By Hudson George
It is not a big surprise why some of my critics are very quick to make personal at me, for saying boldly in my last article, “Eric Gairy led Grenada’s only successful revolution.” However, I am challenging them to prove me wrong with historical constructive written scholarly proof and facts.
Basically, while my critics are wasting their time attacking me for my opinion, pertaining to the former PRG regime, the political “Sore Foot” burst again between Maurice Bishop supporters and RMC/OREL political faction during March month 2019 celebration activities. The two groups are quarrelling for ownership of the 40 years anniversary celebration of Grenada March 13, revolution.
Their attitude of showing some kind of entitlement behavioural pattern, looks as though they really think the Grenadian people will believe that God sent a telephone message from heaven saying, Grenada belongs to them. On the other hand, some of the less diplomatic and ill-discipline arrogant ones within their fold, are roaming the internet Facebook trying to pick fights with opponents of the celebration.
While they wasting their time making negative comments about my opinion, they are not making an effort to write a paragraph on the topic to support their political values, but they foolishly keep on exposing how ignorant they are about Grenada’s history. They prefer to act like “bad-johns” and “Lawah” citizens who are always living with anger and arrogance. However, I have a good message advice for them.
I am advising them to purchase some scholarly books written about Grenada by Grenadian scholars, with information from the period of slavery during the French and British colonial era unto the Eric Gairy GULP political era, so that they will be able to get a better understanding about our present political culture.
In addition, if their intention is to educate younger generation of Grenadians about our history, they supposed make it their duty, to explain the Julian Fedon rebellion as a conflict, whereby two European colonial powers fought against each other to exploit free labour from captive African slaves. They supposed to explain the role and status of mulattoes, who were fighting to gain superiority status over the African slaves within the slave society system.
They supposed go into details and explain what were the causes that led to the Fedon rebellion and why the vast majority of African slaves support Fedon’s rebellion, while another French Creole mulatto named Louis La Grenade joined alliance with the British to crushed the rebellion. Unfortunately, they are using our history as political tools to achieve their political goals.
Therefore, I am advising them to read these three historical scholarly book written by Grenadian intellectuals. The books are as follows: (The role of the Free Coloreds in the Slave Societies of St. Kitts and Grenada, 1763-1833. by Edward L. Cox). (The Gairy Movement, A History of Grenada 1947-1997, by George Griffith). (Belvidere Estate Fedon House, by Herman G. Hall).
I hope that after they read these books, they will be inspired to search for more historical knowledge about Grenada’s political conflicts and stop relying on political propaganda from educated folks, who have personal interest and ambition to create another recycle revolution, with people who have strong family ties to the old oppressive class.
Additionally, as a black person myself, I think it is unfair, when black and brown Grenadian scholars keep on trying to paint Eric Gairy as Grenada’s worse political ruler, by trying to highlight the mongoose gang as the only vigilante group in our political history. I think it is time that young Grenadians should know that the free coloureds in St. George parish had their own vigilante militia groups to protect their mulatto status over black slaves and to track down runaway slaves and punished them.
I think it is time for young Grenadians to know that Louis La Grenada Sr. and his son Louis La. Grenade Jr. were compensated by the British for their role in suppressing slave rebellions and by so doing, they were compensated with money and honours titles by the British. They were able to purchase large acreage of agriculture estates. However, up to this present era of our time, their offspring’s are enjoying the fruits of our ancestors labour. Therefore, I think it is my rights as a Grenadian to give my opinion on the issue and negative comments cannot scare me.
