Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has announced that by March 2020 at least one more person, and possibly more, will join Paramount Chief Rt. Honourable Joseph Chatoyer on the exalted podium reserved for Vincentian National Heroes. Chatoyer deservedly is the sole possessor of the National Hero status, having been elevated to that position in 2002.

However, there has been much public discussion on the matter of National Hero status and a Committee set up by the Gonsalves administration has recommended four other prominent Vincentians – Ebeneezer Joshua, Milton Cato, George McIntosh and John ‘JP’ Eustace, for consideration for the honour. Public debate over which of them should get the accolade or whether any other Hero should be named has not had a conclusive resolution.

The PM brought up the issue again in his Independence address to the nation and seems to have obtained his government’s blessing to proceed with the appointment of additional Heroes. The arguments over the merits of each of the four can perhaps last forever though time and sober reappraisal will help many persons in their determination.

My own view is that because Joshua and Cato were towering figures of our post-Adult Suffrage era, whose legacy remains in the form of the two political parties today, the opposition NDP being a successor of Joshua’s PPP, while the ULP is an outgrowth of Cato’s Labour party, there is bound to be controversy if any one of them is so appointed and the other denied. Any choice in this direction can only be to name both of them.

In the case of the other two, the issue is whether either of them possesses the credentials to be considered for national hero status. The jury is still out on this question. So how do we resolve the matter? My own view is that in the circumstances, there is no pressing reason why we should go ahead with the appointment by next year. In order to be so considered, the person must be dead, as all four are, so what is the hurry if we have not yet had a clear consensus? None of the four will complain whether it is 2020 or 2030. It will not be good to have a National Hero clouded in controversy. Waiting, more education and thought, will certainly do no harm.

MORE NATIONAL RECOGNITION

While we are on this subject let me belatedly offer my congratulations to the latest group of cultural and sports ambassadors named at the Independence Day rally. In the absence of official national awards, it is a good way to recognize those who have made significant contribution to our development.

I was glad to see that among the new ambassadors is Kingsley “Hero” Roberts, a real cultural titan. Hero’s recognition is one which I have championed and two years ago, SEARCHLIGHT reported a call by Mr. Roddy Dowers, captain of the champion steelband in SVG, Starlift, for Hero to be made a cultural ambassador (Sept 7, 2017). Dowers correctly argued that such recognition would give pan an equal place along with mas and calypso, from which fields icons have been recognized.

LOSS OF CULTURAL STALWARTS

Alas! Even as we congratulate the new cultural ambassadors, we mourn the passing of two of our outstanding cultural giants. Michael “Black Messenger” John met a sad ending to his culturally rich life last week, joining Owen Ralph, the cultural giant of Sion Hill, who preceded him by one month.

It is a pity that Owen was never the recipient of the cultural ambassador award for his towering contributions, not only in the field of mas, in which his original thinking shone, but in early pan and art, certainly qualified him for such recognition. Many have been the deserving tributes paid to him posthumously, but I remember his perseverance in the face of the intransigence of Carnival officials sidelining the originality of small bands and forcing them to adapt to the norms of the big bands and their glitter. It is as though there was a concerted push to drive tradition and originality out of our mas. Hats off to Owen and his team for their determination! The Ralph (Owen and Roy) name will forever be etched on our Carnival honour roll.

The reference to perseverance and originality also fits “Black Messenger”. He was no ordinary calypsonian, but sang with a purpose, delivering a message, relentless in the face of officialdom, a real “rough diamond” of kaiso. He represented a section of the population whose views and aspirations have long been ignored, forcing him to utter his “Cry of the Unemployed”, but also left us the legacy of “Carnival is here again”, which ushered in June/July mas.

Messenger was also an anti-colonial fighter and activist, a staunch black nationalist and advocate of independence. Not many who enjoyed his songs know that like his fellow-calysonian Reality, he was actively involved in the early “Black Power” struggles of the 70s, first as a member of OBCA and then, BLAC. He held very strong views to the end and was never afraid to fight discrimination against the poor. He will be sadly missed.

Please DJs, let us hear his message. Don’t let it die!

Renwick Rose
is a community activist and social comm
entator.