(100610177) ee | COUNTRY West Indies CM NO MO co . 2 ‘ ° Intelligence Information Report This moterial conteins™ information effecting the Heticeal Defense of the United States within the mooning us Gaawe 1 ef the Espionsge lows, Title 18, U.S.C. Secs. 793 and 794, the transmission or revelation of which in eny + Rachodied topes emtemnatis manner fo on unauthorised person is prohibited by law, . . dsonagroting amd ddaantinnths : ~ NO FOREIGN DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/ DIRECTORATS FOR BACKGROUND USE ONLY PAGE 1 OF 3 PAGES THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT, NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE SECRET | : REPORT NO, CS DB=312/00496~71 DATE DISTR. +19 February 1971 ADO! | October - December 1970 . @ f SUBJECT | Black Power Activities in the ~/ ~ British Virgin Islands, Dominica, _ Grenada, St. Kitts and St. Lucia | CE (he . England, London (11 January 1971) FIELD NO. OEL>58 ,017 a \ The following information is for your background use only. It should not be discussed with any foreign tilationals, including the British and Canadians. British Virgin Islands ‘' |. Although information received in October 1970 alleged ‘that a new Black Power group known as "New World" existed in the U.S. Virgin Islands, and that one chapter had been formed ~in the:British Virgin Islands, there has been no confirmation of the existence of the group in either territory. Black ~ Power sympathizers undoubtedly exist in the British Virgin Islands, but there is no reliable evidence so far that they ‘have organized themselves into a cohesive group to challenge the present administration. : Dominica 2. The Black Power movement of Dominica .published the second issue of its magazine "Flambeau" on 21 November. It _. Stressed the importance of moving out of the s nomic ‘and cultural: norm to achieve Black identity. < .<L_____|}Comment: The popularity of "Flambeau" may be accounted for not so much by acceptance of its Black Power ideology, as by the fact that it offers a different approach to reporting ot BACKGROUND USE ONLY . : oy . a 7 _{elassification) idiasem contrals} L. ot Pubie Pater [State [ora | ARMY [NAVY | AiR | NSA [ces | (For Field Distribution see final peregraph) 5 e .- . as 4 S EC R E T/NO FOREIGN DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/ 3 i 2 1 ‘ A i, 5 LD he 2 at RR st evans JE 2, CI 7, FI 3, CA 2, EUR 4 (1), Ciawon eee __WH 4 (1). DO 1. il
14-00000 oD PAGE 2 OF 3 PAGES cs DB-312/00496-71 --§ ECR E T/NO FOREIGN DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/ os BACKGROUND USE ONLY ; & from the other Dominica newspapers.) Black Power and Cuban literature was received during November. (Headquarters Comment: CSDB-312/00410—-71 reported on the types of Black Power literature received in Dominica.) Grenada 3. Twenty-two nurses at the General Hospital in St. George's staged a protest demonstration on 7 November against conditions and the shortage of medical supplies. The Premier and the government reacted strongly to the allegations and suspended those who had protested. The opposition Grenada National Party and the Black Power organization, National Action Front (NAF), held meetings in support of the nurses. The nurses' dispute continued to escalate during December. | Comment: . According to newspaper reports, on Io December, the police used tear gas to eject a number of nurses and supporters who had occupied the Ministry of Health, and 24 persons, including Morris Bis hop of the NAF, were arrested and charged with assembling to commit riot.) A number of nurses: were charged on 16 December with assaulting the matron and assistant matron of the hospital by imprisoning them in. “the matron's office. (Headquarters Comment: Morris Bishop may be identical with Maurice Bishop, reported in _ CSDB-312/00419-71 and/or Michael Bis h::o p, reported in CSDB-312/02061-70.) . 4. George Weekes, president-general of the -,  ‘frinidad Oilfield Workers' Trade Union and recently released detainee, visited Grenada from 29 November to 3 December, and had discussions with Ian Franeis and Bishop of the NAF,with the nurses involved in the dispute, and with Michael Sylvester. (Headquarters Comment: Sylvester is probably identical with the Michael Sylvester, a lawyer who is opposed to the goyernmént, reported in CSDB-312/01656~70.) Patrick Emmanuel, Grenadian lecturer at the - University of,the West Indies, St. Augustine campus, and detainee during the spring 1970 state of emergency in Trinidad, visited Grenada during November and had discussions with . Francis and other Black Power advocates. St. Kitts — ot ee 5. Fitzroy Bryant, Minister of Education, Health, and Welfare, and Lee Moor e,. Public Relations ‘Officer to the Premier, held an "Educational Forum" on "Youth and Its Aspirations" during October. Both are advocates of Black Power, . ele St. Lucia 6. The St. Lucia government introduced two unpopular ~~. bills into the House of Assembly during November; one was - a proposed Retirement Allowance and Pensions Bill for’. te government ministers and other legislators, and the other - - was a Teachers Service Commission Bill. The 5t- Lucia - vehemently attacked the provisions of ‘thesRetireene atioed = ’ Allowance and Pensions Bill and organized. two sading.... 722 ' _ against it. The bill was not given a-second = of stroeag. -. -Teachers Service Commission Bill was the: cae staged & protest by the Catholic Church authorities, opposition -. demonstration against it on 26 Novembe _ - s°E G R_E T/NO FOREIGN DISSEM/coNTROLLED. es BACKERAESD OSH ONLY
PAGE 3 OF 3 PAGES cs DB~312/66 496.71 8. E c R E 1/X0 FOREIGN. DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/ ae BACKGROUND USE ONLY ‘St. Lucia Labor Party jumped at the chance of criticizing _ the government and joined in the religious demaqnstration. On 27 November, 280 primary school teachers stated a counter- demonstration in favor of the bill. Forum managed to persuade ‘both sides to have further discussions, and as a sesult, an amendment acceptable to both was made and the bill was ‘passed on 27 November. 7. -Field Dissem: None. ‘§ E Cc R E T/NO FOREIGN DISSEM/CONTROLLED DISSEM/NO DISSEM ABROAD/ BACKGROUND USE ONLY none , oS Oh