Fact Sheet for Cola Rienzi
Name: Adrian Cola Rienzi
He was born Krishna Deonarine on 19th January in 1905. He was from the village of Palmyra, San Fernando. He had changed his name to Adrian Cola Rienzi in 1927 after British Magistrate Adrian Clarke and Cola Di Rienzi an Italian patriot who inspired him.
He was a labor leader, barrister, trade unionist and politician.
Education /Career
He attended Naparima College but dropped out of form three due to financial problems. Then he attended Trinity College, Dublin and Middle Temple, England.
1937- He founded the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) and the All Trinidad Sugar Estates and Factory Workers Trade Union (ATSEFTWU)
1934 - He formed the Trinidad Citizens League
1938- In general elections he won the San Fernando seat in the Legislative Council
1944 - His legal career consisted of his appointed as Second Crown Council in 1944, First Counsel in 1949, Senior Crown Counsel in 1952. He was also the Assistant General from 1953-1958. Acting Solicitor General in 1959 and Acting Director of Public Prosecutions from 1959-1961.
He represented ‘labor’ at the Forster and Moynes Commission
President of the Trade Union Council 1938-1944
His last post was that of Assistant Solicitor General in 1964
His Concentrations
The rights of workers in the sugar industry, and betterment of the working class.
He advocated for the rights of Indo-Trinidadians and introduced policies that created the recognition of Muslim and Hindu marriages, cremation s and establishment of schools for Non-Christian religious groups
Advocated adult suffrage
Honourees
Building called Rienzi Complex
Rienzi Kurton Highway
He was born Krishna Deonarine on 19th January in 1905. He was from the village of Palmyra, San Fernando. He had changed his name to Adrian Cola Rienzi in 1927 after British Magistrate Adrian Clarke and Cola Di Rienzi an Italian patriot who inspired him.
He was a labor leader, barrister, trade unionist and politician.
Education /Career
He attended Naparima College but dropped out of form three due to financial problems. Then he attended Trinity College, Dublin and Middle Temple, England.
1937- He founded the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU) and the All Trinidad Sugar Estates and Factory Workers Trade Union (ATSEFTWU)
1934 - He formed the Trinidad Citizens League
1938- In general elections he won the San Fernando seat in the Legislative Council
1944 - His legal career consisted of his appointed as Second Crown Council in 1944, First Counsel in 1949, Senior Crown Counsel in 1952. He was also the Assistant General from 1953-1958. Acting Solicitor General in 1959 and Acting Director of Public Prosecutions from 1959-1961.
He represented ‘labor’ at the Forster and Moynes Commission
President of the Trade Union Council 1938-1944
His last post was that of Assistant Solicitor General in 1964
His Concentrations
The rights of workers in the sugar industry, and betterment of the working class.
He advocated for the rights of Indo-Trinidadians and introduced policies that created the recognition of Muslim and Hindu marriages, cremation s and establishment of schools for Non-Christian religious groups
Advocated adult suffrage
Honourees
Building called Rienzi Complex
Rienzi Kurton Highway