Stephen Campbell | |
---|---|
House of Assembly | |
In office 1957–1966 | |
Personal details | |
Born | Stephen Joseph Campbell 26 December 1897 Santa Rosa, British Guiana |
Died | 12 May 1966 Toronto, Canada | (aged 68)
Political party | National Labour Front (1957-1961) The United Force (1961-1966) |
Occupation | politician |
Stephen Campbell was an Arawakan Guyanese politician and political activist, and the first Amerindian member of Parliament in Guyanese history.[1][2][3][4]
Stephen Joseph Campbell was born to Tiburtio A. Campbell and his wife, Maria dos Santos, in Santa Rosa, British Guiana,[5] on 26 December 1897. Both of Campbell's parents died when he was young, and he was subsequently raised by his grandmother. He was brought up as a devout Catholic. He studied at Santa Rosa Mission School, and subsequently worked for many years as a teacher and as a catechist in various regions of Guyana. Campbell married Umbelina Da Silva on 9 February 1928.[6][7]
On 10 September 1957, Campbell became the first Amerindian member of Parliament in Guyanese history, when he was elected onto the Legislative Council of British Guiana.[1][2][3] He subsequently joined the National Labour Front.[6] In 1961, Campbell changed parties to The United Force.[8] In 1964, he became Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Home Affairs.[9]
Campbell went to Toronto, Canada for medical treatment, and died there on 12 May 1966,[5] just two weeks before Guyana won independence from Great Britain.[6] He was buried in Canada.[5]
Campbell is widely regarded as a hero by Amerindian communities in Guyana, and his achievements are celebrated on 10 September every year as a part of Amerindian Heritage Month.[1][2][3][10] Campbelltown has been named after Stephen Campbell.[11] In 2018, the building of the Ministry of Citizenship was renamed after Campbell.[9]