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Herbert Augustus Blaize PC (26 February 1918 – 19 December 1989) was a Grenadian politician and leader of the Grenada National Party. When Grenada was still a British Crown Colony he served as the first Chief Minister from 1960 to 1961, and again from 1962 to 1967. He became the first Premier of the autonomous Associated State of Grenada briefly in 1967. In the first elections following the 1983 coups and the American-led invasion of Grenada, he served as Prime Minister from 1984 until his death in 1989.
Herbert Augustus Blaize | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Blaize in 1986 | |
| Prime Minister of Grenada | |
| In office 4 December 1984 – 19 December 1989 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Governor General | Paul Scoon |
| Deputy | Ben Jones |
| Preceded by | Nicholas Brathwaite |
| Succeeded by | Ben Jones |
| Member of Parliament for Carriacou and Petite Martinique | |
| In office 1957 – 19 December 1989 | |
| Preceded by | Hon. Frederick B Paterson |
| Succeeded by | Hon. Nicholas Brathwaite |
| Premier of Grenada | |
| In office 3 March 1967 – 25 August 1967 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Premier established |
| Succeeded by | Eric Matthew Gairy |
| Chief Minister of Grenada | |
| In office September 1962 – March 1967 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Eric Matthew Gairy |
| Succeeded by | Chief Minister abolished |
| Chief Minister of Grenada | |
| In office January 1960 – March 1961 | |
| Monarch | Elizabeth II |
| Preceded by | Chief Minister established |
| Succeeded by | George E. D. Clyne |
| Personal details | |
| Born | 26 February 1918 Beausejour, Carriacou, Grenada |
| Died | 19 December 1989 (aged 71) St George's, Grenada |
| Nationality | Carriacouan |
| Political party | Grenada National Party New National Party National Party |
| Spouse | Dame Venetia Blaize |
| Children | 6 |
Early years
editBlaize was born in the island of Carriacou, which along with the island of Petite Martinique is a part of Grenada. He moved to Aruba where he worked many years in the oil refinery of the Lago Oil and Transport Company.[1]
Grenada National Party
editIn 1953 he formed the Grenada National Party as a rival party to the Grenada United Labour Party of Eric Gairy, who would be Blaize's main political rival for the next 25 years. Blaize entered the legislature in 1957 and became Minister of Trade and Production.
Chief Minister and Premier
editHe was appointed as Chief Minister in 1960 and held the additional portfolio of finance.[2] He lost power to Gairy in 1961, and was reappointed in 1962 after Gairy was dismissed. In 1967 Grenada became an associated state within the British Empire, gaining more internal self-government. He was the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Representatives of Grenada from 1974 to 1976.[3]
In Opposition
editIn 1976 Blaize's center-right National Party joined forces with the left-wing New Jewel Movement led by Maurice Bishop for the elections that year, which Gairy and the GULP won. The alliance between Blaize and Bishop ended by 1979 when Bishop seized power. Blaize retired from politics and moved back to Carriacou, until after the intervention by the United States in 1983.
Prime minister
editDuring the election campaign of 1984, Blaize merged his parties with several other center-right parties to form the New National Party, which took 14 of 15 seats in the election.
In addition to being Prime Minister, Blaize became Minister of Home Affairs, Security, Information, Finance, Trade, Planning, Industrial Development and Carriacou and Petite Martinique Affairs.[4]
Blaize's government advocated a strong economic and military alliance for Grenada with the United States, and other overseas investment.
Death
editHe died in December 1989 near St. George's, Grenada, following a several-years-long battle with prostate cancer, aged 71. Two days before his death, Blaize had been elected the first party leader of the newly formed National Party.
Family
editHerbert Blaize was survived by his wife, Dame Venetia Blaize, DBE (née Venetia Ursula Davidson); three daughters, Norma Blaize (a former Consul-General of Grenada in New York), Carol Jerome and Marion Fleary; three sons, Samuel Blaize, Marvin Blaize and Christopher Blaize. He was also survived by a sister, Muriel Noel.[5][6]
References
edit- ^ Oud-ingezetenen Aruba succesvol in politiek, Amigoe, September 15, 1962
- ^ "Herbert Blaize Biography blaizeha.html". www.thegrenadarevolutiononline.com.
- ^ "Opposition Leaders - Grenada Parliament". grenadaparliament.gd.
- ^ "January 1985 – General election and resumption of Parliament – Formation of Blaize government – Foreign relations Opening of airport – Start of murder trial", Keesing's Record of World Events, volume 31, January 1985, Grenada, page 33,327.
- ^ New York Times obituary for Herbert Blaize
- ^ Ebony magazine article on Blaize family
Sources
edit- LA GRENADE : mort du premier ministre., Le Monde. Jeudi 21 décembre 1989, p. 3; accessed October 7, 2006.