Institute for Gender and Development Studies, St. Augustine Unit

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📌July 17, 2026

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Today we remember the life and legacy of a revolutionary labour leader and community activist, Elma Francois, who was the first woman in Trinidad and Tobago to be charged and tried for sedition alongside her male counterparts Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler and others during the 1930s Labour movement. She was found to be “not guilty” after representing herself in court.

Francois dedicated her life’s work to fighting for the improved living and working conditions of working-class people in her birthplace of St. Vincent and later, in Trinidad. Throughout her life, she elevated the concerns of working-class women, encouraging them to deepen their political involvement.

Francois was a founding member of the National Unemployed Movement (NUM)—which later became the Negro Welfare Cultural and Social Association (NWCSA)—the Seamen and Waterfront Workers’ Trade Union (SWWTU) and the Federated Workers’ Trade Union (FWTU)—now the National Union of Government and Federated Workers (NUGFW).

Following her participation in the Labour Riots of 1937, she was arrested and accused of sedition. In February 1938, she became the first woman to be charged with sedition in Trinidad and Tobago. The charges were later dropped. She is remembered as a captivating public speaker, who always encouraged those around her to expand their political consciousness through reading and political organisation.

Copyright ©️ The National Archives of Trinidad & Tobago. All rights reserved.

Photo of Elma Francois taken from page 25 of “Elma Francois: The NWCSA and the Worker's Stuggle for Change in the Caribbean” by Rhoda Reddock. Published by New Beacon Books (1988). This book is part of the National Archives of Trinidad and Tobago’s Reference Collection.

References: Reddock, Rhoda. “Elma Francois: The NWCSA and the Workers Struggle for Change in the Caribbean.” New Beacon Books, 1988; Reddock, Rhoda. “The Women In Revolt.” The Trinidad Labour Riots of 1937: Perspectives 50 Years Later., by Roy Thomas, UWI Extra-Mural Studies Unit, 1987.

Did you know UWI students can access both medical and mental health support on campus?

At The UWI St. Augustine, registered students can receive care for general health concerns, including consultations, basic treatment, health advice, and referrals when needed.

Support is also available for your mental and emotional well-being through confidential sessions with in-house psychiatrists, therapists, or psychologists, as well as crisis support and guidance to help you manage academic, personal, or social challenges.

Here, your health and well-being are part of supporting your success.

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📌 Applications are open until July 17, 2026

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Join us for ‘Ask UWI about Postgraduate Study’ - a virtual info session designed to help you explore how postgraduate study at The UWI can boost your credentials, deepen your research, and make you more competitive in today’s job market.

🗓️Tuesday, 30th June 2026
🕠5:30 pm – 7:00 pm
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Your research has the power to create positive health outcomes in society!

The 2026 National Health Research Conference, hosted by the Ministry of Health, Tobago House of Assembly, The UWI Faculty of Medical Sciences, UTT, USC, Regional Health Authorities and the Trinidad and Tobago National Nursing Association, invites abstract submissions under the theme “Building a Healthier Nation Through Innovation, Research and Collaboration.”

Abstracts from all health areas and methodologies are welcome.

📌 Deadline: June 30, 2026
🔗 Submit here: https://www.healthresearchconferencett.com/call