Independence movement British Honduras

the origins of independence movement lay in 1930s , 1940s. 3 groups played important roles in colony s politics during period. 1 group consisted of working-class individuals , emphasised labour issues. group originated soberanis s lua between 1934 , 1937 , continued through gwu. second group, radical nationalist movement, emerged during world war ii. leaders came lua , local branch of marcus garvey s universal negro improvement association. group called variously british honduras independent labour party, people s republican party, , people s national committee. third group consisted of people such christian social action group (csag) engaged in electoral politics within narrow limits defined constitution , goals included natives first campaign , extension of franchise elect more representative government.

in 1947 group of graduates of elite catholic saint john s college formed csag , won control of belize city council. 1 member of group, george cadle price, topped polls in 1947 election when opposed immigration schemes , import controls , rode wave of feeling against british proposal federation of colonies in caribbean. price eclectic , pragmatic politician ideological position obscured under cloak of religious values , quotations. remained predominant politician in country 1950s until retirement in 1996. csag started newspaper, belize billboard edited philip goldson , leigh richardson.

the event precipitated price s political career , formation of pup, devaluation of british honduras dollar on 31 december 1949. in september 1949, british government devalued british pound sterling. in spite of repeated denials governor british honduras dollar devalued maintain old exchange rate british pound, devaluation nevertheless effected governor, using reserve powers in defiance of legislative council. governor s action angered nationalists because reflected limits of legislature , revealed extent of colonial administration s power. devaluation enraged labour because protected interests of big transnationals, such belize estate , produce company, trade in british pounds have suffered without devaluation while subjected british honduras s working class, experiencing widespread unemployment , poverty, higher prices goods—especially food—imported united states. devaluation united labour, nationalists, , creole middle classes in opposition colonial administration. on night governor declared devaluation, people s committee formed , nascent independence movement matured.

before end of january 1950, gwu , people s committee holding joint public meetings , discussing issues such devaluation, labour legislation, proposed west indies federation, , constitutional reform. gwu mass organisation of working people, success of independence movement have been impossible without support of union. in fact, gwu president, clifford betson 1 of original members of people s committee. on 28 april 1950, middle-class members of people s committee (formerly members of csag) took on leadership of union , gave betson dubious honorific title of patriarch of union . on 29 september 1950, people s committee dissolved , people s united party (pup) formed in place.