Ashford Sinanan
Encyclopedia
Notable public servant of Trinidad and Tobago
who served in various roles prior to and following Trinidad’s independence in 1962. Along with brother, Mitra, Sinanan helped draft portions of Trinidad’s constitution and later went on to serve as the country’s first High Commissioner to India. High office, however, ultimately eluded him: first, in his 1958 bid to become the first Prime Minister of the Federation of the West Indies, a contest that he narrowly lost by 2 seats to Barbados’ Sir Grantley Adams; and second, in 1974, when he resigned from his post as High Commissioner to India to found the West Indian National Party
(WINP). The WINP ultimately failed to break the 20-year rule of then Prime Minister, Dr. Eric Williams
.
Notable career highlights:
Awards:
Trinidad and Tobago
Trinidad and Tobago officially the Republic of Trinidad and Tobago is an archipelagic state in the southern Caribbean, lying just off the coast of northeastern Venezuela and south of Grenada in the Lesser Antilles...
who served in various roles prior to and following Trinidad’s independence in 1962. Along with brother, Mitra, Sinanan helped draft portions of Trinidad’s constitution and later went on to serve as the country’s first High Commissioner to India. High office, however, ultimately eluded him: first, in his 1958 bid to become the first Prime Minister of the Federation of the West Indies, a contest that he narrowly lost by 2 seats to Barbados’ Sir Grantley Adams; and second, in 1974, when he resigned from his post as High Commissioner to India to found the West Indian National Party
West Indian National Party
The West Indian National Party was a political party in Trinidad and Tobago. It contested the 1976 general elections, but received just 1,242 votes and failed to win a seat. It did not contest any further elections....
(WINP). The WINP ultimately failed to break the 20-year rule of then Prime Minister, Dr. Eric Williams
Eric Williams
Eric Eustace Williams served as the first Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago. He served from 1956 until his death in 1981. He was also a noted Caribbean historian, and is widely regarded as "The Father of The Nation."...
.
Notable career highlights:
- Elected to Legislative Council, Victoria Constituency, (1950)
- Member of Parliament, San Fernando
- Founder, Democratic Labour Party and Opposition Leader (1951-1956)
- Acting Speaker of the House, Parliament of Trinidad and Tobago (1955-1956)
- Chairman, Constitution Reform Committee (1955)
- Ambassador and Permanent Representative of Trinidad and Tobago to the Office of the U.N. and Specialized Agencies in Geneva (1973)
- High Commissioner to India (1974)
Awards:
- Trinity Cross, awarded by the Order of the Republic of Trinidad & Tobago for Public Service (1990)
- Chaconia Gold Medal awarded for Public Service (1990)