Remembering a great Trinidadian

THE EDITOR: I note, with interest but concern, information in your article National Heroes, of date June 2, 2003, page 20, paragraph 2, line 3, featuring Arthur Andrew Cipriani, to the effect “the first World War of 1914-1917”, I would like to correct the information since it is not factually accurate. I would also like to expand and elaborate on this great World War and this great Trinidadian and should appreciate if you could allow me space in your widely circulated and read newspaper to so do. World War 1. This war was fought between 1914-1918. It had its origin on July 21, 1914 when Germany declared war on Russia. On August 3, 1914, Germany also declared war on France and on August 4, 1911, Great Britain declared war on Germany immediately after Germany had declared war on Belgium. On April 6, 1917, the United States of America declared war on Germany. This was the year of the Russian Revolution and Russia and Germany signed a peace agreement ending hostilities between them.

On November 11 1918, German and Allied leaders met in the northern French forest town or village of Copiegne and signed an Armistice (unconditional surrender). However, a formal Peace Treaty was not signed until late June or early July, 1919. Arthur Andrew Cipriani was born on January 31 1875 in the quiet Santa Cruz valley, one of three sons of Albert Henry Cipriani. His secondary schooling was at St Mary’s College, Port-of-Spain. He lost both his parents at an early age and was cared for by his aunt, a Mrs Dick. In addition to his love for politics and championing the rights of the underprivileged, he had a great love for horses and horse racing, a love he may have acquired at his uncle’s estates. He was a licenced race horse trainer which he acquired at the age of 18, was president of the (horse) Owners and Trainers Association from 1931 to 1945 and, president of the Arima Racing Association from 1934 to 1944. He was organiser and president of the Trinidad Labour Party which had its dual purpose and functions. He was a Port-of-Spain City Councillor from 1921-1941 during which time he served several terms as Mayor of Port-of-Spain. He was a member of the Trinidad and Tobago Legislative Council to which he was elected in 1925 and also a member of the Executive Council, both to the time of his death in 1945. One of his greatest foresights and predictions for which he should be given some credit, as an individual and as a member of the Legislative Council as far back as 1937 after the internal disturbances of that year, was the necessity for and his willingness to cooperate with other sister West Indian islands for a University College of the West Indies which he then said would be a boon to every inhabitant of the West Indies. It is also more than interesting that your article above mentioned June 2 as importanct in history.

ANTHONY MORA
Arouca