a Tobagon ian
Meet
Politician and statesman
A.N.R. Robinson by Nasser Khan
Arthur Napoleon Raymond Robinson is one of Trinidad and Tobago’s most decorated and distinguished citizens, especially in the field of politics. Robinson, 85, is widely and affectionately known as ANR Robinson or simply ANR or Robbie to the average man in Trinidad and Tobago. During his many years in the political lime-light, during which he rose to become the country’s third Prime Minister in 1986, Robinson served with distinction, charisma and a clear vision for the future of Trinidad and Tobago and the wider Caribbean. It was not surprising that in 1997, he was selected to be T&T’s third President. His academic resume is most impressive, stemming from his boyhood days in Tobago at Castara Methodist School and later as a double scholarship winner at Bishop’s High School. He then enrolled at London University for his Bachelors of Laws degree followed by admission to the Inner Temple; he passed the final bar examinations in 1953.
Robinson earned another degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics from St. John’s College in Oxford and came home to practise as a barrister-atlaw in 1955. His political resume is even more impressive. Between 1956 and 1970, Robinson was a part of Eric Williams’ fledgling People’s National Movement (PNM), and he served in parliament as Tobago’s representative from 1961. He served as both external affairs and finance minister in T&T’s new government after independence, and as the country’s first Minister of Finance, his role was critical when it came to fiscal policy and institutional reformation. In 1971, Robinson split from the PNM over its Tobago policies and led the struggle for decentralisation of authority to Tobago. He also led the newly formed Tobago party, the Democratic Action Congress (DAC) from 1985 and served as the first Chairman of the Tobago House of Assembly (THA), the body that allowed Tobago to govern itself. Robinson was also one of the founding members of the National Alliance for Reconstruction (NAR) which he led from 1986 to 1997; and as its leader, he was elected and served as Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago from 1986 to December 1991. As the Minister of Finance and as Prime Minister, he implemented economic and financial measures which had a positive impact on the country’s economy after a period of decline, and he also initiated several regional enterprises like the Caribbean Court of Appeal and the West Indian Commission. During the country’s 1990 coup, Robinson was held hostage by the insurgents, but had the courage to tell the army to “Attack with full force,” when instructed by his captors to tell the armed forces to stand down. He was beaten and shot in the leg for his brave act. Robinson’s achievement and scholarship have been globally recognised and celebrated. He has received a variety of awards and accolades, from being Visiting Scholar to the Harvard Law School to being awarded a Knighthood of Honour and of Merit by an Ecumenical Foundation of the Knights of St. Johns as well as Venezuela’s highest award: the Simon Bolivar Award. In 1993, he received The Order of the Caribbean Community for distinguished service to the region. Robinson has authored two books: The New Frontier and the New Africa, and The Mechanics of Independence. And many of his articles and speeches have been published as a book called Caribbean Man: Selected Speeches from a Political Career, 1960 – 1986. Robinson was married to the late Patricia nee Rawlins, MA (Columbia, Economics), with whom he has two children, David and Ann-Margaret. He was awarded the country’s highest national award, The Trinity Cross, in 1997 for his outstanding service to country and in May 2011 again for his great service to country. The airport in Tobago was renamed the A.N.R. Robinson International Airport in 2011 to honour his legacy.
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