1979 – The Year of Independence (continued from last week)

Premier Cato on his return from England where he discussed procedures for reclaiming the country’s Independence indicated that the day was to be January 22, 1979, although later recognising that the draft constitution was unlikely to be finished then. That date went against the very meaning of Independence, since it was keeping alive the myth of January 22 as ‘Discovery Day’. As 1979 broke, Independence was very much in the air, with issues related to the Constitution being hotly discussed. Joshua’s PPP in February held a demonstration demanding a liberal constitution, with criticism of Government for disregarding the peoples’ amendments. Grenada’s March 13 revolution perhaps signalled challenges that lay ahead. One month later the Soufriere sent its own signals as it awoke from its slumber and pushed ‘Independence’ into the background. Communities in its foothills had to be evacuated and refuge Centres established elsewhere. This, of course, had its own challenges.  Schools, for one, had to be transformed into evacuation centres. It was not until the end of June that persons returned to their original settlements and schools were.

At a press conference on July 6, Premier Cato stated that things were back on track and the new British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher had recommended October 27 as D day. Divisions intensified as Opposition parties and independent groups, like the National Independence Committee, protested Government’s scant regard for amendments made by the different community groups and political parties. The NIC which had set up two committees – an Education and Mobilisation and Constitution Committee, did not find favour with the government that labelled it a bunch of nincompoops. Independence was not the only issue on the agenda, for elections were to follow creating its own set of dynamics. The main political parties contended that the country was not yet back to normalcy, Joshua arguing in London that Soufriere had placed the country in an unfavourable economic position. The smaller political parties were working towards unity. This bore fruit when the United Peoples’ Movement was launched on August 3 and held its first meeting with a crowd estimated at 5,000, but which the Vincentian newspaper put at 2,000.

Although there was widespread disagreement with the manner in which the government went about the whole issue, groups associated with the NIC opted not to oppose Independence, but divisions continued and soon-to-be Prime Minister Cato had to use a radio broadcast calling for togetherness and asking that we learn from lessons of the past and “dwell together in unity”. Following a series of activities involving Cultural Shows, an Industrial Exhibition, Arts and Craft displays and an Independence Youth Rally, large numbers of Vincentians at 10:30 p.m. on October 26, flocked the Victoria Park to witness the official ceremony that saw the dismantling of the Union Jack Flag and hoisting of the flag of a country that was to become the 42nd member of the Commonwealth. Nine hours after the hoisting of the flag our first independent parliament met.

1979 was an eventful year indeed. St. Lucia moved to Independent status on February 22. CXC examinations were launched on May 28. The National Youth Council which came into existence in 1966 and played an active role in the build up to Independence elected its first female president, Corletha Ollivierre, on September 22. Shake Keane on October 10 launched his Volcano Suite poems that captured beautifully the events of April 13. October also witnessed the formal handing over of the airport terminal building. St. Vincent reached the finals of the Caribbean Nations Cup with a 3-1 victory over Guadeloupe in Guadeloupe, much to the delight of the Vincentian public.

Shortly after Independence, on December 5, general elections took place with the incumbent Labour Party regaining power.  As if there was not enough excitement an uprising in Union Island followed, with a State of Emergency and a call on Barbadian forces, an event celebrated in song, “The Government Boots” by Mighty Gabby of Barbados, who asked if it was necessary to send their soldiers to put out a fire.  So ended a remarkable year!