The Other Side Of Milton Cato National Hero?

This issue of the treatment of Calypsonians was one taken up by FREEDOM, particularly in 1978.

Its issue of July 7, 1978”

“Age’s 1978 Calypsoes- Dey Go Ban it” and “In the Ghetto” “Calypso King to be fired?”

“…So now the government has a bigger problem and is in an even more embarrassing position.

For we have a situation where the Calypso King is not being heard on radio. Of his five top calypsos this year only the lighthearted ‘Soca’ and once in a while “In the Ghetto” are being heard on radio… Last year Age’s “Spectacles” was also banned hence his “Dey Go Ban It”, a tune which he himself put it “is already banned.”

But the authorities are not satisfied with the banning. They realise quite well as Age told them “dey could ban my calypsos but they can’t ban me”, they are therefore out to pressure him to kill his manhood to make him crawl at the feet of the “strongest government in the world.”

…We have got to be on our guard and stand prepared to defend the new King of Calypso- the People’s Calypsonian. We have got to let the Cato government know that the mass of people are solidly behind D Man Age and are prepared to fight to maintain our democratic rights. It was Professor who reminded us that “Since this Piggy government take over here, injustice rules…”.

In its July 27, 1978 issue, it again dealt with the Calypso under a caption entitled “Calypso King under Pressure”.

It noted that the authorities tried to get him to change some of the words of his song on the Sunday morning of the Finals.

“…Government’s attitude towards the new Calypso King was further revealed when the Ministry of Home Affairs and Tourism last week announced a string of special prizes for some calypsonians. Not one went to the King neither were any given to young promising calypsonians Producer (St.Vincent Could Move On) nor Exposer (Right Thinking) who sang two of the most constructive calypsos heard this season. It became clear then that government was playing politricks with the calypsonians. The aim is clear and must be realised by all calypsonians, one to divide you to tone down the progressive calypsos…”.

On January 5, 1979, a piece appeared around Age and Scakes who were going to Trinidad; “…The two calypsonians are both teachers and requested no pay leave for their two month stint in Trinidad. FREEDOM understands that attempts were made to create some bureaucratic problems for D MAN AGE…”.

On one occasion when Age was invited to Antigua the authorities tried to get them to agree to have instead another calypsonian.

The Good Old Days- Were they?

THE 1971 PUBLIC SERVICE ACT

The 1971 Public Service Act was seen as an attempt to muzzle public servants. The Act reads as follows:

“NO PUBLIC OFFICER MAY

Act as editor of any newspaper, magazine or periodical or take part directly or indirectly in the management thereof:

Contribute to whether anonymously or otherwise or publish in any newspaper, magazine or periodical or other medium of information or cause to be published in any manner in St. Vincent or elsewhere, anything which may reasonably be regarded as information or expression of opinion on any matter of a political or administrative nature.

Allow himself to be interviewed on any question of public policy or any matter of a political or administrative nature or on matters affecting the administration or the security of any state or territory.

Speak in public or broadcast in any way on a matter which may reasonably be regarded as of a political nature.

Take active part in any public meeting at which any speech on a matter of a political or administrative nature is made.

Speak or vote at a public meeting organised by a Trade Union, the objects of which are wholly or in part political; Hold office in a Trade Union the objects of which Trade Union are wholly or in part political.

Act as agent, sub-agent or canvasser on behalf of any party or candidate in respect of any election to the House of Assembly.” (The Tree, June 9, 1978).

There was immediate action to this Bill. Petitions signed by a number of organisations, the Educational Forum of the People, the Young Socialist Group, the Civil Service Association, the St. Vincent Workers’ Union, the National Youth Council and others called on Government to withdraw the proposed bill or at least to allow amendments. Some amendments were made but ones that did not affect the nature of the Bill.

The Vincentian newspaper had come out strongly against what it considered an attempt to create ‘a police state’.

“The essence of aids to good government is criticism, in many cases, analytical criticism. In small countries such as ours, the best brains lie largely in the public service. It is the service which offers the best terms and conditions of service, so that by and large, those who get the best results in the schools are siphoned off to the Civil Service. Where there is the criticism to come from if these are forced to shut their mouths. The removal of the Act is now imperative if we are to enjoy a participatory democracy in Independence.” (Quoted in the FORUM, April 28, 1978) (To Be Continued)

• Dr Adrian Fraser is a social commentator and historian