Antonio Soberanis Gómez and His Fierce Activism in the Belizean Labor Movement

Antonio Soberanis Gómez was an influential member of the Belizean labor movement and in many ways was responsible for shaping the destiny of the country as a whole.

His Early Life and Background

Antonio Soberanis Gómez was born on January 17, in San Antonio Rio Hondo, Belize. His parents were Mexican and had only come to Belize in

He attended an all-boys school in Belize City and afterward become a barber, going on to own The Panama Barbershop there. He was affectionately known as Tony by his friends.

Involvement in the Labor Movement

Antonio Soberanis Gómez is most well-known for his involvement in the Belizean labor movement.

In , many factors had strained the working class of Belize. The mahogany trade was in decline, which was one of Belize&#;s biggest industries. The Great Depression was raging worldwide. On top of that, the British Honduras hurricane had devastated the region. It was the deadliest hurricane to ever strike British Honduras (which Belize was known as at the time) and caused massive destruction in Belize City.

This resulted in even worse living conditions for most work

Our first hero&#;s name is the great Antonio Soberanis. He was a leading figure in the nationalist movement in the political arena for a number of years and he is considered to be one of Belize&#;s great national heroes and loyal patriots. This great man became active in politics during the depression which followed the hurricane of   What caused him to become interested in politics was his opposition to the government&#;s treatment of laborers.  He was shocked at the fact that women were being paid so poorly for doing heavy, manual work.  These women were being paid five cents for every five-pound kerosene tin filled and emptied.  The men working on the roads were being paid at the rate of fifty cents per day.  The government organized a horrible feeding program through which the needy were fed nasty rice &#;lab&#; and bread cooked in copper pots at the prison.  On September 10, , he fed six thousand people on the Yarborough field while being the leader of the Labor Employment Association.  His political activities continued until when he went as part of a labor unit to work on the construction of the Panama Canal.  His accomplishment

Honouring Antonio Soberanis Gómez: The Unyielding Father of Belizean Labour

Antonio Soberanis Gómez, a name synonymous with courage and conviction, stands tall in Belizean history as the driving force behind the country’s labour movement. Affectionately known as &#;Tony,&#; he dedicated his life to championing the rights of the working class. He left an indelible mark on Belize&#;s journey towards social justice and independence.

A Humble Beginning

Born on January 17, , in San Antonio, Rio Hondo, Belize, Antonio was the son of Mexican immigrants who sought a better life in Belize. His early years were shaped by the values of hard work and resilience, which he carried with him throughout his life. After completing his education at an all-boys school in Belize City, Antonio became a barber, opening The Panama Barbershop—a modest establishment that would later become a crucible for political thought and activism.

Championing the Working Class

By the early s, Belize was in the throes of economic despair. The once-thriving mahogany trade was in decline, and the Great Depression, compounded by the catastrophic hurricane, had left the working class in dire straits. It was again

The Labor And Unemployed Association

Oral history is not history as it is found in documents but as it is passed on by word of mouth. Oral history does not pretend to be unbiased; it gives one person’s view of events. In the following interview with Mr. Antonio Soberanis we hear about the first Belizean nationalist movement from the mouth of its founder and leader.

Question: Mr. Soberanis, could you tell us a little bit about the circumstances that led up to the founding of the Labour and Unemployed Association?

Answer: In in the month of February they had a depression here and they used to feed the people at the prison. And they used to cook the food in the same copper kettle in which they used to boil the officers’ clothing. And I organized a group of my countrymen and we formed a party named L. & U. A. (Labour and Unemployed Association).

The Government used to pay women 5 cent to break kerosene can of stone. The workers were getting 50 cents to work on the road. And I fought against that until, by , they were getting a dollar a day and transportation. I went to panama in because of the war.

Question: How did you accomplish your goal?

Answer: We made demo


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