John Agitation

Who is John Agitation?

Ramdeen Ramjattan known as John Agitation is a comedian and storyteller. He is a graduate of the Progressive Educational Institute and served in the Trinidad and Tobago Civil Service. He was also the first comedian in the Commonwealth of Nations to win an election.

In 1951, at 24, Ramdeen was introduced to the Trinbagonian national audience by Landy de Montbrun, a leading local comic at the time. He told a joke, slightly nervous that he was crossing the boundary of taste. But the crowd was elated. "They were very happy to see a fella," Agitation later remarked.

From there, Agitation became a regular on Radio Trinidad, particularly the Horace James Comedy Hour, Sunday Serenade and the Aunty Kay Children's Show. The latter was sponsored by Bermudez Biscuit Company Limited for decades. He performed in many venues in Trinidad and Tobago as the headline performer, often to sold-out shows.

Throughout his life he has been an avid hunter, as his home is in the rural, still-forested area of Cumuto, with a large population of agouti and brocket deer. He farms oranges, mandarins, tangelos, portugals and grapefruit on his 10-acre estate.