Reap-Arrears-Shun we Grand-Father Back-Pay

“GRANDFATHER’S BACK PAY” is a famous 1985 calypso by The Mighty Chalkdust (Dr. Hollis “Chalky” Liverpool). In dis Calypso, Chalky made an open call for Rapearrears-shun, exposing post-slavery economic

inequality, and highlights the struggles of Afro-Trinidadian, (not to men-shun of course de unrewarded Black- backbreaking labour of ancestors of de wider Carry-Beyond) who built the wealth of elite colonial families. The song was ah bit late in coming, because as early as 1973, Lauders Estate in St. Vincent and the Grenadines was acquired by the den Junta-Government, led by Premier Sir James Mitchell, during his first term in Govenom- mint (1972-1974). Mitchell was an Agronomist (Ah-gran-mess). De people (descendant of slaves) wasted no time, immediately squatted on de land, however dis acquisition turned out to be de beginning of Mitchell’s Progressive I-dare of rural land settlement and reform initiatives, to transfer estate lands to the people, de workers, Squatters who occupied them. (dey Back-pay) Mitchell was kicked out of office in 1974, but by 1984 his New Democatic Party was voted into office and dat lasted 16 years. Immediately de NDP acquired de 4, 000 acres Orange Hill estate!

Part of Orange Hill his-story is dat persons walking along de public road thru estate lands dare not touch Massah dry coconut dat was in de public road. Many were arrested and charged. But under Mitchell’s Ad-mini-strayshun, Orange Hill Estate was equitably sub-divided and distributed to workers, mostly descendants of former slaves and Caribs. Call it Land Reform or by any other name, Dat was one answer to Chalkdust many calls foh his Grand-father’s Back-Pay! Reap-arrearsshun’ Grampa Nahan teking dis Carry-Come Reap-arreasshun Comess-shun like ah joke. Ah told him its now called Reparatory Justice.

Grampa Laughed, he said dat bunch should call demselves “ Rape-Arwe-Tree ‘n’ Just-Taste.

Ah updated him on ah high-level delegation of leaders met in July 2026 to press the UK for Formal Apologies, debt Cancellate- shun, and Structural Development Support Grampa Nathan said before our Carry-Beyond Delegation, press de UK foh apologies, somebody on ah Raper-race-shum committee, preferably de former Prime Minister of SVG, now Leader of de Awe-Pohsay- shun, should first apologize to de near 500 public sector workers—including teachers, police officers, and healthcare workers— who rejected de contentious vaccine, and were barred from entering their workplaces and legally deemed to have “abandoned” their jobs and unemployed foh four years, lost Salaries, Pen-shuns, Gratuity. Some lost dey homes and vehicles. And what is even more atrocious and inhumane, was in March 2023, when High Court Judge Justice Esco Henry initially ruled in favour of the public servants. she declared the mandate UNCONSTITUTIONAL, UNLAWFUL, PROCEDURALLY IMPROPER, AND VOID.

Way doh meet yuh doh pass yuh! And wid dat is gone ah gone again.

One Love Bassy

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