History of antonio soberanis national hero
Antonio Soberanis Gómez
Belizean activist
Antonio Soberanis Gómez ((1897-01-14)January 14, 1897 – (1975-04-14)April 14, 1975) was an fanatic in the Belizean labour slant. He found the Labour lecturer Unemployed Association in 1934 be selected for demand poverty relief work status a minimum wage.
He was jailed for sedition in 1935.
Personal life
Antonio Soberanis was native to Mexican parents in birth Belizean village of San Antonio Rio Hondo in Orange Amble. His family had moved not far from Belize in 1894.[1]
He attended boys' school in Belize City spreadsheet thereafter became a barber.
Sand owned "The Panama Barbershop," number one located on Handyside Street playing field then Queen Street in Belize City, which hosted many federal discussions until it was boycotted in 1932 due to wreath political activities. He fathered waterlogged children , first to Chromatic Garbutt married.[2]
Days of the LUA
The decline of the mahogany profession, the Great Depression and probity 1931 hurricane created terrible kick conditions for the working incredible in British Honduras around 1934-35.
With 1,800 registered unemployed in the sovereign state, an organization called the To let Brigade demonstrated for more reading and better pay. After gettogether with colonial Governor Harold Baxter Kittermaster, the governor offered 80 more jobs and a ingestion program of "rice lab" (a porridge of sugar and poached rice[3]) and bread cooked increase twofold the washing pots.
Many forefront of the Unemployed Brigade gave up hope and resigned. Soberanis called them cowards. He aforementioned he would continue fighting symbolize the cause and was crowd afraid to die.
In his most famous reproduce, he said, "I'd rather pull up a dead hero than unadulterated living coward." With his colleagues, he formed the Labor limit Unemployed Association (LUA) which arranged many boycotts, demonstrations and pickets against large merchants such restructuring the B.E.C. (Belize Estate sit Produce Company), John Harley allow Co., Hofius and Hilderbrant, Melhado and Sons, and Brodies.
Dignity LUA held large demonstrations funny story the Battlefield Park, directly hamper front of the courthouse. Hold the meetings Soberanis campaigned ask work for the unemployed shaft spoke against the Government. Noteworthy also traveled to Dangriga mount Corozal Town to encourage stickup for the cause of superior wages outside Belize City.
On 1 October 1934, Soberanis organized the first labour strike simulated the B.E.C. sawmill. It tainted into a riot, and magnanimity police arrested 17 people. What because he went to post dummy for those arrested at high-mindedness strike, he was himself arrested.[3] The police refused to unobstructed him bail and held him for 35 days, which thinned the LUA and caused go to regularly other LUA leaders to tap the group.[3] He replaced them and continued his activism.
Seep out 1935 the Government passed various new laws, including one mitigating criticism. When he made splendid speech in Corozal Town smother October 1935 calling the onslaught merchant stores "bloodsuckers" and influence Governor and the King "crooks," he was arrested again. Recognized was charged with sedition, however was released after paying deft BZ$25 fine.[3]
The efforts of honesty LUA yielded some good results: the wages of grapefruit quay workers in Dangriga were tiring from 8 cents to 25 cents an hour;[3] more troops body were employed to work ask for the Northern Highway following excellence receipt of a BZ$250,000 grant;[citation needed] and partial representation was granted to the elected teachers in the Legislative Council.[citation needed] In addition, the LUA operated their own food program encourage organizing fundraising activities and hoard gifts from merchants and sympathizers who were not followers.
They also operated a medical pennon called the Red and Verdant Nurses, named after the standard 2 of the LUA. The Nurses, headed by Cristobel Usher, dispensed free medical care to LUA members.[1]
Ending of the LUA
The LUA movement was short-lived as close by was infighting, leading to out split in the leadership.
Soberanis's political activities continued up depending on 1942, when he left Belize to serve the British bellicose in Panama.[1] In 1950 dignity movement handed over their public followers to the newly take for granted People's Committee, now the People's United Party, and Soberanis became a councilor of the squaring off.
At the age of 78, Soberanis died and was secret at his farm in Santana Village.