Ah Never More Proud

defend democracy and the gains of our working people, and while I can look back on those experiences as rich chapters in the book of life itself, it has not been easy.

However there have been moments and occasions on which I can reflect with a great deal of pride and satisfaction. For instance, after all our work in solidarity with the African anti-colonial struggle and against apartheid in South Africa, never can I forget the victory represented by the release of Nelson Mandela and his comrades from jail leading up to the end of apartheid and black majority rule. The anti-apartheid movement here organised a Victory rally for Mandela on the compound of the Bishop’s College in Kingstown. As I got on the platform to address the crowd, my mind went back to the real rough times – the jibes of misguided and backward supporters of the then Labour party, the hostility, including by some police officers, the bomb thrown at us in 1974 at Colonarie, even having to stand up on a stool and address gatherings without a microphone. Yes, Mandela’s release gave me a rare sense of satisfaction and achievement.

Then there was our own local battle campaigning for independence. There were backward people among us who, brainwashed by colonial thinking, scoffed at us, arguing that SVG could not become independent because we could not support ourselves. You think it easy! But the satisfaction came on the night we took down the flag of “Associate Statehood” and hoisted our own. I smiled as I watched those who were hostile to independence, all dressed up for the occasion. Father, forgive them….

There was more after independence. The bitter struggle for democracy and worker rights in 1981 had brought out the worst in the Labour government. It went to the extent that two repressive bits of legislation were introduced in Parliament to crush opposition to the government. It took days and nights of mobilizing to bring thousands of people on the streets in protest. But we persevered and won – the Bills were scrapped. How sweet the name!

If I had any illusions about all this sacrifice, the new NDP government which had taken advantage of all the mobilizing work of the progressive forces and the mayhem in Grenada leading to the murder of Maurice Bishop and some of his comrades, turned against the workers and the popular movement. More mobilizing again! This time patterning itself after the 1981 experience, the popular movement organized itself as the Organisation in Defence of Democracy (ODD).

Popular demonstrations crippled the government, CARICOM was called in and after a conciliation meeting in Grenada, early elections were called leading to the defeat of the government. The ULP government which emerged is still intact, but it too has had its challenges, not just at the polls. On my part, as a committed patriot, I found myself again in tiring mobilizing work, especially faced with the threat to the banana industry, then the lifeblood of our economy, posed by globalization, the big banana multinationals and the European Union. It was on the road again, and in the skies. Travelling to Europe to defend our livelihoods. Thankless tasks, but even though the bigger banana war was not won, we succeeded in finding a niche market for Fairtrade bananas.

As if all this were not enough, again there emerged a democratic battle in trying to change the old constitution and modernize it. But, having been drawn in again, the task of a completely new constitution proved to be over-ambitious, and this was one mass struggle which failed.

In the referendum called, Vincentians voted to keep the British Crown and its colonial trappings. Ah, the bitter taste of defeat!

I have recalled all of this to underline that when after all the sacrifice, a victory is scored, we must treasure it. So, you can imagine how I felt on Monday night to see our “history doctors” provide us with a prescription for guidance in diagnosing our society. The first volume of our home-grown effort represents the first stage in our search for a common understanding of our development of our people and country. After the years of negativity and deliberate mis-education we now have a chance to move forward positively.

Brothers Fraser, Scott, Dennie and Thomas, we owe you all eternal gratitude for your efforts and look forward to more to come. We should also express our thanks to the Government of SVG for supporting and underwriting the process.

Lets build on this start!