After the abolition of slavery the Negro middle class developed mainly through education. The Indians on the other hand did not enter the mainstream until sometime in the 20th century. In a general sense Henry Albert Alcazar (1861-1930) and F.E.M. Hosein (1880-1936) were two post emancipation heroes whose contributions to Trinidad are still relevant.
Alcazar and Hosein were both lawyers and their entry into the political mainstream offered the population what they were in search of after emancipation. Alcazar belonged to an articulate group of coloured middle class professionals who had opposed the colonial government policies, but upheld the interests of the working and middle class against the plantocracy. Hosein on the other hand belonged to a handful of East Indians who had acquired secondary and university education and formed the nucleus of the educated East Indian leadership in Trinidad.
In the year following the emancipation of the slaves, a coloured middle class emerged. Most of its members were teachers, civil servants and professionals. Lawyers were an important group who became active in politics and sought the introduction of reforms leading to the independence of the country.
In reviewing the performance of both post emancipation heroes, Alcazar and Hosein, we find that their legal training was used as the catalyst to bring about constitutional changes in Trinidad.
Alcazar was born of mixed African and European descent. He won an open island scholarship in 1879 and proceeded to London to study law at Gray's Inn. On his return in 1882 he engaged in the practice of law and soon acquired a reputation for his ability and eloquence in the courts.
By the time he entered public life, the educated middle class were just beginning to take charge of the civil service and political affairs of the country. Using the Port of Spain City council as a vehicle to get into politics, he succeeded in winning a seat on the Council and became Mayor of Port of Spain, a position in which he served for several years.
Later he entered Parliament because, according to him, "The system of government was a failure because every legislature should possess the confidence and command of the community". In 1894 he was appointed an unofficial member of the Legislative council where he served for 36 years.
Alcazar however, was opposed to the migration of East Indian labour in Trinidad. He claimed "the system was not very different from slavery, with the jail substituted for the ship".
Hosein was regarded as a Christian gentleman with a charming manner and an inclination to draw men unto him. He was described as a small man whose stature was large, and a shining light of the community. Born in Arima in 1880, he was educated at Arima and Queen's Royal College. At QRC he won the coveted island scholarship and proceeded to Oxford University, and later studied law at Lincoln's Inn. His education and legal training fitted him to assume political leadership.
Hosein was easily one of the greatest sons of this soil. It is said that he was endowed with extraordinary talent and oratorical powers to handle the affairs of his community. As Mayor of Arima for several years, he took fatherly interest in the Caribs.
As an advisor to groups and sugar workers in the pre trade union era, Hosein felt that his involvement was one of the ways he could help his people. His main interest however was in politics, as such he became a member of a group of young East Indians, including Adrian Cola Rienzi, who fought relentlessly for changes in the political system by encouraging local East Indians to recognize India as the Motherland, accept Trinidad as their homeland, and forge a society with other peoples of the land.
He was elected to the local legislature in 1928 in the racially mixed constituency of St. George and served in parliament for many years.
One of his famous statements in Parliament was "I am very thankful to Columbus for having discovered the West Indies, I am equally thankful to the sugar planters who brought may parents to Trinidad and permitted me to be born here. Both Columbus and the sugar planters have served their time. It is time for them to go".
The outstanding contributions of these two gentlemen made possible the solidarity of Indians and Africans in the early 20th century.