104th Birthday Celebration- Former Trade Unionist

The celebration for Blades, which was initiated by CBTT, was held at the Blade’s family home at Wallerfield, Cumuto. The last surviving labour hero of the 1937 struggle for better wages and working conditions, was last year made a life-long executive member and honorary president of CBTT. He has also been a member of the Republic Day Award Committee since 2002.

Chairman of CBTT Harrack Balramsingh pointed out that Blades was a true champion of the working class people because he was one of the trade unionists who placed his life on the line for better working conditions for poor workers. “How many of us are willing to do so?” he asked.

He noted that Blades was the first general secretary of the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) and pointed out that according to the first minutes of the union, he was the person who nominated Adrian Reinzi Cola to become president of the OWTU.

Balramsingh stated yesterday that the 104-year-old Blades should be commended for helping to save the 1937 struggle from collapse when Tubal Uriah Buzz Butler went into hiding to avoid arrest. “He certainly demonstrated vision and tenacity by coming forward to provide leadership of the working class at that crucial moment,” he said.

Blades, who is the recipient of a Humming Bird Silver Medal stated on his birthday that as far as racism, discrimination and poor wages and working conditions were concerned, he would not like to see a return to those old time days.

However, in a direct reference to the present crime rate in the country, he said he wished we could all live like the old time days when we could trust more people in our homes and communities.

He lamented the refusal of schools in those days to accept him to pursue aviation studies, a situation which still bothers him to this day. “People of African and Indian origin were discriminated against,” Blades complained.

Balramsingh stated that Blades was very close to his children who all spoke very highly of their father. “At a time when so many parents are having serious problems with their children, the Blades family is a demonstration of how a true family should live,” he said.

He singled out Blades’ daughter Margaret for contributing to her father’s longevity saying, “Through her love and care for him, he has been able to be with us for so many years.

“We all need more daughters like Margaret.”