BLACK POWER ACTIVITIES IN THE BRITISH VIRGIN ISLANDS, DOMINICA. GRENADA, ST. KITTS AND ST. LUCIA
Originator: CIA
Document date: 02/19/1971
Document type: PAPER - TEXTUAL DOCUMENT

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2023 RELEASE UNDER THE PRESIDENT JOHN F. KENNEDY ASSASSINATION RECORDS ACT OF 1992

Intelligence Information Report

Espi

file 18, U.S.C

unouthorized parton is prohibired by low.

in he eid % Do no one the on or Stale on i which in ning

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THIS IS AN INFORMATION REPORT. NOT FINALLY EVALUATED INTELLIGENCE

SECRET

REPORT NO. CS DB: 312/00496-71

DATE DISTR. 19 February 1971

COUNTRY

West Indies

DOI

October - December 1970

SUBJECT.

Black Power Activities in the

British Virgin Islands, Dominica,

Grenada, St. Kitts and

=

St. Lucia

CF file

ACQ

SOURCE

England, London (11 January 1971)

An official British service.

FIELD NO.

OEL> 58,017

The following information is for your background use

only.

It should not be discussed with any foreign

rationals, including the British and Canadians.

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British Virgin Islands

1. Although information received in October 1970 alleged

that a new Black Power

group known as "New World" existed in

the extend the up in the torto ye

and that one chapter had been formed

there has been no confirmation

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

The Black Power movement of Dominica published the

second issue of its magazine "Flambeau" on 21 November.

stressed the importance of moving out of the social,.

economic

and cultural norm to achieve Black identity. British

Service Comment: The popularity of "Flambeau" may be accounted

not so much by acceptance of its Black Power

as by the fact that it offers a different approach to reporting

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from the other Dominica newspapers.) Black Power and

Cuban literature was received during November.

Comment:

CSDB-312/00410-71 reported on the types of

Black Power literature received in Dominica.)

(Headquarters

Grenada

3. Twenty-two nurses

at the General Hospital in

St. George's staged a protest demonstration

against conditions and

of medical supplies.

The Premier and the government reacted strongly

allegations and suspended

those who had protested.

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.

(British Service Comment:

Iccording to newspaper reports, on 15 December

the police

used tear gas to eject a number of nurses and supporters who

had occupied the Ministry of Health, and 21 persons, including

Bishopof

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 Bi s h:0 P,

reported

in CSDB-312/02061-70.)

4.

George

Week es,

president-general of the

Trinidad Oilfield Workers' Trade Union and recently released

detainee, visited Grenada from 29 November to 3 December,

and had

discussions

with Ian

Francis

and Bishop

of

the NAF, with the nurses involved in the dispute,

and with

Michael

Sylvester.

(Headquarters Comment:

is probably identical with the Michael Sylvester,

who is opposed to the government, 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

Health,

5. FitZrOy BEyaD"MOOr

Minister of Education,

and Welfare, and Lee

public Relations

Officer to the Premier, held an

"Educational Forun" on

"Youth and Its Aspirations" during October. Both are

advocates of Black Power.

St. Lucia

6. The St. Lucia government introduced two unpopular

ills into the House of Assembly during November; one vz

a proposed Retirement Allowance and Pensions

Bill for

government ministers and other legislators; and the otaer

was a Teachers Service Commission Bill.

The St. Lucds forta

vehemently attacked the provisions of the Retirement

Allowance and Pensions Bill and ofganized two demonstration

against it.

The bill was not given a-second Ieadiae..

Teachers Service Commission Bill was the cause of "tros

protest by

the Catholic Church authorities-uho suzod 1

demonstration against it on 26 Novembere

-The opport flon

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St. Lucia Labor Party jumped at the chance of criticizing

the government and joined in the religious demonstration.

On 27 November,

demonstration

280 primary school teachers stated a counter-

in favor of the bill.

Forum managed to persuade

both

sides

to have

further discussions,

and as

result,

an amendment acceptable to both was made and the bill was

passed

on 27 November.

7. Field Dissem: None.

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