436:
yielded a safe seat in
Castries, which he allowed his brother to run for. Odlum instead chose to campaign for a rural seat held by the United Workers Party, which he lost by a small margin. Despite the Labour Party still being in opposition in Saint Lucia, socialism and left-wing politics were on the rise in the Caribbean as a whole and, during his time out of Parliament, Odlum was the public face of socialism in the region.
469:
and even vote against the budget. A second proposal that Louisy resign was rejected on 30 December 1980, with the power struggle continuing despite his agreement to hand over some of his portfolios. The dispute continued into 1981, with Odlum attracting controversy by announcing on 3 March that he had not ignored the possibility of his grouping within the Labour Party splitting and joining the United
Workers Party.
586:, stated that Odlum "served his country, St Lucia, with distinction" and was "charismatic, eloquent and a consummate master of communication, both in speaking and writing...one of the region's leading and most persistent exponents on the debilitating effects of the erosion of trade preferences for the region's banana industry on the livelihood of the people". Other tributes came from
519:
in 1997, following month-long negotiations and the offer of several million dollars worth of aid to Saint Lucia. Taiwan responded to the announcement by breaking off relations, stating that the government's move to recognise China had harmed Taiwan's "national interests and dignity". After diplomatic
484:(PLP). Pilgrim's government also collapsed, necessitating an early general election in 1982 in which the Labour Party was left with only 3 of the 17 seats, returning the United Workers Party to government and seeing Odlum dismissed from Parliament. His Progressive Labour Party won only a single seat.
464:
alleged that this was to be used as a launching point for Soviet aircraft, and Odlum's support for it worried both the
Americans (due to their concerns about the purposes of the new facility) and his fellow communists, who saw him as a "loose cannon" and thought that his continuing public championing
394:
and was one of the few Afro-Caribbean students to attend. At university, Odlum acted, played both football and cricket, and became noted as a successful debater. After graduating from Oxford he returned to St Lucia in 1961, becoming a
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade. He moved back to the
468:
Louisy had become Prime
Minister thanks to a secret agreement with Odlum that he would resign, allowing Odlum to take over, within 6 months. When the time came Louisy refused, backed by the Americans, who wanted to keep Odlum out of office at all costs. This saw Odlum turn against his own government
439:
Saint Lucia gained full independence in 1979. Immediately beforehand, Odlum organised large protests in front of international news cameras, further cementing his role in the region's communist and socialist movement. Three weeks after independence, the nearby country of
Grenada saw the overthrow of
523:
Odlum resigned in 2001 after a series of controversies. His fellow ministers accused him of conspiring against the government and attempting to have it overthrown and replaced with a new administration. Odlum, on the other hand, argued that ruling members of the Labour Party had been making efforts
571:
to
Castries; it was led by a pair of police outriders and a coach carrying the coffin, draped in the national flag. St Lucian citizens were reported to be openly weeping at Odlum's death. The funeral itself was held in a park, due to no church in Castries being large enough to hold the number of
435:
Odlum's faction of the Labour Party did most of the work in the election, building their power base among the banana-producing small farmers, with Odlum leading frequent strikes in an attempt to improve working conditions. His work in the 1974 election, along with his "good looks and charisma",
427:
that continued to rule until 1979. In response Odlum, a socialist, founded the Saint Lucia Forum, a pressure group that discussed "the socialist and black cultural ideas which were beginning to challenge the
Caribbean status quo". This was part of a group of Forums established in 1970 following
620:
described him as a man "with more flamboyance than substance". His resignation from the two Labour administrations, as well as his alliances with the UWP and other factions, were noted as contradictions which would require historical debate and assessment. His support of figures such as
33:
597:
In 2004, on the anniversary of his death, a series of activities were organised in memory of Odlum. These included the dedication of a tomb at the Choc
Cemetery and a service at the Mount of Prayer in Coubaril that was attended by his family and close friends.
594:, who described Odlum as "one of the region's finest political orators, who was persuasive, eloquent and was able to command attention universally, not only in his native capital city Castries but also at the United Nations, in Geneva, Cape Town or in London".
547:. His speech censured the attendees for what he perceived as mourning Hector in death while failing to support him in life, asking "were you there when the ballot process was contaminated to declare him a loser? Were you there?". His speech was criticised by
515:, announcing that a consulate would be established there and spearheading the signing of a joint Cuban-Saint Lucian trading agreement to oversee improvements in the agricultural and healthcare sectors. Odlum's ministry also saw the diplomatic recognition of
613:
At the same time, both critics and supporters point towards awkward elements of his personality and career. Gonsalves, at his funeral, noted that "the strictures of bureaucratic systems he found difficult to be contained within", while his obituary in
440:
its government by communists revolutionaries led by
Maurice Bishop. When the United Workers Party called a general election in Saint Lucia three weeks later, Compton's government fell – Odlum was returned to Parliament and the Labour Party, led by
524:
to remove him and that the "dastardly act" of cutting away a significant portion of his constituency in a boundary change was what had forced him over the edge. His resignation came immediately before a letter of dismissal arrived at his house.
558:
Following a long fight against cancer, spending most of the last year of his life in and out of hospital, Odlum died on 28 September 2003 in Tapion Hospital, Castries, aged 69. The body lay in state on 5 October, where it was viewed by
334:
pressure to keep him out. After months of negotiations, Odlum was dismissed as Deputy Prime Minister, and the ensuing government weakness and infighting led to its defeat in the 1982 election. In opposition, Odlum was made
1190:
351:. Amidst controversy over his alleged alliance with the opposition, Odlum resigned in 2001. Never again returning to power, he died on 28 September 2003 following a battle with pancreatic cancer.
1225:
606:
Odlum, known simply as "Brother George", had a controversial legacy. He was noted as one of the region's greatest orators, able to command attention not only in Saint Lucia itself, but at the
496:. His revenge over the Labour Party finally occurred during the 1987 general election, when the PLP split the vote and denied his old allies victory. In 1995 he accepted the position of
432:. In 1972 Odlum left his job with the Council of Ministers to form the St Lucia Action Movement, which later merged with a weakened Labour Party in time for the 1974 general election.
1220:
1066:
354:
Odlum's legacy is controversial: while noted as a skilled orator who cared deeply for Saint Lucia's working class, his idealism, support for controversial figures such as
500:
from Compton, his old enemy, holding it for only a year. When Compton resigned in 1996, Odlum chose to stand for election against his successor and lost the contest.
358:
and departure from two Labour administrations were noted as factors which harmed him and others around him. Despite this, his funeral saw widespread grieving, with
1195:
629:
was also noted as controversial, with his relentless left-wing approach to politics being identified as damaging both to others and to the causes he championed.
1210:
1205:
1175:
583:
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and on the world stage. Supporters praised his connection with the working class, and his fight for better pay and conditions in the agricultural sector.
480:
in an attempt by moderates in the Labour Party to avoid the possibility of Odlum leading the country. By this point Odlum had left the party, forming the
1180:
1200:
504:
340:
330:
Although a secret agreement originally stated that Odlum would take power after six months, his support for Cuba and similar left-wing nations led to
47:
1059:
497:
336:
124:
1170:
481:
419:
was considered the traditional party for "political and constitutional advance" but, despite this, it lost the general election in 1964 to the
472:
The result was the 1981 dismissal of Odlum as Deputy Prime Minister and the resignation of Louisy. Louisy was succeeded not by Odlum, but by
456:, with the portfolios of foreign affairs and trade and industry. He publicly supported the Grenadian revolutionaries, who were constructing
457:
453:
324:
292:
142:
323:
in time for the 1974 elections; although the Party did not win, the progress they made allowed them to take power in 1979, with Odlum as
1052:
420:
391:
890:
707:
552:
591:
363:
1185:
528:
573:
1007:
Ellis, Guy (28 September 2003). "St. Lucian politician George Odlum dies of pancreatic cancer at age 69". Associated Press.
1215:
400:
316:
492:
Now outside Parliament, Odlum maintained his presence in the public eye through meetings and the work of his newspaper,
399:, leaving 3 years later. Returning to St Lucia again, he became Executive Secretary to the Council of Ministers of the
383:
576:, a Cabinet Secretary, had previously announced that all flags would be flown at half-mast for the day as a tribute.
567:, and members of the Cabinet. Odlum's funeral was held on 6 October, with a 30-vehicle procession travelling from
416:
396:
387:
320:
312:
246:
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After again allying with the Labour Party in 1997, Odlum was returned to Parliament, receiving appointment as
797:
568:
258:
311:
before returning to Saint Lucia as Permanent Secretary to the Ministry of Trade. After working for the
1165:
1160:
572:
mourners. During the service, sections of his most famous speeches were broadcast from loudspeakers.
262:
732:
Chamberlain, Greg (30 October 2003). "George Odlum: St Lucian member of the Caribbean 'new left'".
540:
379:
300:
886:
304:
579:
560:
1092:
1044:
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587:
477:
359:
355:
319:, he formed the Saint Lucia Forum, a left-wing pressure group. This group merged with the
1122:
1117:
607:
548:
520:
relations were officially established, Odlum visited China between 5 and 12 September.
429:
339:, resigning in 1996. When the Labour Party came to power again a year later, he became
308:
539:
Odlum attracted controversy in November 2002 when he spoke at the funeral service for
1154:
1137:
1132:
1085:
878:
564:
508:
476:, who himself resigned eight months later on 16 January 1982. Cenac was succeeded by
473:
461:
331:
177:
105:
962:"St Lucia's ex-foreign affairs minister to be given official funeral on 6 October".
936:"St Lucia pays last respects to George Odlum in state funeral". BBC. 6 October 2003.
834:"Taiwan to cut diplomatic ties with St Lucia". Agence France-Presse. 29 August 1997.
1127:
622:
441:
424:
412:
165:
117:
70:
977:"Caricom head pays tribute to the late St Lucian foreign minister, George Odlum".
411:
During the early 1960s, St Lucia and the other West Indies Associated States were
32:
288:
236:
189:
82:
819:"Cuban foreign minister visits St Lucia; diplomatic relations to be upgraded".
1099:
653:"Late George Odlum was 'a giant of a man', says St Vincent's prime minister".
544:
272:
253:
992:"St Lucians remember the late George Odlum on the anniversary of his death".
906:"Antigua: Minister decries St Lucian ex-minister's remarks made at funeral".
863:"St Lucia: Foreign Minister Odlum says he resigned before he was dismissed".
616:
531:
party to contest the 2001 elections, but the party failed to win any seats.
511:. In this position, he oversaw the improvement of diplomatic relations with
452:
Odlum's prominent role within the party led to his immediate appointment as
375:
296:
226:
210:
428:
secret talks with other left-wing Caribbean intellectuals, including
555:, who called Odlum's words "strident and ill-informed reflections".
516:
348:
781:
Vallance, Karla (19 January 1982). "St. Lucia may lurch left?".
512:
344:
1048:
1033:"St Lucia thrown into state of mourning over Odlum's passing".
343:, overseeing the establishment of stronger relations with both
1191:
Permanent Representatives of Saint Lucia to the United Nations
921:"St Lucia's former foreign minister George Odlum dies".
415:, with a limited degree of self-rule. In St Lucia, the
395:
United Kingdom in 1964 to work as an economist in the
885:. Oxford: Oxford University Press. pp. 591–92.
883:
Elections in the Americas: A Data Handbook, Volume I
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183:
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159:
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123:
111:
99:
76:
64:
46:
23:
1226:Progressive Labour Party (Saint Lucia) politicians
382:, becoming the first Afro-Caribbean head of the
951:. UK Newsquest Regional Press. 1 November 2003.
672:. UK Newsquest Regional Press. 1 November 2003.
378:, the son of a barber. He studied economics at
366:, describing him simply as a "giant of a man".
1060:
465:of it would further draw American attention.
8:
1018:"St Lucia: Former politician laid to rest".
584:Secretary-General of the Caribbean Community
553:Minister of Agriculture, Lands and Fisheries
1221:National Alliance (Saint Lucia) politicians
845:"Saint Lucia's foreign minister to visit".
1067:
1053:
1045:
31:
20:
287:(24 June 1934 – 28 September 2003) was a
865:BBC Monitoring Latin America – Political
821:BBC Monitoring Latin America – Political
648:
646:
644:
642:
638:
798:"Sir John Compton: a life in politics"
1196:Deputy prime ministers of Saint Lucia
947:"Student became popular politician".
858:
856:
727:
725:
723:
721:
719:
717:
697:
695:
693:
691:
689:
687:
685:
683:
681:
679:
668:"Student became popular politician".
7:
1211:Saint Lucia Labour Party politicians
796:Ninvalle, Pete (10 September 2007).
1206:Government ministers of Saint Lucia
1176:Alumni of the University of Bristol
291:left-wing politician who served as
392:Philosophy, Politics and Economics
374:Odlum was born on 24 June 1934 in
14:
1181:Deaths from cancer in Saint Lucia
16:Saint Lucian diplomat (1934–2003)
1201:Foreign ministers of Saint Lucia
592:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
498:Ambassador to the United Nations
364:Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
337:Ambassador to the United Nations
125:Ambassador to the United Nations
1035:BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
1020:BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
994:BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
979:BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
964:BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
923:BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
908:BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
768:BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
749:BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
655:BBC Summary of World Broadcasts
488:Ambassador and Foreign Minister
48:Foreign Minister of Saint Lucia
710:. 17 October 2003. p. 45.
295:and Foreign Minister. Born in
1:
1171:Deaths from pancreatic cancer
783:The Christian Science Monitor
401:West Indies Associated States
317:West Indies Associated States
155:July 1979 – May 1981
423:, a right-wing party led by
384:University of Bristol Union
1242:
390:in 1959, where he studied
1080:
1037:. BBC. 29 September 2003.
996:. BBC. 30 September 2004.
925:. BBC. 28 September 2003.
657:. BBC. 30 September 2003.
278:
195:
148:
130:
88:
53:
42:
30:
910:. BBC. 24 November 2002.
823:. BBC. 16 February 2000.
590:, the Prime Minister of
482:Progressive Labour Party
417:Saint Lucia Labour Party
397:Commonwealth Secretariat
388:Magdalen College, Oxford
362:, the Prime Minister of
321:Saint Lucia Labour Party
313:Commonwealth Secretariat
247:Saint Lucia Labour Party
1186:Saint Lucian diplomats
1022:. BBC. 7 October 2003.
981:. BBC. 3 October 2003.
966:. BBC. 2 October 2003.
751:. BBC. 3 January 1980.
1075:"The Four Musketeers"
867:. BBC. 31 March 2001.
770:. BBC. 10 March 1981.
507:in the government of
454:Deputy Prime Minister
448:Deputy Prime Minister
325:Deputy Prime Minister
293:Deputy Prime Minister
259:University of Bristol
143:Deputy Prime Minister
1216:People from Castries
535:Retirement and death
460:with Cuban support.
421:United Workers Party
285:George William Odlum
263:University of Oxford
949:This is Oxfordshire
849:. 3 September 1997.
670:This Is Oxfordshire
299:, Odlum studied at
847:Xinhua news agency
380:Bristol University
301:Bristol University
1146:
1145:
529:National Alliance
527:Odlum formed the
444:, came to power.
386:before moving to
305:Oxford University
282:
281:
220:28 September 2003
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762:"St Lucia party
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708:News Corporation
702:"George Odlum".
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580:Edwin Carrington
561:Pearlette Louisy
505:Foreign Minister
413:British colonies
341:Foreign Minister
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200:Personal details
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1113:Contemporaries
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588:Ralph Gonsalves
551:, the Antiguan
537:
490:
478:Michael Pilgrim
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360:Ralph Gonsalves
356:Muammar Gaddafi
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243:Political party
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1123:C. L. R. James
1120:
1118:Maurice Bishop
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1133:Trevor Munroe
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736:. p. 27.
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474:Winston Cenac
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462:Ronald Reagan
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458:a new airport
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37:Odlum in 1979
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29:
22:
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1128:Eusi Kwayana
1112:
1107:George Odlum
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916:
907:
901:
882:
873:
864:
846:
840:
829:
820:
814:
802:. Retrieved
791:
782:
776:
767:
763:
757:
748:
747:"St Lucia".
742:
734:The Guardian
733:
703:
669:
663:
654:
623:Fidel Castro
615:
612:
605:
596:
578:
557:
538:
526:
522:
502:
494:The Crusader
493:
491:
471:
467:
451:
442:Allan Louisy
438:
434:
425:John Compton
410:
373:
353:
329:
289:Saint Lucian
284:
283:
237:Saint Lucian
222:(2003-09-28)
208:24 June 1934
185:Succeeded by
166:Allan Louisy
150:
132:
118:Julian Hunte
113:Succeeded by
90:
78:Succeeded by
71:John Compton
55:
25:George Odlum
18:
1166:2003 deaths
1161:1934 births
543:politician
233:Nationality
190:Peter Josie
173:Preceded by
101:Preceded by
83:Peter Josie
66:Preceded by
1155:Categories
1100:Tim Hector
633:References
569:Vieux Fort
545:Tim Hector
370:Early life
273:politician
269:Profession
254:Alma mater
704:The Times
617:The Times
151:In office
137:1995–1996
133:In office
95:1997–2001
91:In office
60:1979–1981
56:In office
881:(2005).
804:14 March
541:Antiguan
376:Castries
332:American
315:and the
297:Castries
227:Castries
211:Castries
307:in the
889:
602:Legacy
582:, the
407:Career
800:. BBC
517:China
349:China
887:ISBN
806:2011
625:and
513:Cuba
347:and
345:Cuba
303:and
217:Died
205:Born
766:".
1157::
855:^
716:^
706:.
678:^
641:^
563:,
403:.
327:.
1068:e
1061:t
1054:v
895:.
808:.
785:.
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