Ebenezer Joshua facts for kids

Ebenezer Theodore Joshua (born May 23, 1908, died March 14, 1991) was an important politician from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. He was the very first chief minister of Saint Vincent from 1960 to 1967. Before that, he led the Legislative Council from 1956 to 1961.

Early Life and Work

Ebenezer Joshua was born in Kingstown, on the island of Saint Vincent. This was part of the British Windward Islands back then.

When he was a young man in the 1920s, he moved to the nearby island of Trinidad to work. There, he became involved in trade unionism. This means he worked to protect the rights of workers. He was an official for the Oilfields Workers' Trade Union from 1938 to 1950.

After trying to get elected in Trinidad, he returned to Saint Vincent. In 1951, he entered politics and was elected to the island's assembly. In 1952, he and his wife, Ivy Joshua, started the People's Political Party (PPP). This party worked with a trade union to help farmers and shipyard workers. The PPP strongly opposed colonialism (when one country controls another) and the plantocracy (when rich landowners have a lot of power).

Political Career

In 1957, Ebenezer and Ivy Joshua made history. They became the first married couple to be elected to a parliament in the British West Indies.

In 1961, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gained more self-rule. Joshua then became the chief minister. He also served as the Minister of Finance, handling the country's money. His PPP party continued to win elections.

Joshua supported the idea of the West Indies Federation, which was a plan to unite several Caribbean islands. However, this plan did not succeed. In 1962, Joshua stopped government money for sugar farmers. This led to the closure of the Mt Bentinck Sugar Cane Factory.

In 1967, the PPP lost its majority in parliament. Robert Milton Cato became the new chief minister. After the 1972 elections, Joshua was again appointed Minister of Finance. He worked in the government of James Fitz-Allen Mitchell until he resigned in 1974.

Joshua stayed in parliament, but his party, the PPP, started to lose support. A new party, the New Democratic Party, became popular. In 1979, the PPP lost all its seats in parliament. Joshua stepped down as party leader in 1980, and the PPP closed down in 1984.

Personal Life and Legacy

In 1980, Joshua became a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. He even served as a leader in the church's Kingstown branch for a time.

Ebenezer Joshua passed away in Kingstown, Saint Vincent, on March 14, 1991.

To honor him, the Arnos Vale Airport was renamed the E. T. Joshua Airport. After this airport closed in 2017, its old building was turned into a shopping center called The Joshua Centre.

See also

In Spanish: Ebenezer Joshua para niños