There are two events which we hold in memoriam today. One is the state of emergency declared by Dr Eric Williams on October 19, 1971. The second is the 35th anniversary of the execution of Grenadian Prime Minister Maurice Bishop on the October 19, 1983.
As with every commemoration, there are matters for contemplation. Two overarching considerations for me are the lack of a sense of history in the Caribbean and our lack of gratitude. It is important that we should remember George Santayana’s statement, “Those who cannot remember the past are condemned to repeat it.” We should also remember our own saying, “Ingratitude is worse than witchcraft.”
Trinidad and Tobago is in the midst of a crisis involving the closure of the Petrotrin Refinery, which will make thousands of people face an uncertain future. A precursor to Petrotrin’s problems are the succession of events which led to the 1971 SoE. Both events have involved the Oilfields Workers’ Trade Union (OWTU).
The Grenada situation, on the other hand, was one of coercion by the United States of America, perennially afraid of the self–determination of peoples within this hemisphere. Notwithstanding that the opportunity for American intervention was also created by ideological differences within the People’s Revolutionary Government.
Lest we forget, between late 1970 and 1971 the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC) supported trade unions by sending its members to join picket lines in solidarity with workers at firms like Dunlop and Fedchem.
Those events were the general context within which the 1971 SoE took place. The specific incidents started in April 1971 when the BADGER Corporation got a contract to build a desulphurisation plant at the Point-a-Pierre refinery. OWTU was the recognised union.
NJAC activists, meanwhile, agitated for increased employment on the project. Workers came into conflict with BADGER and their subcontractor WIMPEY. In the escalating situation both companies announced that they would cease operations. With the collusion of the government, the companies flew their staff and families back to USA and demanded certain assurances before returning to Trinidad.
These acts foreshadowed the attitude of Petrotrin chairman, Mr Wilfred Espinet, who threatened that if Petrotrin did not get its way regarding closure he would have the company declared bankrupt. In other words, workers would have had to face the same fate that employees suffered at Arcelor-Mittal in 2016
I hope that I am wrong, but I do not recall whether the OWTU (or other labour unions) have had any activities in commemoration of October 19.
Three OWTU members, George Weekes, Winston Lennard and Nuevo Diaz, who were imprisoned in 1971 are now deceased. I am uncertain if Alain Campbell is alive. Professor Winston Suite of UMROBI has retired from UWI.
Since 1972, NJAC has observed October 19 in different ways. This year there will be a commemoration at the NJAC headquarters. Five NJAC detainees during the 1971 SoE are now deceased, Chief Servant Makandal Daaga, Dedan Kimathi, Oroonko Barca, Stanley Antoine and Alvin Adams. Clive Nunez is alive.
We need to remember that in Grenada, tension between factions in the PRG had grown until October 1983 when it became open conflict. Maurice Bishop and others were arrested by their opponents led by Bernard Coard, then rescued by the people. Unfortunately, they were later recaptured and executed.
Bishop died together with Keith Hayling, Evelyn Bullen, Unison Whiteman, Jacqueline Creft, Evelyn Maitland, Norris Bain and Fitzroy Bain.
The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Barbados, Jamaica and Grenada’s Governor-General Paul Scoon appealed to the United States for help. On October 25, US President Ronald Reagan ordered the invasion of Grenada something which he had contemplated because he believed that Grenada’s new international airport with its long runway, would have been used by the Soviets as a waypoint for their aircraft.
When we forget October 19 it means that we have cast aside the labour of our predecessors. Our generation should show them our gratitude.