JOSEPH ROBERT ALLAN BOUSQUET MP, CBE
1907-2000
Community Service Excellence Award
Joseph Robert Allan Bousquet, was born on May 6, 1907, in the town of Soufriere. In his early life he attended the Soufriere Catholic Boys School. Thereafter he became a fisherman until he decided to join the war effort of World War II as a sailor in the Merchant Navy.
A man from humble beginnings, Mr. Bousquet was always concerned about the plight of working-class Saint Lucians given the existing stratification of society and wanted to make a difference.
In 1961, Mr. Bousquet contested the general elections in the Gros-Islet/Babonneau seat on a Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) ticket and won. Three (3) years later, he decided to part ways with the SLP over issues surrounding the control of the banana industry and other decisions as to the future of the country.
He contested the 1964 general election as an independent Labour candidate. Mr. Bousquet was once again victorious at the polls and thereafter decided to join the United Workers Party together with his brother JMD Bousquet.
Mr. Bousquet served as Minister of various ministries within the Cabinet of the UWP. These included Education, Health and Communications and Works.
In his capacity as Minister for Education, Mr. Bousquet was responsible for the establishment of the Teachers’ Training College as well as many schools in Babonneau and indeed, around the island. He was also responsible for the implementation of free secondary education in the ‘70s, which ensured that every child would attend school without having to pay school fees.
Under his leadership at the Ministry of Health, several programmes were established to eradicate bilharzia from Saint Lucia inclusive of programmes for increased access to pipe-borne water. He also saw to the establishment of facilities for the training of our healthcare professionals.
With respect to Communication and Works, he led a Ministry that was responsible for infrastructural developments all over the island. His constituency of Castries North-West/Babonneau experienced a great deal of infrastructural development (schools, health centres, roads). Mr. Bousquet worked selflessly, tirelessly, humbly and honestly for his constituents and he served with integrity.
He saw to the needs of his constituents by assisting with their educational requirements (books, uniforms and scholarships) for the children and jobs for the parents. His was a life of selfless service. He loved and respected his people of Babonneau, and they, in turn, loved and respected him. He can be credited as one of the few politicians who never once lost his seat at general elections.
