Charlie Breadfruit - Caribbean History

Charlie Breadfruit

3 minutes of Caribbean History

Episodes

  1. 12/13/2021

    Dame Mary Eugenia Charles - "The Iron Lady of the Caribbean"

    Dame Mary Eugenia Charles was a lawyer and politician who served as Prime Minister of Dominica from 1980 to 1995. She was the country’s first woman lawyer and first Prime Minister to serve in the Caribbean. Eugenia Charles was born on 15 May 1919 in the fishing village of Pointe Michel in Saint Luke Parish, Dominica. She was the daughter of John B. Charles and his wife Josephine. She was the youngest of four children. Her family was considered part of the "coloured bourgeoisie", descendants of free people of color. Her father was a mason who became a wealthy landowner and had business interests in export-import. She attended the Convent High School in Roseau, Dominica which was then the island's only girls' secondary school, as well as St Joseph's Convent in Grenada. Afterward Charles became interested in law while working at the colonial magistrate's court. She worked for many years as assistant to Alastair Forbes. Charles attended the University of Toronto in Canada, receiving her LL.B. in 1947. She then moved to the United Kingdom to attend the London School of Economics, where she earned her LL.M. in 1949. She was a member of the sorority Sigma Gamma Rho. She trained as a barrister at the Inner Temple and was called to the bar in London in 1947. In Dominica, she established a practice specializing in property law. She also worked as a director of the Dominican Cooperative Bank, which had been established by her father, and instituted the country's first student loan scheme. Charles began campaigning in politics during the 1960s against restrictions on press freedom. She was selected to be head of the new Dominica Freedom Party, a broad-based political party comprising diverse opposition groups, which she helped found in 1968. Charles contested the Roseau North seat in the 1970 general election but lost to Patrick John. She was elected to the House of Assembly in the 1975 general election, representing the constituency of Roseau Central and became the opposition leader. When the Dominica Freedom Party won the 1980 elections, Charles became Prime Minister. Also serving as her own foreign affairs and finance and development minister, Charles fought government corruption, attempted to limit tax evasion, and rejected overtures from foreign business interests to legalize casino gambling on the island. She also cultivated close relations with the United States, urging and supporting that country’s invasion of Grenada in 1983. Known as the “Iron Lady of the Caribbean,” she won two additional terms as prime minister, in 1985 and 1990, before retiring when her party was ousted in 1995. She subsequently resumed her law practice. In 1991 Charles was made Dame Commander of the Order of the British Empire (DBE). The reading you just heard is compiled from the Internet by Artificial Intelligence. Check the show notes for the sources and come back tomorrow for another episode. My name is Charlie Breadfruit, I am NFT, Crypto Rasta Number 05374, and this is of course a simulated voice. Welcome to the Metaverse! Sources: Britannica, Wikipedia

    Dame Mary Eugenia Charles - "The Iron Lady of the Caribbean"

  2. 12/10/2021

    US Invasion of Grenada in 1983

    The United States invaded Grenada on 25 October 1983. Codenamed Operation Urgent Fury by the U.S. military, it resulted in military occupation within a few days. It was triggered by the strife within the People's Revolutionary Government, which resulted in the house arrest and execution of the previous leader and second Prime Minister of Grenada Maurice Bishop, as well as the establishment of the Revolutionary Military Council with Hudson Austin as Chairman. The invasion resulted in the appointment of an interim government, followed by elections in 1984. Grenada had gained independence from the United Kingdom in 1974. The communist New Jewel Movement seized power in a coup in 1979, under the command of Maurice Bishop, suspending the constitution and detaining several political prisoners. In September 1983, an internal power struggle began over Bishop's leadership performance. Bishop was pressured at a party meeting to share power with Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard. Bishop initially agreed, but later refused, and he was put under house arrest by his own party's Central Committee. When his secret detention became publicly known, Bishop was freed by an aroused crowd of his supporters. A confrontation then ensued at the military headquarters between Grenadian soldiers loyal to Coard and civilians supporting Bishop. At least 19 soldiers and civilians were killed on 19 October 1983 including Prime Minister Bishop, his partner Jacqueline Creft, two other cabinet ministers, and two union leaders. The Reagan administration in the U.S. launched a military intervention following receipt of a formal appeal for help from the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. In addition, the Governor-General of Grenada, Paul Scoon, secretly signaled he would also support outside intervention, but he put off signing a letter of invitation until 26 October. President Reagan acted due to "concerns over the 600 U.S. medical students on the island" and fears of a repeat of the Iran hostage crisis. The invasion began on the morning of 25 October 1983, just two days after the bombing of the U.S. Marine barracks in Beirut. The invading force consisted of 7 thousand 6 hundred, American troops, along with Jamaican forces and troops from the Regional Security Forces. The force defeated Grenadian resistance after a low-altitude airborne assault by Rangers, and the 82nd Airborne on Point Salines Airport at the south end of the island, and a Marine helicopter and amphibious landing on the north end at Pearls Airport. Austin's military government was deposed and replaced, with Scoon as Governor-General, by an interim advisory council until the 1984 elections. The invasion was criticized by many countries. British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher privately disapproved of the mission and the lack of notice that she received, but she publicly supported it. The United Nations General Assembly condemned it as "a flagrant violation of international law" on 2 November 1983 by a vote of 108 to 9. The date of the invasion is now a national holiday in Grenada, commemorating the freeing of several political prisoners who were subsequently elected to office. A truth and reconciliation commission was launched in 2000 to re-examine some of the controversies of the era; in particular, the commission made an unsuccessful attempt to find Prime Minister Bishop's body, which had been disposed of at Austin's order and never found. Sources: Wikipedia and History.com

  3. 12/09/2021

    Hasely Crawford - Olympic Champion

    Hasely Joachim Crawford (born 16 August 1950) is a former track and field athlete from Trinidad and Tobago. In 1976, he became his country's first Olympic champion Crawford was born in San Fernando, Trinidad and Tobago, one of the eleven children of Lionel Crawford and Phyllis Holder.  He began pursuing athletics at the age of 17, in the schoolyard at San Fernando Boys’ Government School and in his neighborhood, where he discovered his gift for running, emerging victorious against everyone who raced against him. He pursued secondary and post-secondary education at ASJA Boys College and the renowned San Fernando Technical Institute. At the latter, he earned qualifications to be accepted as a special apprentice by the Texaco Oil Company.  Throughout these years, his running slowly career gained momentum and his talent soon earned him an athletics scholarship to Eastern Michigan University in the United States. Hasely Crawford made his international début at the 1970 Commonwealth Games, where he won a bronze medal in the 100 metres. In 1972, he surprisingly qualified for the 100-meter final at the München Olympics, but pulled his hamstring after 20 metres and did not finish. Crawford won a silver in the 100 meters at the 1975 Pan American Games, and as university student, he won the 1975 NCAA 100-meter title. At the 1976 Olympics, Crawford narrowly won the 100-metre final in a time of 10.06, just 0.02 in front of Don Quarrie of Jamaica, winning Trinidad and Tobago’s first Olympic gold medal. Hasely Crawford remained Trinidad and Tobago’s lone Olympic gold medallist for 36 years. No hero in Trinidad and Tobago had ever been accorded greater adulation than Hasely Crawford, the man who won the country’s first Olympic gold medal. In tribute, Crawford received the most unique laurel of all when the country sang, jumped, and danced to five calypso songs composed in his honour. After his athletic career was over, he became the Head of Community Relations, at The National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago. There, Hasely ensured that a number of national sporting, training, and cultural programmes were successfully executed. He was instrumental in the creation of NGC’s ‘Right on Track Programme’, which taught the fundamentals of track and field to young people throughout Trinidad and Tobago. This programme was later introduced in Grenada, St. Vincent, St. Lucia, and Dominica. Hasely has won several accolades, the most prestigious being the nation’s highest award, the Trinity Cross in 1976 and Trinidad and Tobago’s Athlete of the Millennium in 2000. In 1996, Trinidad and Tobago’s National Stadium was officially renamed the Hasely Crawford Stadium. He is a member of the Caribbean Hall of Fame, along with Ato Boldon and Arthur Wint, one of only three track and field athletes to be inducted. Sources: Wikipedia - Hasley Crawford, Olympics.com, and National Gas Company of Trinidad and Tobago

  4. 12/08/2021

    Jennifer Hosten - The 1st Black Miss World

    Jennifer Hosten is a Grenadian radio announcer, development worker, diplomat, author, model, and beauty queen who won the Miss World 1970 contest, representing Grenada. She became the first black woman and the first woman from her country to win the title.  Jennifer's childhood was spent in the heart of the tropics, in Grenada's capital city of St. George, with her parents Lyle and Phyllis Hosten, as well as her four siblings. These years proved to shape Jennifer's character although not much is known of her early life. In 1970, at age 23, Jennifer represented Grenada at the Miss World Contest in London and ended up winning the competition. The popular event was seen by over 100 million viewers around the world (more than the moon landing and Football World Cup, with a few factors making it particularly memorable. For one, Jennifer was the first woman of colour to take the title. However, the contest was also held when the anti-apartheid movement was at its height, resulting in South Africa sending two representatives to the contest - one black and one white. Furthermore, the then newly formed Women’s Liberation Movement stated the event was an affront to women and protested the proceedings, famously disrupting the performance of American comedian Bob Hope.  And finally, the actual contest had been controversial even before the results had been announced as allegations were made about the influence of the Prime Minister of Grenada, who was on the judging panel. These moments were forever immortalized in the 2020 movie, Misbehaviour.  As Miss World, Jennifer traveled to Vietnam and the far East, entertaining US troops with Bob Hope and other celebrities. Her travels took her around the world several times. Notable tours were New Zealand and Australia. She also visited Europe, Africa, USA, and South America. She returned to university as an adult and now has two master’s degrees, one in political science from which she had practical experience from her time as a diplomat, and one in psychotherapy from which she was able to draw on personal experience. With a personal interest in the topic, Jennifer published the book 'The Effect of a North American Free Trade Agreement on the Commonwealth Caribbean'. It was the first of three books that she would write. Always one to test boundaries and take opportunities as they come, Jennifer has tried her hand at many different disciplines - more notably working in broadcasting, serving as Grenada's High Commissioner to Canada, working as a Canadian diplomat to Bangladesh, becoming a technical adviser on trade to the St Lucia-based Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and owning her own business.  Throughout her career Jennifer has been motivated by a desire to help people, whether through aiding greater communication between different parties or through supporting personal development. She recognizes that her experience opened doors and opportunities, but since winning the Miss World title in 1970 she has been motivated to learn and grow professionally and hopes her sense of adventure and love of knowledge can inspire her grandchildren. Sources: JenniferHosten.com, Wikipedia - Jennifer Hosten

  5. 12/07/2021

    Sir Vivian Richards - The Cricket GOAT

    Sir Isaac Vivian Alexander Richards KNH, OBE is an Antiguan retired cricketer who led the West Indies Cricket team, and he is regarded as one of the greatest batsmen of all time.  The name Viv Richards is often associated with his destructive batting style. Aggressive batting was not a very common sight in the 1970s and 80s, but the term aggression is an understatement when it comes to describing Viv’s batting. Devastating would be a better term. Richards was born to Malcolm and Gretel Richards in St. John's, Antigua, then part of the British Leeward Islands. He attended St. John's Boys Primary School and then Antigua Grammar Secondary School on a scholarship.  Richards discovered cricket at a young age. His brothers, Mervyn and Donald, both played the game, representing Antigua as amateurs, and they encouraged him to play. The young Viv initially practised with his father and Pat Evanson, a neighbour and family friend, who had captained the Antigua side. Richards left school aged 18, and worked at D'Arcy's Bar and Restaurant in St. John's. He joined St. John's Cricket Club and the owner of the restaurant where he worked, D'Arcy Williams, provided him with a new uniform, gloves, pads and a bat. He never wore a helmet, just a cap. He would slowly walk into the crease accompanied by huge cheers from the crowd, who demanded nothing but entertainment from him, and entertain he did! The best bowlers from across the globe were reduced to mere bowling machines and the fielders to ball-boys who would run to the fence and fetch the ball. Richards made his Test match debut for the West Indian cricket team in 1974 against India in Bangalore. He made an unbeaten 192 in the second Test of the same series in New Delhi. The West Indies saw him as a strong opener, and he kept his profile up in the early years of his promising career. In 1975 Richards helped the West Indies to win the inaugural Cricket World Cup final, a feat he later described as the most memorable of his career. The West Indies were again able to win the following World Cup in 1979, thanks to a Richards century in the final at Lord's, and Richards believes that on both occasions, despite internal island divisions, the Caribbean came together.  1976 was perhaps Richards' finest year: he scored 1710 runs, with seven centuries in 11 Tests. This achievement is all the more remarkable considering he missed the second Test at Lord's after contracting glandular fever; yet he returned to score his career-best 291 at the Oval later in the summer. This tally stood as the world record for most Test runs by a batsman in a single calendar year for the next 30 years. The name Viv Richards is often associated with his destructive batting style (and rightly so), but not many remember him as one of the best captains for West Indies. In the period between 1984 and 1991, when he was the captain for 50 Tests, West Indies never lost even a single series. He was also widely respected for refusing a blank-cheque offer to play for the rebel West Indies tour to South Africa during the Apartheid period in 1983-84. Richards also played County cricket in England for the Somerset team. He is one of the 4 non-English batsmen to make 100 first class centuries. In 2000, he was named as one of the 5 Wisden Cricketers of the Century. Sources: Wikipedia, Cricket Buzz

    Sir Vivian Richards - The Cricket GOAT

  6. 12/06/2021

    Sir Arthur Lewis - Nobel Prize Winner

    Sir William Arthur Lewis was a Saint Lucian economist and Professor of Political Economy at Princeton University. Lewis is known for his contributions in the field of economic development for which he was awarded the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1979. These are his words: "I was born in St. Lucia on January 23, 1915. My parents, who were both schoolteachers, had immigrated there from Antigua about a dozen years before. The islands were dissimilar in religion and culture, so our family had some slight characteristics of immigrant minorities. When I was seven, I had to stay home for several weeks because of some ailment, whereupon my father elected to teach me, so that I should not fall behind. In fact, he taught me in three months as much as the school taught in two years, so, on returning to school, I was shifted from grade 4 to grade 6. The rest of my school life and early working life, up to age 18, was spent with fellow students or workers two or three years older than I. This gave me a terrible sense of physical inferiority, as well as an understanding that high marks are not everything. I left school at 14, having completed the curriculum, and went to work as a clerk in the civil service for four years.  In 1932 I sat the examination for a St. Lucia government scholarship to a British university and won. At this point I did not know what to do with my life. The British government imposed a colour bar in its colonies, so young blacks went in only for law or medicine, where they could make a living without government support. I did not want to be a lawyer or a doctor. I wanted to be an engineer, but this seemed pointless since neither the government nor the white firms would employ a black engineer. Eventually I decided to study business administration, planning to return to St. Lucia for a job in the municipal service or in private trade. I would simultaneously study law to fall back on if nothing administrative turned up. So, I went to the London School of Economics to do the Bachelor of Commerce degree which offered accounting, business management, commercial law as well as  a little statistics and economics. I had no idea in 1933 what economics was, but I did well in the subject from the start, and when I graduated in 1937 with first class honours, the school gave me a scholarship to do a Ph.D. in Industrial Economics." Lewis’ most famous work is referred to as the Lewis model and it explains the growth of a developing economy in terms of a labour transition between two sectors, the capitalist sector and the subsistence sector.  This is how Lewis describes the moment he conceived the concept. "One day in August 1952, walking down the road in Bangkok, it came to me suddenly that both problems have the same solution. Throw away the neoclassical assumption that the quantity of labour is fixed. An “unlimited supply of labour” will keep wages down, producing cheap coffee in the first case and high profits in the second case. The result is a dual (national or world) economy, where one part is a reservoir of cheap labour for the other. The unlimited supply of labour derives ultimately from population pressure, so it is a phase in the demographic cycle." Lewis’ work continues to be debated to this day and he is commemorated on the Eastern Caribbean $100 bill for his contributions to the region.

  7. 12/03/2021

    Mia Mottley - The most influential Caribbean politician of the 21st Century

    The Honourable Mia Amor Mottley, Q.C., M.P., is a Barbadian politician, attorney, and leader of the Barbados Labour Party (BLP). She became eighth and first female Prime Minister of Barbados on May 25, 2018. She is also first Barbadian prime minister under a republic system, in which the Queen of England was removed as the Head of State of Barbados. Mottley has been the Member of Parliament for the constituency of Saint Michael Northeast since 1994. From 1994 to 2008, she held a succession of ministerial portfolios including the post of Attorney-General of Barbados from 2001 to 2008, becoming the first woman to be appointed as such. She was also one of the youngest persons ever to be assigned a ministerial portfolio, serving as Minister of Education, Youth Affairs and Culture from 1994 to 2001. In 2002, she became a member of the Local Privy Council, and she was also admitted to the Inner Bar, becoming the youngest ever Queens Counsel in Barbados. Mottley was twice the Leader of the Opposition in the House of Assembly of Barbados, first from 2008 to 2010 then from 2013 to 2018. In 2018, the Mottley-led BLP won a historic landslide victory in the general election, securing all 30 seats in the House, making them the first party to accomplish this feat, in addition to winning 72.8% of the popular vote, which is the highest share ever achieved by a party in a Barbados general election. Mottley is the granddaughter of Ernest Deighton Mottley (1907–1973), a real estate broker and successful politician particularly at the parish level. He was the first Mayor of Bridgetown (1959), representing Bridgetown in the House of Assembly from 1946. Mottley's father Elliott Deighton Mottley was a barrister who sat in the House of Assembly for a relatively short time, vacating the seat to become consul-general in New York. He once served as Bermuda's attorney-general and sits on the Court of Appeal of Belize. He married Mia's mother Santa Amor Tappin in December 1967, three years after being called to the Bar, and was elected to represent Bridgetown in May 1969. In 2019, Mottley's father Elliott Mottley received knighthood on the nomination of the Barbadian government. Mottley first addressed the United Nations General Assembly in 2019 with a 39-minute speech centered around climate change and its effects on Caribbean nations, and more recently, in 2021 she shared a short speech to support the warnings from UN Secretary-General António Guterres, that the world is moving in the wrong direction. She threw away her original script and instead gave a passionate presentation in which she called for global, moral leadership in the fight against climate change, economic and technological inequality, racism, and the unfair distribution of COVID-19 vaccines. In a September 2020 speech, Mottley announced a plan to abolish the Barbados monarchy, removing Britain’s sovereign Queen Elizabeth II as the country's head of state, making Barbados a republic. She argued that after over 54 years of independence, it was time for Barbados to fully leave its colonial past behind. Under her proposal, the country would retain a parliamentary system, with a mostly ceremonial president as head of state. This goal was completed on 30 November 2021, the 55th anniversary of the country's independence. Mia Mottley will forever be known as the most influential Caribbean politician of the 21st century.

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