Searchlight Logo
special_image

    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
    • News
      • Front Page
      • News
      • Breaking News
      • Press Release
      • Features
      • Special Features
      • From the Courts
      • Sports
      • Regional / World
    • Opinions
      • Editorial
      • Our Readers’ Opinions
      • Bassy – Love Vine
      • Dr. Fraser- Point of View
      • R. Rose – Eye of the Needle
      • On Target
      • Dr Jozelle Miller
      • The World Around Us
      • Random Thoughts
    • Advice
      • Kitchen Corner
      • What’s on Fleek this week
      • Health Wise
      • Physician’s Weekly
      • Business Buzz
      • Hey Rosie!
      • Prime the pump
    • ePaper
    • Obituaries
      • In Memoriam / Acknowledgement
      • Tribute
    • Contact Us
      • Advertise With Us
      • Letters To The Editor
      • General Contact Information
      • Contact our Webmaster
    • About Us
      • Interactive Media Ltd
      • St. Vincent & the Grenadines
    • Subscribe
Our Readers' Opinions
September 11, 2009

Taking issue with my friend Saboto Caesar

11.SEP.09

Editor: Saboto Caesar and I have corresponded in the past and I regard him as a friend. Yet I must take issue with what he wrote in Searchlight of August 28th.

When he says that we have waited almost 300 years for independence, this puts us on par with Barbados and Jamaica.{{more}} Yet, both countries had been colonies of Britain almost 150 years, during which time St. Vincent remained one of the last truly independent territories in the Caribbean. Barbados was colonised in 1627, but Britain started its occupation of St. Vincent in 1763 and did not consolidate it until the end of the Garifuna war of 1795-96. The period between 1763 and 1795 may be viewed either as a period of partial occupation by the British, or as the last 33 years of independence of the indigenous people. The whole island was a colony for 184 years. Computation on any other basis denies the intense struggle, especially by the Garifuna, to maintain their independence.

Then he says that the fight during the colonial era for independence was not an easy one. It was easy. Not a drop of blood was spilt. The greatest hurdle was infighting among rival Vincy politicians, while Britain waited anxiously to pass the baton to a stable Vincy government. As he said, we received a document – the constitution we have – which was not drafted with the peculiarities of our people in mind – Britain’s last gift as it were. Had we struggled we would have written our own.

In his closing paragraphs, he confuses the need for constitutional reform with the mechanics of getting it. Voting “Yes” for the package is not the same as defining the constitution you want. Yes, you want some of what is offered, but No, not everything that is on offer is what you want.

I think civic groups should petition the Prime Minister to refer a decision on the package to an arbitration tribunal selected by the Governor General. This tribunal should be comprised of those in civil society (not politicians), regardless of how they feel about the package, and their mandate should be, through compromise, to define its final parameters. This should then go to legal draftsmen for necessary language changes. Give them another year to get it right.

C B Harold
cbharold@cwjamaica.com

  • FacebookComments
  • ALSO IN THE NEWS
    New era at modern Kingstown Port
    Front Page
    New era at modern Kingstown Port
    Webmaster 
    October 14, 2025
    The port operations in St Vincent and the Grenadines is entering into a new era to accommodate growing demands of international trade and cruise touri...
    No rent for Union Island vendors until January
    Front Page
    No rent for Union Island vendors until January
    Webmaster 
    October 14, 2025
    In an effort to ensure that vendors on Union Island fully recover from the setbacks caused by Hurricane Beryl, the government has decided to waive ven...
    Small fire displaces  form-5 students at SJCK
    Front Page
    Small fire displaces form-5 students at SJCK
    Webmaster 
    October 14, 2025
    Form five students of the St Joseph’s Convent, Kingstown, are expected to return to their classroom today, Tuesday, October 14, 2025 after a small fir...
    Vincentian make-up artist, designer in UK  spotlight again
    Front Page
    Vincentian make-up artist, designer in UK spotlight again
    Webmaster 
    October 14, 2025
    The international profile and resume of Vincentian makeup artist and designer, Kirk Cambridge-Delpesche continue to receive enhancements, with the lat...
    Union Island Ferry Terminal and Market opens
    Front Page
    Union Island Ferry Terminal and Market opens
    Webmaster 
    October 14, 2025
    Amidst the on-going recovery from the destruction caused by Hurricane Beryl in 2024, residents on Union Island saw the opening of a new Ferry Terminal...
    Hunters advised not to use injurious methods on their prey
    News
    Hunters advised not to use injurious methods on their prey
    Webmaster 
    October 14, 2025
    One week after the start of the hunting season, the Forestry Division within the Ministry of Agriculture is reminding hunters of their responsibilitie...
    News
    Hunters advised not to use injurious methods on their prey
    News
    Hunters advised not to use injurious methods on their prey
    Webmaster 
    October 14, 2025
    One week after the start of the hunting season, the Forestry Division within the Ministry of Agriculture is reminding hunters of their responsibilitie...
    NDP vice-president tells Central Leeward voters not to lose hope
    News
    NDP vice-president tells Central Leeward voters not to lose hope
    Webmaster 
    October 14, 2025
    Vice-President of the New Democratic Party (NDP), Nigel ‘Nature’ Stephenson said the people of St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), want a decent qual...
    Former Minister of Government and Diplomat dies
    News
    Former Minister of Government and Diplomat dies
    Webmaster 
    October 14, 2025
    Former Minister of Government in the Unity Labour Party (ULP) administration, Selmon Walters, has died. Family members confirmed that Walters, who at ...
    Region prepares for COP30 at meeting in St Lucia
    News
    Region prepares for COP30 at meeting in St Lucia
    Webmaster 
    October 14, 2025
    Caribbean Community (CARICOM) leaders met in St Lucia from October 7–10, 2025, for the Second Regional Preparatory Meeting for the 30th Conference of ...
    Ambassador of  Ireland presents  Letters of Credence
    News
    Ambassador of Ireland presents Letters of Credence
    Webmaster 
    October 14, 2025
    The Ambassador of Ireland to St Vincent and the Grenadines, Geraldine Byrne Nason, presented her Letters of Credence to Governor General, Dame Susan D...

    E-EDITION
    ePaper
    google_play
    app_store
    Subscribe Now
    • Interactive Media Ltd. • P.O. Box 152 • Kingstown • St. Vincent and the Grenadines • Phone: 784-456-1558 © Copyright Interactive Media Ltd.. All rights reserved.
    We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it.Ok