Our own religious holiday

Just last week the editorial in this paper commented on the need for countries like ours, victims of European colonization, to engage in the task of “completing the anti-colonial” journey. It is therefore most heartening that the week afterwards, our Parliament should unanimously  approve a Bill providing for an indigenous religious holiday, the Spiritual Baptists Day, to be celebrated on May 21 annually.

It is the first time that we are having a religious holiday originating from our own roots, the spiritual beliefs of our people. Religious holidays are not new by any means, for the imposition of the Christian religion during slavery have long institutionalized such holidays. In addition to the major ones of Christmas and Easter, we have had several others originating from the Catholic and Anglican faiths. Some of these have gone by the wayside as the society has evolved, among them ones such as Corpus Christi and Whit Monday, replaced by secular holidays.

However, this is the first time that we have gone so far as to venture into the religious realm on behalf of a religion once banned, its believers and practitioners persecuted and prosecuted, as well as stigmatized.

It is not by chance that the Spiritual Baptists, or Shakers as they were known, suffered such a fate. Their adherence to a religion rooted in their African origins was a conscious act of resistance. It was easier to use force to try and stamp out physical resistance to colonization and slavery, the brutality and inhumanity of those actions have become notorious with knowledge of them accessed by more and more people. However spiritual resistance was literally “a horse of a different colour”, for how do you crush religious beliefs?

Proscribing the practice never worked despite the efforts of one colonial administrator, Gideon Murray, after whom Murray’s Village was infamously named. Many of the adherents took cover in Methodism, the religion most identified as exhibiting some semblance of sympathy for the victims of slavery, but others continued to defy the colonial authorities and paid the price for it. One can only hope that our local historians charged with writing OUR STORY will adequately deal with this situation. Incidentally, given the critical role of women in the Spiritual Baptists movement, it is hoped that some effort to get a female historian involved in the effort will be pursued, women have special perspectives on such matters.

Incidentally as well, it is to be noted that the number of prosecutions against our Spiritual Baptists was particularly high in the year 1935, the year of the popular uprising against colonial and planter rule. It again raises the issue of “righting historical wrongs” as pledged by the Prime Minister. The Parliament of this country, both sides, must be congratulated for this bold step. Special compliments to PM Gonsalves for his role in not just this act, but in support of the Spiritual Baptists over the years. The late P.R. Campbell must be applauding all the way from the grave. Finally, it is important that with the initiation of this new holiday, a religious one, we try to ensure that it does not degenerate into another purely “nice time” holiday, but its meaning and essence be highlighted. We must not let it become like August 1, an August Monday parody of Emancipation Day.

CUBA, A REAL “FRIEND IN NEED”

It is said that “a friend in need is a friend indeed”. St Vincent and the Grenadines is one small country which can testify to the accuracy of this saying. This week, a Cuban electrical linesman’s brigade arrived here to support the recovery efforts of the impact of hurricane Beryl, particularly in the Southern Grenadines. It is believed that the electricity-generating facility in Union Island has almost been totally destroyed and needs major work.

Cuba, like the faithful friend that it is, has once more come to our rescue. It has sent a brigade of experienced workers to assist us in the effort. This is despite the severe economic conditions in Cuba brought about by the criminal economic sanctions led by the USA, sanctions on which the United Nations have voted time and again for their lifting. Resident Cuban Ambassador, Carlos Rodriguez Etcheverry explained his government’s act of solidarity.

“No matter what conditions or adversities can be, Cuba will always offer its helping hand”. This has been the situation since before our independence when Cuba had no diplomatic relations with us. In 1979 after the volcanic eruption of La Soufriere, Cuba sent a boat load of supplies, even though the Cato government was reluctant to accept and had to be pressured by locals before doing so. Cuba first began the escalation in our access to university scholarships ,while its contribution in the health and education sectors are legendary.

Even the hostility from backward political elements and selfish professionals did not deter them. This year, Cuba, struggling to supply basics to its citizens has still offered more scholarships to our citizens. A greater display of selfless solidarity will be hard to find.

THANK YOU! MUCHAS GRACIAS! Dear Cuban friends.

• Renwick Rose is a community activist and social commentator.