Twice have I been interrogated by Police and searched at gunpoint. It happened in Trinidad in 1973 and again at Roseau, Dominica in 1981. In each case I was not involved in political demonstration. I had broken no law. I was minding my own business.
It is numbing to face loaded guns and sub-machine guns pointed at you at close range. The terror intensifies after the policemen have gone.
Permit me to re-tell my true story only in the local case.
THE RULE OF LAW
I do so for better information of those who have had no such experience; and to whet the memory of those who have read my story but have long forgotten.
Some have called me radical. I wear the badge humbly, because mine has been a sort of informed radicalism that perhaps should not have been defined as such. So that, for example, I do not ask them to "go", even if in my opinion, the current administration has made some major unforced errors.
At the ordinary level, I will not ask them to leave because they are not occupying my private bedroom. Public office is not a little parcel of land willed to me by my father's hand. At the advanced level, they came in by the rule of law, and should be allowed to go under the rule of law. I believe the country, the region and the international environment shall tolerate no less.
THE WILLIAMS LEGEND
Suppose tomorrow I can announce to the world at large:
"Contrary to my advice, my supporters stampeded into Parliament and put me in power. I have infinitely more talent than those just overthrown. Kindly let my administration draw down the aid moneys earmarked for my country…"
My request would meet no better fate than the letter written by Maurice Bishop to Dr. Eric Williams after Bishop overthrew Gairy in Grenada in 1979. Dr. Williams left the letter unopened; and legend has it that when he died in March 1981 the letter was still unopened.
Bishop took power by the gun. Bishop lost power by the gun in 1983. He was killed by comrades who had taken power with him. He should be a stark warning to anyone who vaguely may consider imitating him.
I informed myself by reading Che Gueverra and others. After reading Che, I concluded that some leaders read, remember what is convenient, and forget all the rest.
Che warned, for example, that you should not attempt to overthrow a government by force, so long as there remains a chance of removing that government by democratic elections, however, imperfect. By the way, I am not implying that there was any such recent attempt.
CYNICISM
My current scepticism - even cynicism - concerning political march (es) to Parliament is tainted by the philosophy of Che and by my own experiences. I suffered, even if I took no part and was not even an innocent bystander in those people's political parade in 1973; and again in 1981.
ATTEMPTED COUP
In 81 the facts were briefly these:
On December 19, there was an attempted coup. People were wounded. People died. A state of emergency was declared. A curfew was put into effect.
For days, production in the country suffered, thanks to the unrest. I would not disobey the emergency regulations or break the curfew. So I decided to close myself inside my office at 21 Hanover Street, and work all night in an effort to meet a deadline.
Late into the night there was a knocking at the door. I enquired who was that. An authoritative voice said it was the Police and asked that I open the door. I obeyed. Several armed men entered. They aimed their guns at me. They did not say in the queen's name to surrender. Strange as it may seem, I knew not one of them: at that time, most of my immediate past life had been spent abroad.
They asked a couple of questions. I said my name, that this was my office, and that I was doing my lawful business.
ACCOUNTING LANGUAGE
The policemen peered at and fingered through some paper in the office. But accounting figures do not suggest the language of coup d'etat, or insurrection. They soon assumed a more humane posture. They left after advising me that a guard at Whitchurch had called and alerted them that there were lights in a neighboring building. I became petrified after their departure, because I then had time to think.
Those were savage times. The officers were human beings; not nuclear - precise Robocops. In such circumstances, a tired, nervous policeman could have shot and killed me by accident!!!
Such trauma has caused some victims to dislike the Police… but not I. In spite of themselves, I reflect on the difficult duties that our women and men "in uniform" must perform daily. It is an awesome responsibility, and I salute them, despite some obvious hiccups.
RELATE TO POLICE
It is in that spirit that I find it easy to relate to the Commissioner, and the position he expressed subsequent to the incidents in the vicinity of Parliament that week. Police work is stressful enough. Let us as a people, jointly and severally, do nothing to aggravate things.
I recall a few months ago that "CONSUMERS AGAINST HIGH UTILITY RATES", CAHUR, led a protest march against CDC/DOMLEC. At some point, the police assumed an anti-riot posture and caused them to end their demonstration.
CHRIST - LIKE RESPONSE
One newsman put his mic in my face and asked if I thought the Police should stop the demonstration. Rightly or wrongly, I sensed a little hypocrisy on the newsman's part, so I paraphrased a response from Christ:
"If the demonstrators had an arrangement with the Police, let each party keep his side of the agreement". My remark was broadcast. I understood later that the leaders of CAHUR apologized to the Police. This is the example I have set.
WHEN THINGS CHANGE
Those in government today must understand that they will be in opposition "tomorrow" and that they will then insist on the right to demonstrate, if they deem it necessary. Those in opposition today must understand that they will be in government "tomorrow" and they will then insist that the police catch criminals and make sure that the law is kept. This is to say, the current opposition will insist on the rule of law.
It follows that I will tolerate any leader who enjoys the support of the majority of elected Parliamentarians. If members cross the floor, too bad for us who elect members who cross the floor. Crossing the floor is legal. It is mob rule that is illegal.
ECONOMIC CRISIS
Some people argue that the past administration had nothing to do with the current crisis. Presumably they left the country with zero national debt, with a massive surplus on visible balance of trade and with a huge budgetary surplus. Not everyone believes that. But all agree that there is currently an economic crisis that must be addressed.
Adventure beckons politicians toward a "BOM SIWO" at government headquarters. But none of them can convince me that the crisis can be resolved without hard work and without pain. Whether the pill is blue, green or red, it shall still be a bitter pill for an ill economy.
TAKE RESPONSIBILITY Opposition leaders are alleged to have used language that incites their followers. Meanwhile, the Prime Minister himself is quoted as having urged his followers to "fight back". Such language is subject to different interpretations.
In the interest of national security, therefore, all leaders and all parties should tone down their rhetoric and cooperate with the Police. I expect too, that they will be prepared to face both the intended and the unintended consequences of their conduct.