JOSEPH MARIE DONALD BOUSQUET MP, OBE
1915 – 1975
Advocacy and Social Justice Award
Mr. Joseph Marie Donald Bousquet (better known as JMD), was born on July 4, 1915 in the town of Soufriere. As a young man, JMD attended the Soufriere Catholic Boys School and like his brother Allan, joined the Merchant Navy serving with distinction during the Second World War. He attended Cardiff Technical College (Clarke’s College, Cardiff, Wales).
After college, Mr. JMD Bousquet decided to return home to St. Lucia at a time of heightened political awareness and the corresponding developments, especially with the introduction of adult suffrage in 1951. He joined the St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) and served as a Minister while contesting the constituency of Soufriere during the late 1950’s to early 1960’s. Prior to that time, he contested and won his bid to be St. Lucia’s representative to the West Indies Federal Parliament (aka the Federation based in Trinidad) along with Dr. Carl La Cobiniere. However the union of West Indian States was short lived and after its dissolution, he threw himself wholeheartedly into the local politics.
In addition to his political pursuits, Mr. JMD Bousquet was an established businessman. He owned and managed a myriad of business interests which included restaurants, night clubs and his beloved Dupre Estate in Choiseul, where he enjoyed farming and livestock rearing.
Like his brother Allan, he resigned from the SLP Government in 1964 which resulted in the collapse of the then Government. In the 1964 general election, he ran as an independent Labour candidate and won the Choiseul/Saltibus seat. He subsequently joined the newly formed government of the United Workers Party.
Between 1964 and 1974 he served as the Minister for Communications and Works and later as the Minister for Housing, Community Development, Social Affairs, Youth, Sports and Labour. In his capacity as the Minister for Labour and given his commitment to effectively representing the working class, Mr. Bousquet was instrumental in the establishment of the National Provident Fund (NPF). Today the NPF has morphed into the National Insurance Corporation (NIC) which stands as a pillar of financial support to workers in Saint Lucia.
Mr. JMD Bousquet was described as a very spirited man with a warm smile and cheerful personality. He was genuinely interested in the well being of his constituents. He is credited with greatly improving the lives of his constituents by focussing particularly on the areas of Education (the La Fargue Secondary School was built which gave Choiseul the distinction of being one of the earliest communities in Saint Lucia to have a secondary school), road rehabilitation, electricity, pipe borne water and the establishment of community centers. One notable addition which reflected his support for his constituency was the establishment of the Handicraft Industry which is still very vibrant today.
Mr. JMD Bousquet held that seat from 1964 to 1974.
Photo Credit: The Voice Newspaper
