The Other Side of Milton Cato: National Hero?

(Continued from last week)

One of the issues that surfaced at the time of the 1975 Teachers’ Strike was this same issue of the Public Service Act. In fact, it was one of the 5 issues in contention. Its communiqué to the Government stated that the Public Service Act “… be repealed in its totality no later than December 31st; that the  examination be made of other legislation which seriously trespasses on the fundamental rights and freedoms of teachers as citizens of the country”.

A Teachers Bulletin at that time stated, “The union strongly holds that the Public Service Act 1971 is unconstitutional, undemocratic and inhuman, that it seriously curtails the freedom of Teachers as Public Officers, that it is antithetical to the 1975 Caribbean Union of Teachers recommendations and that it, along with other legislation with similar effects, be repealed soon.”

The Public Servants Act was also highlighted at the time of Independence. The National Independence Committee raised the issue of that Act in its communication with Government since it recognised that many public servants were reluctant to participate in the Independence discussions for fear that they would contravene the 1971 Act.

In a letter to the then Premier Cato on May 22, 1978, the Committee which was headed by Henry Williams stated, “…The National Independence Committee notes Cabinet’s silence on our interpretation of the Public Service (Conditions of Employment Act, 1971). Our experience within the National Independence Committee has confirmed the view that public workers feel seriously constrained to participate in these debates on Independence. We stand by our interpretation of the Act as outlined in the resolution and interpret Cabinet’s silence as confirmation of the validity of our interpretation.”

The FORUM of April 28, 1978, highlighted the issue: “The dread terms of that draconian piece of legislation known as the Public Servants (Conditions of Employment Act, 1971) has at last come into the focus of public attention. This has come about by the fact that Government has invited the general populace, including public servants, to take an active part in the discussions which mark the pre-Independence exercises.

At the public sessions public servants feel that they might be led into a trap. Voicing their opinions on political and administrative matters is an infringement of the law as they understand it. True, Government might be permissive in the present situation, but they want to know that they stand on the side of legal right rather than operate by the mercy of a merciless Government.

And the whole irony of the situation is that the Act prevents them from critically discussing the Act! In other words, the same Government which enacted this pernicious law some seven years ago has legally gagged a sizeable section of our more intelligent people then asked them to talk. The result is muffled and incoherent sounds for people are afraid to say it like it is. The Act has marred all meaningful discussions beforehand. The Act is a damoclean sword hanging over the heads of the more progressive people in the police, the teaching and nursing profession and the Civil Service in general. And we challenge those who declare that our fears are alarmist and geared to torpedoing the Independence debate.”

1. THE 1975 TEACHERS STRIKE

The relationship between the Teachers represented by the Teachers’ Union and the Government was not at its best in 1975. The Union had held meetings with representatives of the Ministry of Finance and of Education at different times. They had identified 5 issues that were of concern to Teachers and were seeking dialogue to discuss those issues within a specified time.

Two matters helped to inflame the situation: The Minister of Education was not in favour of a Trade Union course which was part of the Vacation Seminar that for five years had been held in collaboration with the Canadian Teachers Federation. At the Opening ceremony of the Vacation seminar the Minister who took exception to comments made by the President about the operations of multinationals, interrupted the ceremony and later ordered that the Trade Union course be suspended even though it had been held in previous Vacation seminars.

The country was also in the midst of a medical crisis involving attempts to prevent Dr. Cecil Cyrus from leaving the country on holidays. Police were sent to the airport where a fire truck was used to block the exit from the ramp to the runaway. He was later able to leave the country but on return was put on compulsory leave. Hospital workers, nurses and members of the Civil Service Association and the Commercial Technical and Allied Workers Union took objection and held a march seeking to demonstrate their anger to the Minister of Health. Some of these workers were charged for participating in an illegal march.

At a general meeting of the Union in September the hospital workers were invited and the Union showed solidarity with them by marching around Kingstown. Decisions were taken to picket the home of the Minister of Health and to boycott businesses with which the Minister was associated. One of these businesses was Coco Cola and I have not drank Coco Cola since that time.

A subsequent meeting agreed on presenting their demands to Government. When an appropriate response was not given in the time specified a decision on Strike action was taken. One of the activities to be undertaken in support of their strike action was a March which left the area of the Peace Memorial Hall and went along Bay Street. The March which was deemed illegal was interrupted in front of the Police Barracks. It was at that time that teachers, their supporters and innocent persons watching the March were confronted with the full power of the State through its use of teargas. Following their bombardment on Bay Street members of the Police Force went on to the Back Street where they indiscriminately fired teargas. Three school children were taken to hospital, one of them being hit directly.

Ten teachers were arrested including the President Mike Browne and Vice-President Francis Gibson who was taken later to the Calliaqua Police Station where she experienced a horrendous situation.

Yvonne Francis-Gibson related her story, and I publish here only a part of it:

“I remained in the cell for several hours, but suddenly my stomach heaved, and I had to exercise some control to prevent myself from being sick. My head then felt as if I were drowning and for a while I lost consciousness. When I came to, my head was resting on the door…I made a conscious effort to call the Woman Police. She immediately took me from the cell and placed me on a chair inside the doorway of the charge room…For the rest of Saturday night I remained near the door.”

She was transported to Kingstown on Saturday afternoon where she met Inspector Lewis “who in ringing tones asked ‘What you bring her here for? She is to stop up there. Take her back!”

One of the policemen asked him to allow me to have my bath in the Women Police Section and to this he replied, “Let her bathe out there.” The policemen informed him that at that time-of-day Calliaqua Police Station was without water. To this Inspector Lewis gave no answer but rudely turned away…” (To be continued)

• Dr Adrian Fraser is a social commentator and historian