The other side of Milton Cato… National Hero?

The Union Island Uprising took place on December 7, a few days after the December 5 general election and was all about a small group of men who stormed the police station in Union Island and drove out the policemen stationed there. A State of Emergency and Dusk to Dawn Curfew were immediately declared throughout the whole state and Barbadian police were invited in to help maintain order. After a few days it was realised that there really was nothing further to be alarmed about. The group of persons who had been behind the incident had long disappeared from the scene.

Forty one persons, including eleven women were detained and sent to Fort Charlotte in St.Vincent, many of them in chains. Included were decent, law abiding citizens who were not at all involved in what had taken place.

The UPM in a statement carried in the VINCENTIAN had questioned the application of the State of Emergency to the entire state; “…We saw no reason why the State of Emergency could not be confined to the Grenadines or part of the Grenadines, instead of creating such serious economic loss and personal inconvenience at this festive season. We think there has definitely been an over (re) action to localised events. Furthermore we question the presence of foreign troops on our soil. We only hope that the normal fraternal relations between Vincentians and Barbadians have not been adversely affected.”(VINCENTIAN, December 21, 1979)

The VINCENTIAN newspaper reported in its January 19, 1980 issue that “…At Fort Charlotte there are some thirty of the original 42 persons detained. The other 12 including seven women were released from prison nearly two weeks ago. Eight of them had their detention order cancelled by the Minister of Home Affairs, while four others had theirs suspended. Conrad Adams, his wife Amutel and two other persons have been restricted from leaving Union Island without written permission of the police. They have also been informed that charges could be brought against them.

Apart from the detention of innocent persons there were serious questions about the continuation of the State of Emergency at a time when the situation was well under control. The Curfew was actually called off on December 19.

The VINCENTIAN of February 1, 1980 in its editorial questioned the continuation of the State of Emergency; “… Do the Prime Minister and his Cabinet feel that they are justified in depriving Vincentians of those democratic rights that are automatically lost under a state of emergency?

If the answer to these questions is yes the people should be told more about the situation that justifies the affirmative; so that the bitterness of the pill of loss of fundamental rights will at least be reduced by a sugar coating.

What have the people of St.Vincent been told by our Government regarding the Union Island rebellion? It occurred over two months ago. Suspects have been taken into custody. The Minister of Home Affairs has, commendably, released 12 (more than a quarter of those arrested) whose detention he did not regard as justified. A Tribunal is reviewing cases of detention. Unperturbed tourists are apparently going in and out of Union Island as usual. Why are all the residents of the many-island state still being subjected to restrictions that curtail their democratic rights?

… To date what the Government regards as the truth about the Union Island affair, its basis and its implications have only been referred to in hints and innuendos. Since Monday of last week the Tribunal completed its first round of sittings on the cases of the detainees and immediately informed Government of its findings. Up to time of writing a week later the public had not been informed!

…The emergency should either be abolished or its retention justified in a lucid explanation to the people.”

It had cause again in its March 21, 1980 issue to comment once again on the impact on the country of the continuing State of Emergency; “The consciousness of the community regarding the long unexplained State of Emergency and its effect on the democratic process seems to be increasing.

Attempts by the St.Vincent Union of Teachers to rally support for a concerted effort to bring pressure to bear on government to lift the State of Emergency has met with a favourable response from some 15 other organisations.”

Meanwhile it became clear to me that the continued State of Emergency was an effort on the part of the Government to delay the Bye- election in the Grenadines that James Mitchell was certain to win. I expressed this in an article in the VINCENTIAN on March 28, 1980 under the caption “State of Emergency is a Serious Matter”; “…A statement made by the Minister of External Affairs is indeed very revealing. He states that ‘one doesn’t believe that the climate during the State of Emergency is the sort of climate which is contemplated for elections to be held.’

Obviously those who hold that the State of Emergency does not cause any infringements on the rights of citizens do not regard it as a right for the people of the Grenadines to be represented in the House of Assembly.

Government has failed so far to come up with a convincing reason for the continued state of emergency. It is my firm belief that it is now being used exclusively to prevent a bye-election in the Grenadines and an added opposition voice in the House. A State of Emergency is a serious matter and should only be declared and continued in extreme situations. Although it is quite easy to declare a State of Emergency, its continuation for any length of time involves the sanction of Parliament.”

The VINCENTIAN, March 21 notes; “…We understand the Tribunal’s report to Government was based on the ‘first round’ of hearings. Nothing has been heard by us of a second round. Has the Tribunal ceased to operate?

The alleged victimisation of teachers and other workers, lack of publicity accorded to the Tribunal’s findings, the denial of representation in Parliament – to the entire Grenadines and the unexplained continuation of a State of Emergency are causing grave fears of undemocratic trends in the Government among sections of the community…”

The State of Emergency was finally lifted on May 15, having lasted for about five months.

“After months of protests from various sectors of the State, the Caribbean Conference of Churches (CCC), recent threats of a boycott of the upcoming Carnival the announcement of the lifting of the State of Emergency came suddenly on Wednesday evening…” (THE VINCENTIAN, May 16, 1980)

(To be Continued)

• Dr Adrian Fraser is a social commentator and historian