled by anti-government propaganda which created fear concerning water distribution to the public. The working class was convinced to join the protest, and when the government discriminated against them in the issuing of tickets to the Legislative Council for the debate on the Water Works Ordinance, the crowd responded in a hostile manner. In the ensuing confrontation with police 16 persons were killed and 43 wounded. The high cost of living due to World War I (1914–18), deplorable working conditions, and low wages contributed to labor protests in 1919. In February 1919 civil servants petitioned Governor J. R. Chancellor seeking increased salaries, and in March the atmosphere of discontent spread to stevedores and mechanics employed on the docks, along with porters and laborers ... log in or subscribe to read full text