It was the late Marcus Garvey who said, "A people without knowledge of their history is like a tree without roots." I have to give special commendation to the principals and management of CHOICE FM for introducing shows such as "The Good Old Days" with Walter Morton and Chesley Manners as well as "Heritage Talk" with Sooty B and Faroh Davis. These shows have filled a void for public discussion and dissemination of critical elements of our history of a country and nation. I always try to listen to both of these shows to get an appreciation as to where we have come from and an explanation as to why we are now.
Some time ago the topic of the Christena Disaster was discussed. Still this is not a topic that is readily spoken about. It was only some six years ago when a monument in honour of those who died in the Christena was established that some visible representation of the disaster was established but there is still so much more to know.
The book by Whitman Brown; "The Christena Revisited" is an essential compilation of an important epoch in our history. However I am sure he himself would admit that there is so much more to know about the Christena Disaster. I have heard stories from various people throughout my years but there still needs to be much more documentation of it. I now simply hop on a boat without any thought as to what happened back in August 1970 simply because I was born almost fifteen years later when Caribe Queen was already plying the waters.
Questions that remained unanswered in my mind are "What was the immediate replacement for Christena?" When did the survivors of Christena feel comfortable again to ride on any boat? How was the government able to convince people that it was safe to travel again? Who was it that took the blame for the Christena disaster? Was there ever any commission of inquiry into the sinking of the Christena? How were the people whose parents or family members died adjust to life without them thereafter? Were they ever compensated and if so, why no?
It was not until my church (Gingerland Wesleyan Holiness Church) erected a plaque in honour of those who died on the Christena some years ago that I knew that so many people from our church died on that boat. I wonder how the church functioned the following Sunday. I knew I would hate to be the Pastor. One thing I found interesting was that my fellow Wesleyan and friend Mr. Steadmond Tross had a sister who drowned on the Christena named Marilyn Tross, which is also the name of his wife.
I wonder if he thought that it must be fate when he met her. I am sure that there are many more stories to be told and government and others need to find a way to ensure that the history of the Christena Disaster is properly documented so that every man woman and child who needs to know about it knows that information about it can be found at this place or this website.
Another incident that fascinates me is the July 10 1967 event. If you read the Labour Spokesman, they will tell you that is when the members of PAM tried to illegally overthrow the Government. If you read the Democrat they will give you a totally different story and back it up saying that the court case that resulted, found no evidence to suggest that it was any coup. I need to know what really went down and I think when all is said and done, we will all be better for it. I understand that certain men from Nevis were also arrested as a result of this event.
Unanswered questions to my mind are; What really happened? Who were arrested and on what charge? Is it true that they were found innocent in a court of law? If they were innocent, who were the people behind it? Why were these people arrested in the first place if they were innocent? Was their arrest purely on political grounds and meant to paint any opposition to Labour in a bad light? Were these men really guilty and it was just that the court system failed us? I as well as many others want the answers and I think they should be backed up by indubitable facts devoid of politics. I think we owe it to our people to do that, so that they can know once and for all neutral of politics, what happened.
The last event which I would like more discussion on is how we got independence from Great Britain. I have read many articles and pieces on this. However some questions that I want answered are, "Were the majority people from both St Kitts and Nevis in favour of independence? "Was there any opposition from Britain for our independence?" "Was their any political party opposed to independence of St Kitts and Nevis and what was their reasoning for it? "How was the date for our independence decided?" I was born exactly a week after we got independence so I know very little. I know however that if I search real hard or ask some people a few questions I could find out the answers. However I do not think that is good enough. Information like this should be documented somewhere that locals and tourists alike can go and readily access it whether it be a physical location or a website. Why should I have to call one of our historians when it should already be documented?
We cannot afford for all the knowledge of our past to die with the elders born in the early half of the twentieth century. An important function of every country is to be able to transfer the knowledge of what went before to the present generation. It is that transitional knowledge which ensures there is no vacuum of knowledge for future generations. The Latin Philosopher and Orator was poetic in his oration when he said, 'To be ignorant of what occurred before you were born is to remain always a child." I do not want to remain forever a child. My plea then to all concerned is Tell Me more about my history!
