BY

LLOYD NOEL

To be able to truly answer the above question, one must have lived through some years before Nineteen Seventy-four; and must be really objective in one’s outlook without being too partial on any side.

Having been very closely associated with many on both sides of the disturbances that plagued Grenada in the 1973 to 1983 era - and despite all that transpired in that period, and all that happened to me personally in my dealings with those involved on either or all sides - I have managed to always view the happenings with an open and understanding mind set.

It is my considered opinion, however, that quite a lot of individuals had taken one position - in the build-up to the November 18th 1973, to the January 21st and February 7th 1974, and even maintained that position right up to the findings of the Duffus Commission of Inquiry in the said 1974.

Those individuals, after all that had taken place after Duffus, and the General Elections in December 1976, and the overthrow of the Gairy regime in March, 1979 - they changed their outlook, and even changed the strong opinions they held in the build-up to November, 18th 1973.

And I am of the view, that while some changes in outlook were justified - because of what was taking place with arbitrary detentions after March 13th 1979 - the other changes were based on selfish reasoning, because those persons did not get the recognition they were hoping for from those then in authority.

In addition to the above, a whole lot of individuals are mouthing a different position - because of revengeful feelings, vindictiveness, and for one reason or another their refusal, or lack of the Christian-oriented ability, to forgive those who did them wrong - so they are condemning everything from day one.

However, whatever were the feelings of Grenadians in the pre-Independence period, from a purely political stand point, there was no enthusiasm among any sizeable section of the society for Independence as such under Gairy.

And because of the upheavals arising out of the Bloody Sunday incident (18th November 1973) at Bhola’s Junction in Grenville - it could more truthfully be said, that there was almost widespread objections and lack of support for the back-door entry into political Independence that made Eric Gairy our first Prime Minister.

Just over five years after the lowering of the Union Jack Flag on Fort George, and the raising up of the Grenadian Red/Green/Gold Flag on 7th February 1974 - on March 13th 1979, a brand new political ball game for the English-speaking Caribbean, raised its ugly head in Grenada.

The NJM, by force of arms, seized power from Eric Gairy’s GULP and the (PRG) People’s Revolutionary Government was born. There was absolutely no doubt whatsoever, that the very unusual takeover of State Power by the PRG was also very popular - in Grenada and the Caribbean as a whole.

I will maintain for all times, that had my colleagues in control acted differently, and behaved with common sense and practical vision - based on our Caribbean cultural background, as well as our heritage of Christian upbringing, and principles of individual rights and freedoms we had in fact struggled for over the pervious six years - not only Grenada, but the entire Caribbean region would have been a very different place in today’s world. But it was not to be and the rest is history.

During the four and a half years of the “Revo”,the PRG maintained the ties to the Queen in England as the Queen of Grenada, and her representative in Grenada in the person of Sir Paul Scoon as Governor General. How much that helped the PRG cause is a matter of opinion, because the fact is that the Government in St. George’s was far closer to Castro’s Cuba and the Soviet Empire, than the Commonwealth of Nations headed by the same Queen Elizabeth the Second.

And the irony of the so-called Independence existing at the time, was that we were supposedly in control of all our nation’s affairs and answerable to no one - whereas in truth and in fact, our people were in far greater bondage, and oppression, and gross denial of their human rights and freedoms than ever before in our history.

And needless for me to repeat, but I will anyway, everything that took place, or had to take place, in so-called Free Grenada in those dark days - had to receive the sanction of the Cuban Ambassador in Grenada from the 13th March, 1979, Julian Rizzo - who was later considered a failure by Castro, because he did not recognise in advance that the “Revo” was on the road to self-destruction, come October 19th 1983.

From the point of view of gaining freedom from imposed bondage, political detention without charge or trail, and the ever-present threat - that as a people all had to toe the line, keep their mouths shut, unless they were saying “Long live the Revo”, and generally obey and keep on praising their new Masters - Independence really came to Grenadians on the 25th October, 1983, when the self-destruction of the PRG was completed by the U.S-led Military Intervention, and the Rescue Mission led by U.S.A. and Caribbean troops successfully saved Grenadians.

In my opinion, therefore, 25th October, 1983, has far more significance and relevance to us as a people, than 7th February, 1974. So we got a new flag, a national anthem, and we were able to vote as a Sovereign State at the United Nations, the Commonwealth of Nations, or any other world organisation of which we have membership - but what benefits does any of the above bring to our people?

As a tiny tot - mini-state, we are a mere drop in the huge ocean of economic world powers; and except to help States like Japan, who want to continue catching whales to satisfy its people’s passion for that meat - our vote in all those forums is worthless. And even then, the same Japan is only using all those Independent mini-States in CARICOM for the same purpose.

True enough, we got some Fishing Projects financed by the Japanese as payments for our yearly votes; but even though we were consciously selling our pride and better judgment - on the issue of whale meat for food, as opposed to fictitious scientific exploits in catching those animals - we were prepared, as a government, to continue selling those yearly votes against that judgment. Because ours is an Independent Sovereign State, we were free over the years to form alliances with whoever our government in power chose to befriend; whichever country, crooks, or conmen, without checking their credentials.

I would maintain that the government officials really had no need to check anything; the mere fact that those “new friends” were ready and willing to pay “Big Bucks” under the counter, behind the limelight, or in suspicious surroundings or circumstances - that was more than enough due diligence - to tell those officials volumes, if they wanted to hear at all.

And even when we did discover same new friends who had the requisite good standing, and were prepared to and did help us tremendously, like our friends from Taiwan - our wise politicians threw them out shamelessly, and proceeded to embrace their Godless rivals from the Mainland, in very shady and suspicious circumstances.

But I suppose that many would submit, with justification, that the move to further “Left” was simply to complete the trio of so-called progressive States as our government’s political bedfellows - in Cuba, Venezuela and now China.

Despite the obvious blindness, in the outlook of those who control State power in Independent Grenada, I do hope and pray that the ever forgiving Good Lord will somehow save our people - because they are not to be blamed directly for the infractions and short-sightedness of those in authority.

However, as we have to live, or exist, in the real world of a most imbalanced society that we call our homeland - we have to learn to cope with the shortcomings, and without giving up all hope, aspire with the vision of better days ahead - somewhere, some good day.

As one listens to all the nice sounding phrases and speeches from those in authority, and watch our people respond with buying up all kinds of buntings, and jerseys, and different sizes of the flags to display - the impression is conveyed, that the responses are really ways and means of cooling the boiling heat inside, and stiffling the frustration they truly feel.

Thirty-two years after breaking the Colonial ties with Briton, and Twenty-two years after the release from the experiment of Socialism that went very wrong - we are still at the crossroads of uncertainty, not knowing for sure which road to follow, to get away from the pending chaos down the current road.

Now we are at the threshold of another experiment, by the name of the (CSM) Caribbean Single Market - and even before we get on board, and that includes all our OECS Members, there are grave uncertainties as to where we are going and what lies ahead.

Even before any of our CARICOM States, except Haiti, achieved Independence, way back in 1958 - our Colonial politicians were thinking about uniting our Caribbean people as one Economic Nation, with some measure of shared administrative responsibilities.

The West Indies Federation seemed a good idea, just about the time that thousands of Caribbean people, were making their way to England in search of a new beginning towards a new life.

From the short-lived existence of that bold step, it was clear that most West Indian politicians had very different views, about the destiny of the Caribbean people as one Nation - whether politically or economically in one union. And from way back then, the trend was interesting as well as revealing - because on the world stage in cricket, we had a West Indies team that was so united it was second to none for decades.

So those cats mash up the Federation, and the late Eric Williams, Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago, invented his new Maths, by indicating that (1 from 10 = 0) One from Ten leave nought or nothing. And from 1962 onwards, the mad rush to so-called Independence was underway - and today, except for Anguilla, the B.V.I. and Montserrat - all the others in CARICOM are Independent Sovereign States.

And as though the hasty movements to break ties with the mother country, somehow impacted negatively on the only cohesive and united Caribbean way of life - our West Indies Cricket team - that we were all so full of pride and joy in supporting.

To the extent, that for some years now - with all our so-called Independence status being celebrated every year - with the unique exception of the batting genius, Brain Lara from Trinidad and Tobago, our once very outstanding and united West Indies Cricket Team is only a distant memory.

It is against that background, that the second attempt - at the West Indian Unity - in political and economic matters involving the whole region - was inaugurated in Jamaica on Monday 30th January, 2006.

Without any doubts whatsoever, the new regime is bound to take away a great measure of each territory’s independence, or sovereign right to do as it pleases - without recourse or regard for the sovereign rights of its SingleMarket partners. Goods and Services, as well as people and capital, are entitled under the revised Treaty to move freely among the various States in due course of time.

The burning questions beg themselves. Are the politicians ready, willing and prepared, to share the coveted power they control? Have the people been fully informed, so that they understand their role in the scheme of things and the risks involved? Above all else, has anyone taken the time out, to tell the people the score as it is?

I have serious doubts about the answers to every question above. And so to the main issue, and its relevance and importance to us here in little Grenada - I am bound to answer in the negative.

The insularity, and self-interest, and selfishness, in many cases that touch and concern the idea of integration, and unity, and regional co-operation - are still very prevalent and almost entrenched. We need a new breed of political Statesmen and women, to bring about the required changes - to make a difference.