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

4 JAMES BIGGART (1878–1932) J ames Alpheus Alexander Biggart represented Tobago in the Legislative Council of Trinidad and Tobago from 1925 until his death. He was the first Black pharmacist in Tobago and the first person elected to represent Tobago on the Legislative Council. In Trinidad and Tobago’s general election, the Legislative Council was expanded from 21 to 25 members, including seven elected members, including one member who was elected to represent Tobago. Biggart contested the election as an independent candidate, running against the labour-endorsed candidate, Isaac Hope, who was supported by Captain Arthur Andrew Cipriani and the Trinidad Workingmen’s Association. In his campaign Biggart promised infrastructural improvements including an extension to the Scarborough jetty, the construction of a new jetty at Roxborough, the construction of a secondary school in Tobago, and the establishment of a daily transportation link between Tobago and Trinidad. Biggart won the election and became the first elected representative for Tobago on the Legislative Council. It can be said that Biggart set the stage for autonomists like A. P. T. James and A. N. R. Robinson.