Profiles: Heroes, Role Models and Pioneers of Trinidad and Tobago - by Nasser Khan

104 Law FRANCIS EVELYN MOHAMMED (F. E. M.) HOSEIN (1882-1936) A rouca-born, he was a brilliant Oxford educated lawyer and also a politician and the Mayor of Arima from 1929 to 1931. In his time, a period when there was pressure to throw in his lot with the East Indian section of the population, Hosein objected to taking sides simply on the grounds of race. Instead he called for unity between the Indian and African masses in this island. Hosein was deeply interested in the people of Trinidad as a whole, and in civic affairs. It was his desire to see his country move away from colonial days. He was actively involved in the area of labour relations also. His sympathy for the neglected and his love for history led to his becoming a champion of the Amerindian people of Arima. He fought to help the Caribs maintain their customs, and contributed a great deal to promoting their interests. He even wrote the celebrated play Hyarima - the Cacique’s Daughter, which focused on the rich history of the Amerindian past, and the pressures of modern life. As the Mayor of Arima, he reinstated the Carib festival of Santa Rosa. In 1928, his popularity saw him elected to one of the seven seats in the Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago. Another of his accomplishments was the construction of a road connectingArima to Blanchisseuse in 1931. Before then, Blanchisseuse was reachable only by sea, and was isolated from the rest of the country. JEAN PERMANAND T he highest position achieved by a woman in the Judiciary was reached by Justice Jean Permanand. Justice Permanand was admitted as a Barrister of Law in Trinidad and Tobago in 1962. She worked as a