Willi see some issues

[Don1]

Oh I see. I guess I really don't undetstand... as you say

[Exile]

Unlikely. Here's a case. Just needs political will.

The March for Chaguaramas
1956 Trinidad & Tobago was still a British Colony and, as such, had no international status. But responsible government was granted to the ruling 'party' which, among other things, promised to honour existing international treaties. One such treaty, made between the United States and Britain in 1941, had leased Chaguaramas to the US for ninety nine (99) years.


Also in 1956, a provisional constitution had been agreed upon for the projected West Indian Federal Government. A committee appointed to choose a site for this Federation at first rejected Trinidad, but then the committee changed it's mind and chose Chaguaramas as an ideal site. The Governing Party was not impressed with the decision, the the party's paper pointed out there promised to honour treaties. Nevertheless, in 1957 the leader reluctantly agreed to participate as an observer to a UK - US conference on the subject.



A commission appointed by the conference advised, one year later, that the base not be removed and America gleefully declared the issue closed; Britain shrugged that the government " could not reasonably ask the United States Government, to relinquish part of the base". The Federal Government, led by Grantley Adams from Barbados, agreed that the matter should be closed "for say ten (10) years"; The Trinidad Guardian admonished that Australia had waited "long and patiently" for twenty (20) years before establishing it's capital at Canberra. Dr. Williams the leader of the then Governing party declared war on them all: "Our 'base' is the University of Woodford Square, our 'army' is the citizen body; their 'arms' are the banners proclaiming Independence and their placards denouncing colonialism.

Image of march in the rain demanding the return of Chaguaramas

CLR James was installed as the editor of the PNM's paper and he kept up a continuous propaganda barrage against the United States. Williams for his part took it to the people, arguing that the American attitude was a continuation of 450 years of European imperialism. "What progress have we made", he asked on July 17 1959 in one of his finest speeches, "if we have substituted Chaguaramas, the naval base of the twentieth century for Brimstone Hill, military base of the sixteenth century?" For Dr. Williams, and for the people who supported him, the issue was quite simple: No self-governing state, far-less an independent Nation, could tolerate another country having jurisdiction over part of it's territory. National Interest demanded a return of the bases to the government of Trinidad and Tobago, and the leader quoted the words of a calypsonian, "we want back we land."

If the Colonial Office refused to pressure the Americans into negotiating the return of Chaguaramas, then it was obviously because the Britain wasn't serious about granting Independence to the Federation. If the Federation didn't support Dr. Williams on the issue then, Trinidad and Tobago was not going to support any West Indian Federal Government which start off by being a stooge for the Colonial Office. But the real war in Dr. Williams' eyes, was between a continuation of past centuries of poverty and suppression, and self-determination. "The only two alternatives available .. to the people of the West Indies: forward to independence, backward to colonialism."
On April 22, 1960 the Governing party organized a rally. It began with speeches at Woodford Square. The choice of speakers - CLR James, Lennox Pierre, Janet Jagan, all known socialist - was a clear signal to the US: we want Chaguaramas or else. On the platform Dr. Williams ceremoniously burnt the "seven deadly sins of colonialism" 1) 1941 lease agreement, (2) the 1956 Trinidad constitution, (3)the DLP statement on Guyana, (4)the report on the Federal capital site, (5)the telephone ordinance of 1939 and (6)a copy of the Trinidad Guardian. (actually six). And from there, on that day when the rain poured in torrents, tens of thousands marched behind the Doctor to present his demands which were demands too, the US Consulate.

The Trinidad Guardian linked Dr. Williams to Hitler, Albert Gomes called him a "loud-mouthed demagogue", Capildeo thought that talk of independence was "nonsense". But the march in the rain was a vast success. The Colonial Secretary flew to Trinidad to say that Britain needed "no lecturing on the issue", that the West Indian Territories should "hurry up" and take their freedom, and that he would "talk to the Americans." As for them, in the words of US Ambassador John Whitney, "The United States Government was conscious of the aspirations of the West Indians who were taking the road to freedom which Americans themselves took not long ago, and wished therefore to conclude agreements conforming and contributing to those aspirations and acceptable to the people and their political representatives". And by the end of 1960 a settlement was reached between the US and Trinidad & Tobago.

Dr. Eric Williams

The War for Chaguaramas ended in a victory for Trinidad and Tobago: the Americans were forced to the bargaining table and the British were forced to concede full self-government in 1961. But Chaguaramas was also the first nail in the coffin of the West Indian Federation. "We failed miserably," sang the Mighty Sparrow. (calypsonian). In the settlement between the two countries Trinidad And Tobago was short changed: the base was abandoned but the United States facilities were to remain under American control until 1977; Trinidad and Tobago were to be compensated by assistance in various projects to the miserly tune of thirty million dollars (US). "I had certain reservations" , admitted Dr. Williams.

The compromise was also within the party, for the settlement with the Americans had undoubtedly demanded the isolation of leftists in the PNM. In a sense this was the seed of a political pragmatism which in later years would take such a toll on the party's integrity and idealism. Certainly CLR James was only the first in a long list of PNM members who were axed solely because they dared to disagree with Dr. Williams.

As Chaguaramas was a victory for the PNM, they pushed the opposition into the corner of appearing to be against the national interest. And though the DLP clearly contributed to this, it was no less unfortunate that the Indian population became tarred as being "a recalcitrant minority." It was a definition of "the nation" that was both limited and limiting.

American Naval Officers getting their shoe shined by young Trinidadians

And yet, for all of this, the war for Chaguaramas, in many ways the high point of the nationalist movement, formed some of the most positive elements of Trinidad and Tobago nationalism. As CLR James, writing after his resignation for the PNM, put it to the people who marched through the rain on that day: "Despite the fact that the American base at Chaguaramas had brought in more money here that had ever been brought before, when called upon, you answered, and made it clear that, with only a few years partial freedom behind you, you were ready to throw down the gauntlet to the most powerful nation in the world, to assert your rights as a people, to say that Chaguaramas was yours and you were not going to be deprived of it."

It was a war which took an inchoate and purely negative resentment against the American soldiers and transformed it into a positive nationalism which convinced everyone, the British, the Americans, but most importantly it convinced the Trinidadians of their ability to govern themselves.

On this nationalism the Federation foundered, but the movement was never one of Trinidad chauvinism. Rather, Federation was rejected insofar as it did not support each and every West Indian island. It was this radical, Pan Caribbean sentiment which fashioned the outlook of Trinidad and Tobago, an outlook which has always been generous to the other West Indian Islands.

[Exile]

Still unresolved ..

Give us back ChaguaramasGEORGE ALLEYNE Wednesday, September 19 2012
Because a crucial provision of the Treaty of Chaguaramas, under which Chaguaramas was officially returned to Trinidad and Tobago, gives the United States the right to reoccupy the former American naval base in the event that it (the US) perceives its security to be under threat, Government should publish for the benefit of citizens the full terms of the Treaty.
This is necessary in view of successive Governments having spent considerable sums on the development of agricultural farms at Chaguaramas, as well as merely drawing up plans to have the area further developed by both the public and private sectors. In turn, it has long been recognised that Chaguaramas is ideally located, not only to be a key port of entry, but a major shipbuilding centre as well.

Additionally, it has the capacity to be the second most industrial estate in Trinidad and Tobago, outranked only by Point Lisas.

Yet despite these clear pluses Chaguaramas has never achieved its full potential. Chaguaramas, on Trinidad’s North-West peninsula, has the area to accommodate, comfortably, not only a large industrial estate and port and several agricultural farms but housing estates as well as primary, secondary and tertiary institutions.

Chaguaramas’ significance, which has been literally brushed aside for more than four decades, significance in terms of industrial and port development, can no longer be dismissed. Several factors, including the need to be increasingly competitive in the ongoing international financial crisis and the long stated aim to make this country the Financial Capital of the Southern Caribbean, demand this.

Although the United States is our largest export market, with the Caribbean Community of Nations (Caricom) our second largest, the need to take advantage of the rapidly emerging South American market for a needed expansion of our non-energy exports cannot be overlooked.

Already there has been a shift in the burden of our liquefied natural gas exports to the United States on to South America. And while up to a relatively few years ago the US was our largest liquefied natural gas export market, averaging some 72 percent of our annual LNG exports, with the shift to South America, this has today been scaled down to some 25 percent!

Perhaps, at this stage, this column should note for the benefit of some of its younger readers that with respect to the Treaty of Chaguaramas, the area in the North West peninsula along with Waller Field, Carlsen Field and other areas in Trinidad and Tobago had been leased to the United States in 1941 for 99 years, under a Lend-Lease Agreement between the United Kingdom (Trinidad and Tobago was then a British colony) and the US. Under this agreement the UK gave the US the authority to set up naval and other military bases in Trinidad and Tobago, the Bahamas, Bermuda, Guyana, Jamaica and St Lucia in exchange for 50 old destroyers.

Following on post Independence talks with the Americans, a Trinidad and Tobago team led by TT’s first Prime Minister, Dr Eric Williams, reached agreement with the Americans on the return of Chaguaramas and the other military bases in Trinidad and Tobago.

Unfortunately, there was the uncomfortable provision referred to earlier, in which the United States reserved the right to reoccupy Chaguaramas et al in the event it felt its security threatened.

During the discussions, a senior public servant, who was later dubbed the local Mata Hari, was accused of passing information on the PNM Government’s strategy to the Americans. What is important today, however, is that the clearly outrageous provision should be cancelled.

Failing this, the US will have a powerful lever until the year 2040, the official end of the 99-year Lend-Lease Agreement. The reluctance of the then PNM Administration to develop Chaguaramas, what with the proverbial Sword of Damocles overhead, could be noted in the Government’s financing “the drainage of Tucker Valley” in 1974, earmarking Chaguaramas in 1977 for a National Park and the limiting of development there by the previous Administration to agricultural projects. The US should remove the tacit restrictions, which in effect block industrial development of Chaguaramas and let this country after 50 years of independence from the UK enjoy full sovereignty at last.

The world has changed a great deal since 1967. The Soviet Union is now history and repressive measures replaced by glasnost. China is now a major trading partner of the US, urged along by trillions of dollars worth of US investment, while Cuba struggles to be on better social and economic terms. The battles the Americans face in this hemisphere are for increased trade and market share. Let us have Chaguaramas back, fully, in reality and without strings.

[Willi]

Are we talking about Goat islands or the Maroons?

Dont move the goalpost!

[Rockman]

"Understand" is a poor choice of word,factor in..
My bad boss!

[Don1]

Unlikely. Here's a case. Just needs political will.

The March for Chaguaramas
1956 Trinidad & Tobago was still a British Colony and, as such, had no international status. But responsible government was granted to the ruling 'party' which, among other things, promised to honour existing international treaties. One such treaty, made between the United States and Britain in 1941, had leased Chaguaramas to the US for ninety nine (99) years.


Also in 1956, a provisional constitution had been agreed upon for the projected West Indian Federal Government. A committee appointed to choose a site for this Federation at first rejected Trinidad, but then the committee changed it's mind and chose Chaguaramas as an ideal site. The Governing Party was not impressed with the decision, the the party's paper pointed out there promised to honour treaties. Nevertheless, in 1957 the leader reluctantly agreed to participate as an observer to a UK - US conference on the subject.



A commission appointed by the conference advised, one year later, that the base not be removed and America gleefully declared the issue closed; Britain shrugged that the government " could not reasonably ask the United States Government, to relinquish part of the base". The Federal Government, led by Grantley Adams from Barbados, agreed that the matter should be closed "for say ten (10) years"; The Trinidad Guardian admonished that Australia had waited "long and patiently" for twenty (20) years before establishing it's capital at Canberra. Dr. Williams the leader of the then Governing party declared war on them all: "Our 'base' is the University of Woodford Square, our 'army' is the citizen body; their 'arms' are the banners proclaiming Independence and their placards denouncing colonialism.

Image of march in the rain demanding the return of Chaguaramas

CLR James was installed as the editor of the PNM's paper and he kept up a continuous propaganda barrage against the United States. Williams for his part took it to the people, arguing that the American attitude was a continuation of 450 years of European imperialism. "What progress have we made", he asked on July 17 1959 in one of his finest speeches, "if we have substituted Chaguaramas, the naval base of the twentieth century for Brimstone Hill, military base of the sixteenth century?" For Dr. Williams, and for the people who supported him, the issue was quite simple: No self-governing state, far-less an independent Nation, could tolerate another country having jurisdiction over part of it's territory. National Interest demanded a return of the bases to the government of Trinidad and Tobago, and the leader quoted the words of a calypsonian, "we want back we land."

If the Colonial Office refused to pressure the Americans into negotiating the return of Chaguaramas, then it was obviously because the Britain wasn't serious about granting Independence to the Federation. If the Federation didn't support Dr. Williams on the issue then, Trinidad and Tobago was not going to support any West Indian Federal Government which start off by being a stooge for the Colonial Office. But the real war in Dr. Williams' eyes, was between a continuation of past centuries of poverty and suppression, and self-determination. "The only two alternatives available .. to the people of the West Indies: forward to independence, backward to colonialism."
On April 22, 1960 the Governing party organized a rally. It began with speeches at Woodford Square. The choice of speakers - CLR James, Lennox Pierre, Janet Jagan, all known socialist - was a clear signal to the US: we want Chaguaramas or else. On the platform Dr. Williams ceremoniously burnt the "seven deadly sins of colonialism" 1) 1941 lease agreement, (2) the 1956 Trinidad constitution, (3)the DLP statement on Guyana, (4)the report on the Federal capital site, (5)the telephone ordinance of 1939 and (6)a copy of the Trinidad Guardian. (actually six). And from there, on that day when the rain poured in torrents, tens of thousands marched behind the Doctor to present his demands which were demands too, the US Consulate.

The Trinidad Guardian linked Dr. Williams to Hitler, Albert Gomes called him a "loud-mouthed demagogue", Capildeo thought that talk of independence was "nonsense". But the march in the rain was a vast success. The Colonial Secretary flew to Trinidad to say that Britain needed "no lecturing on the issue", that the West Indian Territories should "hurry up" and take their freedom, and that he would "talk to the Americans." As for them, in the words of US Ambassador John Whitney, "The United States Government was conscious of the aspirations of the West Indians who were taking the road to freedom which Americans themselves took not long ago, and wished therefore to conclude agreements conforming and contributing to those aspirations and acceptable to the people and their political representatives". And by the end of 1960 a settlement was reached between the US and Trinidad & Tobago.

Dr. Eric Williams

The War for Chaguaramas ended in a victory for Trinidad and Tobago: the Americans were forced to the bargaining table and the British were forced to concede full self-government in 1961. But Chaguaramas was also the first nail in the coffin of the West Indian Federation. "We failed miserably," sang the Mighty Sparrow. (calypsonian). In the settlement between the two countries Trinidad And Tobago was short changed: the base was abandoned but the United States facilities were to remain under American control until 1977; Trinidad and Tobago were to be compensated by assistance in various projects to the miserly tune of thirty million dollars (US). "I had certain reservations" , admitted Dr. Williams.

The compromise was also within the party, for the settlement with the Americans had undoubtedly demanded the isolation of leftists in the PNM. In a sense this was the seed of a political pragmatism which in later years would take such a toll on the party's integrity and idealism. Certainly CLR James was only the first in a long list of PNM members who were axed solely because they dared to disagree with Dr. Williams.

As Chaguaramas was a victory for the PNM, they pushed the opposition into the corner of appearing to be against the national interest. And though the DLP clearly contributed to this, it was no less unfortunate that the Indian population became tarred as being "a recalcitrant minority." It was a definition of "the nation" that was both limited and limiting.

American Naval Officers getting their shoe shined by young Trinidadians

And yet, for all of this, the war for Chaguaramas, in many ways the high point of the nationalist movement, formed some of the most positive elements of Trinidad and Tobago nationalism. As CLR James, writing after his resignation for the PNM, put it to the people who marched through the rain on that day: "Despite the fact that the American base at Chaguaramas had brought in more money here that had ever been brought before, when called upon, you answered, and made it clear that, with only a few years partial freedom behind you, you were ready to throw down the gauntlet to the most powerful nation in the world, to assert your rights as a people, to say that Chaguaramas was yours and you were not going to be deprived of it."

It was a war which took an inchoate and purely negative resentment against the American soldiers and transformed it into a positive nationalism which convinced everyone, the British, the Americans, but most importantly it convinced the Trinidadians of their ability to govern themselves.

On this nationalism the Federation foundered, but the movement was never one of Trinidad chauvinism. Rather, Federation was rejected insofar as it did not support each and every West Indian island. It was this radical, Pan Caribbean sentiment which fashioned the outlook of Trinidad and Tobago, an outlook which has always been generous to the other West Indian Islands.

Very inneresting!

[Muadib]

The USA would never attempt to hinder China Geo-political strategy in this region..

lol ! woiee !

[Gamma]

uno don ... either yuh a hypochondriac or yuh have some SERIOUS helath issues ... spleen, duodenum, belly, pre-frontal lobe ... bredin yuh is di walking wounded!

[Don1]

The USA would never attempt to hinder China Geo-political strategy in this region..

lol ! woiee !

That's not the point yuteman. The geopolitical objectives of the US are not subservient to Goat Island or any other artificial non-issue

The point is that the US doesn't need a silly issue like a long forgotten treaty with a colonial power to stop Jamaica from dealing with China. If that was the case another plot of land could be used for the development to foil their design

All the United States needs to do is...what they've ALWAYS done. i.e. tell the Jamaican powers that be...NO. DAT NAH GUH WERK. FIGGET BOUT DAT.

So no ridiculous, flimsy, hollow pretext about some irrelevant colonial era arrangement needs to be invoked for Babylon to get its wishes

You should be aware of this geopolitical reality since a certain Chess Master thought he was playing a good game (as per your "prediction" LOL) ...but soon found himself ejected from the game after playing himself into a corner....wooooiiiieee mi Hypothalamus!!

[Don1]

LOL ...wooooiiieee mi...

[Muadib]

Why would the USA NOT invoke their rights given the strategic nature of the proposed port ????

How yuh suh bummy ?!

lol ! woiee !

[Don1]

Probably because the port would also be strategic if it were to be located elsewhere.. i.e. a location the US has no claim on. If it were to be moved...what would the US do then?? Deploy the Marines??? wooiiiee

So it's MUCH more effective to do the Nancy Reagan... JUST SAY NO

Welcome to Geopolitics 101... please pay mi Bursar on yuh way out

[Muadib]

How do you know the USA does not have a plan to leverage their position ?

[Peter R]

...upper GI tract??? LOL

[Peter R]

There are the additional disputes that private citizens have been trying to have resolved as not all of Chaguaramas that was subject to the US lease was crown lands at the time. Some of the land was privately owned. Since the government took back control, (whether it is indeed under full control according to the above article is another story) the land owners have tried to get back their land but to no avail... up to this point. State larceny if you ask me... the least they (TT govt) should do is pay the people for their property.