Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Privacy Policy
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Bassy - Love Vine
August 27, 2021

Is who brought we here

Was it plane, boat, bus or donkey cart dah bring we to dis juncture? Back in 1951, ah was ah lickle nine year ole going on 10, when ah group of us ran away from home “bare-foot,” to de King George V Playing field at Arnos Vale, to witness ah double launching: ‘Adult Suffrage’ and de ‘Eight Army’, de newest/onliest Pull-it-to-kill Party formed by the United Workers, Peasants and Ratepayers Union (UWPRU). De March formed up at de Arnos Vale bridge. Interestingly de E.T. Joshua Airport was built, commissioned and decommissioned between den and now. Of more interest, in 1951 dey was ah rice field on de Casson Estate on de Western side of the Highway and a playing field on de East.

Dat morning dey was ah “crowd-ah-people.” No sign ah no ‘Eight Army’, not even policemen, no police band in dem days either, but dey was ah big Brass Band lined-up waiting. Present was ah group of well-dressed gentleman in suits: Rudolph and Julian Baynes, ET Joshua, Flick Haynes and others. Ah overheard someone saying: “ dem is de Eight Army!” De leader, George Charles was dressed in 3-pice black from head to toe, felt hat , white gloves, ah sword in one hand and ah Bible (dat poor Bible) in de other. Charles’ command was loud and clear: “All Union members form-up, men in front please!” Like lickle school pick-ah-narny, in abject servitude, de crowd, lots ah Spiritual Baptists, working class men women and children were ready. The Brass Band struck-up dat famous Trade Union Song: “Onward Christian Soldiers” or was it “Hold de Fort Union men be strong?”

Dey marched up Casson Hill like marathon runners, singing and clapping. And yuh know what? No noisy speakers, no armed police wid guns, in fact no police, no tear gas, no hitches along de way. De Victory March for Adult Suffrage was an official reality. Democrcy was alive and well. Today it is ah different thing: It’s ah De-mockery-sea! Ah must men-shun dat later dat year, de Eight Army was the only party to contest the 1951 general elections and won all eight seats.

Dat was seventy years ago. So way did we go astray? Who bring we dis way? Dey uses to be nuff Picong in Politics, on and off de platform.

Den slowly we forget 1951 and to hell was Democrcy, freedom of speech is on Trial. Radio Stay-shuns and Newspapers, de Nay-shun watch dogs metaphorically wearing COVID 19 Mask, washing dey hands and keeping distance. De slightest hint of any Defamatory Statements about de PM will be humbled in Courts. Dug-he De Freitas’ NICE Radio has already paid over half million dollars to de PM, he has another quarter million dollars Law Sue coming up. De PM is seeking an estimated half a million dollars in damages from Jomo Thomas, former ULP Speaker of de House, claiming that he defamed him in his weekly Newspaper column. De question is, who is next and how much will be demanded of him or her.

Lie-Za asked me to share one ah Jesus’ Parable wid de Pry-minister: “The ground of a certain rich man yielded an abundant harvest.  He thought to himself, ‘What shall I do? I have no place to store my crops.’ Then he said to himself, ‘I will tear down my barns and build bigger ones, and there I will store my surplus grain.  And I’ll say to myself, “You have plenty of grain laid up for many years. Take life easy; eat, drink and be merry.”’  But God said to him, ‘You fool! This very night your life will be demanded from you. Then who will get what you have prepared for yourself?’ And wid dat is gone ah gone again.
One Love Bassy

Bassy Alexander is a land surveyor, folklorist and social commentator.

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    Domestic worker killed at Long Wall
    Front Page
    Domestic worker killed at Long Wall
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    FAMILY MEMBERS of a woman who was killed at Long Wall say they suspect their relative was hacked by a person they all know very well. On Tuesday, Sept...
    NDP never built a single house in SVG – Finance Minister
    Front Page
    NDP never built a single house in SVG – Finance Minister
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE IDEA THAT HOUSING is a right, that every Vincentian has a right to safe and secure housing, and that the government has a role to play in ensuring...
    No bail for Police officer charged with attempted murder
    Front Page
    No bail for Police officer charged with attempted murder
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A POLICE OFFICER, who allegedly stabbed his ex-girlfriend 26 times about her body was remanded even as his lawyer argued that the Royal St Vincent and...
    New ULP Administration will roll out AI policy
    Front Page
    New ULP Administration will roll out AI policy
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A NEW UNITY LABOUR PARTY ADMINISTRATION will be rolling out an Artificial Intelligence (AI) policy to embrace its positives and guard against the nega...
    Sandy Bay Secondary School marks 20th Anniversary
    Front Page
    Sandy Bay Secondary School marks 20th Anniversary
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    TUESDAY, SEPTEMBER, 9,2025 was a memorable day for the staff and students of the Sandy Bay Secondary School, which was marking its 20th anniversary wi...
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE ASHLEY LASHLEY Foundation, with support from the United States Government, is implementing a local-level project entitled “Community-Driven Strate...
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    News
    Foundation implements community driven project in SVG
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    THE ASHLEY LASHLEY Foundation, with support from the United States Government, is implementing a local-level project entitled “Community-Driven Strate...
    Skills not available locally, non-nationals have to be hired says Finance Minister
    News
    Skills not available locally, non-nationals have to be hired says Finance Minister
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    NON- NATIONALS ARE being hired to fill several jobs in St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG) simply because locals did not have the required skill sets....
    Montgomery Daniel squashes rumours that he’s sick
    News
    Montgomery Daniel squashes rumours that he’s sick
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    DEPUTY PRIME MINISTER Montgomery Daniel has sought to clear around rumours that have been circulating relating to his health. Speaking on NBC radio on...
    $1.3 billion in Tourism investment to yield 2,000 jobs – Camillo
    News
    $1.3 billion in Tourism investment to yield 2,000 jobs – Camillo
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    The GOVERNMENT of St Vincent and the Grenadines is set to sign agreements for tourism investment of $1.3 billion on mainland St.Vincent. On Monday, Se...
    Bagga’ man pleads guilty to illegal gun, ammo possession
    From the Courts, News
    Bagga’ man pleads guilty to illegal gun, ammo possession
    Webmaster 
    September 12, 2025
    A BARROUALLIE MAN will be sentenced next week after pleading guilty to being in illegal possession of a firearm and eight rounds of ammunition. Demron...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok