Last of the ‘Butlerites’ passes on

DENNIS Lucky Nicholas, 80, described as the last of the surviving active supporters of the Butlerite Movement, is dead. A former executive member of the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU), Nicholas was a politician, trade unionist, oil worker and a stalwart of the movement for peace, bread and justice founded by the late Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler in the 1960s. Nicholas, originally from Fyzabad, died on Friday at San Fernando General Hospital. In 1966, he contested the general election on behalf of the Butler Party for the Fyzabad seat and also the 1981 general election for the Democratic Action Congress (DAC) which was led by former president of the Republic, Arthur NR Robinson.

Nicholas was a personal friend of Robinson, for whom he campaigned in Tobago when Robinson won the first Tobago House of Assembly elections in the 1980s. Nicholas was a turner-fitter at Premier Consolidated Oil Company in Fyzabad. As a Butler lieutenant, he always led the annual Labour Day march to Fyzabad staged by the OWTU and other trade unions. He marched from Fyzabad to Port-of-Spain during the 1936 oil workers’ protest. In 1975, Nicholas was elected to the OWTU executive under the then president general George Weekes and he remained in the top post for six consecutive years.

Nicholas is well remembered by trade unionists for leaving his workplace immediately when summoned by the late George Weekes to Butler’s side as he (Butler) lay dying. Nicholas is believed to have been the last person to speak to Butler before he passed on. Nicholas leaves to mourn his wife Merle, 12 children and 44 grandchildren. His funeral service takes place tomorrow at 10 am at the Independent Baptist Church on St Joseph Street and the burial will be at the Apex Cemetery, next to Butler’s grave.