By Lance Neita, jamaica-gleaner Contributor:
JAMAICA'S 50TH anniversary celebrations next year will bring back poignant memories for those who can remember the exciting events and activities that ushered us into Independence.
The roller-coaster ride climaxed with that heart-stopping moment at midnight, August 5, in the National Stadium, when the British flag was lowered for the last time, to be replaced by the Jamaican flag waving proudly in the breeze.
My generation was witnessing history in the making. Jamaicans who can recall the drama of those final years leading up to Independence will agree this was a period unmatched for the debates, controversies, surprises, triumphs and achievements that distinguished the political landscape.
Consider this, Jamaicans went to the polls five times between 1955 and 1962.
The 1955 general elections were won by the People's National Party (PNP). In 1958, the Federal Elections held in the Caribbean for seats in the fledgling Federal West Indies Parliament, were won in Jamaica by the Jamaica Labour Party (JLP) team. The pendulum swung back to the PNP with the 1959 general elections. The JLP returned the compliment in 1961 by winning the referendum. And on April 11, 1962, the JLP won the general elections. Not bad for a little island that had just earned adult suffrage in 1944.
federation debates
The referendum called on September 19, 1961 to decide whether Jamaica should remain in or pull out of the federation was the defining moment in the sequence of decision-making events unfolding at the start of the 1960s. If you think the Manatt-Coke affair provoked argument you should have been there when the federation debates raged on every street corner across the island.
Federation had long been a dream of Caribbean leaders and the movement had been kickstarted by the British Colonial Office as early as 1947. The union was finally established on January 3, 1958, but not without controversy in Jamaica. One reason was that the headquarters was located in Trinidad, while Norman Manley, who was favoured to become the first prime minister of the region, disappointed many by withdrawing as a candidate for election to the first and only federal parliament.
Fat was added to the fire when Alexander Bustamante, sensing growing disillusionment with federation, and his own chance to recapture the political centre stage, withdrew his members from the parliament in 1960, throwing the issue into disarray.
Against advice, Manley did the statesmanlike thing and called the referendum.
The old war horse 'Busta' jumped at the leash and took on the PNP all over the island in a whirlwind campaign that played on the emotions of persons concerned about leadership from abroad, and burdensome taxation demands on Jamaica.
celebrated in song
Like all national events, the referendum excitement was celebrated in song and poetry. Calypsonian Lord Laro enjoyed hit-parade status with his Referendum Song, "Busta say no, no, no, Federation no, but when I listen Norman Manley say it not so".
The campaign took on a partisan nature with the PNP claiming, "Federation yes, Jamaica yes", and the JLP responding, "Federation no, Jamaica yes."
When the votes were counted, the JLP side had a 35,000 vote majority, prompting the famous comment that night from Trinidad's premier, Eric Williams, "One from 10 is naught". Jamaica's decision to pull out meant that the federation was dead, and Jamaica would go it alone.
Williams must have breathed a sigh of relief. It was said that he treated his colleagues with disdain. Former Gleaner Editor Theodore Sealy recalled in his book on Caribbean leaders that Williams once publicly suggested "let us fix a date to discuss full independence for the federation, and since the prime minister cannot get up early, we can have the meeting at 11 a.m.". Sir Grantley Adams, the PM from Barbados, never forgave him. Williams met his match in Busta who once dismissed him as "that little deaf-ears man from Trinidad", in reference to the hearing aid permanently attached to Williams' ear.
But even as the bells tolled for the federation, they were ringing at Belmont Road, signifying more action to come. The referendum results signalled Independence for Jamaica. And that meant a general election would have to be called to decide on which party would lead the country into Independence.
Comments to columns@gleanerjm.com or lanceneita@hotmail.com.
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