Time to quicken pace of decolonization- says local historian

On the eve of the country’s 45th anniversary of independence, local historian, Dr Cleve Scott has made a call for individual Vincentians and the government to make a “greater commitment to decolonization” through increased education about how colonial legacy still impacts citizens at present.

“In this process of decolonization, which started in 1979 in St Vincent and the Grenadines with official independence, we have to have a commitment to decolonize the mind, the archives, the city and the country.”

We need a greater commitment to decolonization. Too many of us sit and want other people to do it … you could imagine that in 2024 we still have Victoria Park? We still have Knighthood and Murray’s Village? We need to quicken the pace of decolonization.”

His comments were made at the Sir Dwight Venner Independence Lecture held on October 17, 2024, under the theme ‘Rock of Ages: The Making of the Vincentian Church”. The lecture, presented by four local historians, discussed the origins of a number of religions and how Vincentians adapted the religious practices in their own image.

Responding to questions from the audience, Dr Scott said he believed the country is moving “too slow” towards removing colonial relics. Referencing efforts for reparatory justice by the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), Dr Scott said the attitudes by Vincentians towards reparations need adjusting.

In his presentation on the emergence of the Spiritual Baptists, Dr Adrian Fraser, outlined how the colonial government created the narrative that ‘Shakers’ were “fanatics” and their religious services involved sexual impropriety.

“One of the things they had against the Shakers was this belief that when they went on their knees in the Mourning Houses, that a lot of sexual acts were performed.”

He noted the role played by Administrator, Gideon Murray, after whom Murray’s Village is named, in drafting the Prohibition Ordinance which was enacted into law in 1912.

Dr Fraser said that today, many Spiritual Baptist members know little about the struggles faced, adding that the socio-economic status of members was a major contributing factor to the negative perception of the religion.

“Other things working against them- they were poor people. It is only in recent times that we begin to have professionals and other people identifying with the so-called Shakers. The propaganda that was being spread…was something that came out of slavery.”

The audience also heard about the decline of Hinduism in SVG from historian, Dr Arnold Thomas. He explained that after the October 7, 1884 workers strike staged by Indians who were brought to SVG as indentured servants to work on estates after Emancipation, there was a large outflow of Indians from the country.

Dr Thomas said that those who remained in SVG were forced to adapt to the religious environment, and there was much competition among churches to convert the remaining Indians to Christianity.

“The estate owners were inclined to get the Indians to be more and more accustomed to the creolized society in St Vincent… their dress changed, their food changed, their speech changed and more than that, Indians did not have a school to send their children to to learn Hinduism and other things.”

The historian, who is himself of Indian descent, noted that the move away from Hinduism is evident in the fact that there are little to no names of Indian descent held by Vincentians.

“… and slowly that was the ending of Hinduism,” he added, saying many moved into the Anglican Church, the Catholic Church, the Wesleyan Church, and with the bulk now belonging to the Seventh Day Adventist church which came about in 1930.