Inspired by her Montserrat upbringing, Thelma Gage pens first book ‘Join Me In The Break’

May 10, 2020

As a young girl growing up in Montserrat, Thelma Gage immersed herself in books. First it was the Hardy Boys-Nancy Drew mysteries and the Bobbsey Twins. She would check out five books (the maximum allowed) from the public library and read them in one night. The librarian would be stunned when the 11-year-old returned the following day to check out five more.

Over the years Thelma’s hobby has not waned. Biographies, novels, prayer books, fiction, non-fiction. She has consumed them all. She estimates that she has read more than 500 books.

And now, for the first time, she has finally written one.

Join Me In The Break, which Thelma describes as a compilation of short readings that present a spiritual perspective on every-day incidents, was published March 31, 2020. The Christian devotional book, whose aim is personal growth and spiritual formation, chronicles common life occurrences and explains how each has a divine connection.

“I have other people’s books. Now they can have mine,” Thelma says proudly. “I hope this can be my legacy to the world.”

EARLY LIFE

Thelma grew up in a devout Seventh Day Adventist home. Her father was an Elder in the church and took his position very seriously. So starting at age 5, Thelma had to read daily devotionals during family worship. Those readings not only fortified her faith, they honed her reading skills and vocabulary. She learned to enunciate by focusing on every syllable of a word. So by the time she started school she wielded a distinct advantage over her classmates.

“They were teaching us that A is for apple, B is for bat, C is for cat,” she says. “I used to get in trouble because I was so bored in school.”

The teachers realized Thelma was advanced, so they promoted her several times. “By the time I was 10 years old I was in Standard 7 with the school-leavers.”

Thelma’s story actually began in London. She was the eldest of four children born to Montserrat immigrants John “George” Gage and Sarah Gage (nee’ Irish). The couple migrated to Britain during the height of the Caribbean exodus in the 1950s. But after enduring housing and logistical challenges, the Gages returned to Montserrat in 1964. They lived in Cork Hill at the home of Mr. Gage’s now-deceased parents.

Thelma attended Cork Hill Primary School and the Montserrat Secondary School, where her love for reading evolved. She became hooked on medical detective novels. That encouraged her to study nursing and other aspects of health, a career that has spanned almost 40 years and seen her practice in Montserrat, Britain and Anguilla. She is certified in Health Service Management – among other ancillary fields – and holds a Masters of Business Administration. She is also a qualified midwife.

In the 1980s, Thelma got married and returned to England with her husband as both pursued career opportunities. Thelma registered with the General Nursing Council (now the Nursing & Midwifery Council) before going on to train and work as a Health Visitor – supporting families in the community. Less than a decade later the couple returned to Montserrat. Thelma served as Health Services Manager at Glendon Hospital and oversaw the facility’s relocation from Plymouth to St. John’s during the volcanic crisis that began in 1995. She later accepted a role of Health Services Administrator in Anguilla. By this time her marriage had ended. When her contract in Anguilla expired she returned to England and settled in Milton Keynes, about 50 miles northwest of London, and resumed health visiting. She has resided there ever since.

Thelma progressed to managerial roles, including practice education. She continues to work in the National Health Service as a specialist practitioner for safeguarding children. She commutes to London to help take care of her elderly mother, who is a double amputee (Thelma’s father passed away in 2010).

*A look at the cover of Thelma Gage’s first book.* CLICK HERE *to purchase a copy of ‘Join Me In The Break’.*

‘OPEN OUR SPIRITUAL EYES’

Throughout her career, travels and education, the one constant in Thelma’s life has been faith. She frequently quotes Bible scriptures and recites Bible stories as if the material is second nature. Spirituality transcends every aspect of her existence and is also a vital component in her work.

“As a nurse we get taught that health is a state of physical, social, mental and spiritual well-being,” she says. “But I notice we don’t do the spiritual part unless someone is near death’s door. We need to open our spiritual eyes.”

Thelma says the objective behind her first publication is more conversation than conversion. But if she can help someone form a relationship with God, it’ll be a bonus. She says the premise of the book is forming “a connection between the mundane and the divine.”

She also wants to reinforce that the book is not targeted only toward people of faith. “I suppose a person of faith will have some understanding of the background and Biblical content,” she says, “but I use instances that all people can relate to.”

“As a nurse we get taught that health is a state of physical, social, mental and spiritual well-being. But I notice we don’t do the spiritual part unless someone is near death’s door. We need to open our spiritual eyes.”

One subject that is covered is “Bargains and Promises” – the common concept where people make promises to others or to the Almighty when they are faced with an emergency. Most people end up breaking those promises. Thelma gives examples and explains the consequences of promises.

FAITH AND COVID-19

Despite her deep faith, Thelma acknowledges that being spiritual and being wise should never be mutually exclusive. A popular American pastor recently flouted social-distancing laws amid the COVID-19 pandemic and held a church service, stating that the Lord would protect him. The pastor later contracted the virus and died, and several members of his family also fell ill.

“There’s faith and there’s folly,” Thelma says. “The same God you’re preaching about gave man the wisdom to identify disease and give instruction on how to stay well. I don’t wish anyone ill will but that is the height of folly.”

Although she is no longer on the front line, she has a profound appreciation for what practicing nurses have endured amid the pandemic.

“If I didn’t have to take care of my mother I would definitely be still working in the field,” she says. “But I can’t compromise her. I’m glad I don’t have to make that choice.”

Thelma Gage, the intrepid, outspoken little girl from Cork Hill, has achieved many academic and career accolades. She admits that her life may have been different if her parents had stayed in England, but she cherishes her upbringing in Montserrat and the life skills she learned growing up there, as well as the ability to appreciate and value the little things in life. She has dedicated her life to public service. And as for her book, she has dedicated it to the two people responsible for her journey: her parents, John and Sarah Gage.

“I’ve seen how God has rewarded their faith,” Thelma says of her parents. “They lived by what they believed, and that has shaped my appreciation for things spiritual.”

*Thelma and her parents, Sarah and John “George” Gage in 2009.*

CLICK HERE to purchase a copy of Join Me In The Break.

One blessing for this Easter: Housebound I am baking my favorite treats – hot cross buns

ANDREW J. SKERRITT

April 12, 2020

After years of purchasing hot cross buns, Andrew Skerritt baked his own batch while housebound during COVID-19.

COVID-19 and the subsequent enforced home confinement has stimulated my desire to bake again. While the coronavirus pandemic has closed many churches to the religious rituals of Lent, staying home has opened the door to baking and feasting on my favorite treats for Easter – hot cross buns. Those lightly sweetened and glazed mini-buns with white crosses on top.

In the three weeks since I have started working from home, I have consumed three packs of quick-rise yeast, 10 pounds of flour, all the brown sugar in my cupboard and much of my other ingredients. The sales of yeast jumped 457 percent over last year for the week ending March 28. I take some credit. I have my receipts.

The approach of Easter is one of my favorite culinary times of the year. Easter reminds me it’s time for hot cross buns. The treats of buns with icing on top and chock full of the currants, dried fruits and raisins have done more than spike my blood sugar levels. The delight rests somewhere between sensory and memory, taste and fulfillment.

I am unsure if my fascination with the lenten season mini buns came from the British nursery rhymes I grew up with. A childhood in a West Indian colony means importing so much of English culture – London bridge is falling down. Guy Fawkes night.

Hot cross buns!

One ha’ penny, two ha’ penny,

Hot cross buns!

The mini buns with the cross of icing originated, according to lore, from a 12th century Anglican monk.

Much of that fascination got lost for decades until I moved to New Jersey. My newspaper office in Freehold, New Jersey, was within walking distance of Freedman’s bakery downtown. Among its treats were my old favorite Easter-season snacks.

But their baked goods, I soon discovered, were nothing like those sold by Delicious Orchards in Colts Neck, New Jersey. During my lunch hour, I’d drive 20 minutes each way to the town in horse-country that boasted 10-acre zoning and a strong dislike for street lights. I’d buy half a dozen hot cross buns, still warm and sticky to the touch.

I’d sit in my sky-blue GEO Prizm and savor my hot cross buns listening to NPR on my car radio. Those moments of culinary delight flavored my spring days and brought back fond memories of island life. My grandmother was a skilled baker of raisin buns, but she baked no hot cross buns.

*A look at the buns before the “hot cross” has been added.*

My nomadic journalistic existence eventually put too many miles between me and Delicious Orchards. But over the years, I fantasized about ordering their treats by mail. The approach of each Easter made me yearn for those specific sweet confections.

While living in South Carolina, the absence of a decent neighborhood bakery and the dearth of fresh-baked sandwich bread pushed me to learn to bake. After a two-hour 4-H class, I could make loaves. As I kneaded the bread on my kitchen countertop, I could feel the spirit of my grandmother hover over me, inhabit my muscles as I pinch and press the dough as expertly as if I had done so all of my life.

For years, I baked white bread loaves but no buns. I even graduated to baking cream cheese pound cakes, but no buns. Not until I received a Southern Living magazine with an easy to follow recipe.

My home by then was Tampa, which while boasting some of the best guava pastries and Cuba loaves, just didn’t value mini-buns with icing buns as highly.

Southern Living Magazine, a sort of Dixie cultural bible, published a recipe with the sort of photos that made me want to eat the pages. It compelled me to test my bread making skills on making buns. Mixed fruits for hot cross buns are seasonal. You can’t buy them any time of the year. But I found them along with brown sugar, yeast, flour, milk, butter, lots of cinnamon and icing sugar for the crosses on top.

Sadly, for the last decade or so, I’ve relied on my local supermarket bakery for hot cross buns. A half a dozen buns usually cost less than $4. That’s value for the pleasure of my favorite treat. For years, I had no passion to bake my own hot cross buns.

Until this spring. Until COVID-19 made me housebound, until working remotely increased my hunger for snacks – beyond nuts, fruits and trail mix. I may have been susceptible to subliminal suggestions. I couldn’t ignore the hot cross buns advertisements on the British radio station I listen to while reading in bed.

After I called my neighborhood supermarket bakery and they behaved like hot cross buns were a novelty item, I felt it was time to bake my own. I bought raisins and yeast. My pantry was stocked with flour, baking powder, brown sugar, milk, and surprisingly, powdered sugar.

Easter reminds me it’s time for hot cross buns. The delight rests somewhere between sensory and memory, taste and fulfillment.

My old Southern Living Magazine disappeared during one of my many moves. But of course, there’s the Internet. And there’s YouTube.

The Southern Living recipe was different from how I remembered. It called for me to combine a quarter cup of oil, two cups of milk and half a cup of sugar and heat in a saucepan until boiling. Cool for half an hour then add four cups of flour and a pack of quick rise yeast. Add lots of cinnamon, a pinch of salt and baking powder.

Two weeks ago, I baked 20 hot cross buns. I removed them from the oven around midnight. By the time I went to bed, there were four less buns cooling on the kitchen counter.

The next day, as I worked at home, between conference calls and writing assignments, I consumed hot cross buns. With help from my non-raisin eating wife and daughter, within 24 hours, the buns were history.

That’s why, with Easter just a few days away, hot cross buns sit in my kitchen. The stash is dwindling fast. They’re not made to last, my wife consoles me. Eat up.

Baking and breaking bread reminds me of the rituals and rites of this season. COVID-19 gives and it takes away. But in this extraordinary time, the comforts of food, made by my own hand, with my own sweat, bring a certain reverence, for life, for home and for family.

Click here for the Southern Living Magazine recipe for hot cross buns.

Other recent articles by Andrew J. Skerritt: Take the test: Time to fill in the gaps on the Montserrat Family Tree and How I learned to love Vacation Bible School in middle age.

Take the test: Time to fill in the gaps on the Montserrat family tree

ANDREW J. SKERRITT

March 9, 2020

montserrat crowd — Photo credit: Discover Montserrat
Montserratians share common genealogical bonds, and DNA testing would help confirm or refute some family connections.

“Arl a we is one family.” All of us are one family.

If you were raised in Montserrat, you heard that phrase often. It happened when you brought a friend home. It happened when you introduced your parents to that special someone.

Since, I tested my DNA with 23andMe, the close blood ties we share as Montserratians have become even more real.

My wife bought me a 23andMe kit for my 57th birthday. It sat under the Christmas tree unopened long after my December birthday. This stocking stuffer was a no-brainer. I am the son of a married father and a single mother. Both were West Indian immigrants in 1960s London.

My life and my work is a constant search for identity and belonging. Who I am and where I come from are two questions that always haunt me.

23andMe requires the kit holder to deposit an ample sample of saliva into a sealed tube, register the kit number by email and drop the kit off at the post office. I did so in late January and waited. A few days later an email arrived. My saliva sample was inadequate. I needed a do over.

I waited. News arrived by gmail. I had more than nine hundred DNA relatives on record. I knew none of them — at first.

The scientific results only triggered more questions. Based on my DNA, I am 97 percent Subsaharan African and 3 percent European.

87 percent West African.

54.2 percent Nigerian.

23.4 percent Ghanaian, Liberian and Sierra Leonean.

4.3 percent Senegambian, Guinean.

5.3 percent broadly West African.

7.2 percent Congolese Southern Eastern Africa.

6.3 percent Congolese and Angolan.

2 percent Irish/British.

The numbers surprised me. I expected SubSaharan African to be my dominant gene. However, given my surname — Skerritt, inherited from my maternal grandfather, whose father was said to be pretty light-skinned, I expected to be more Irish.

What is most fascinating is the long list of DNA relatives stretching from Trinidad, to Haiti, to Jamaica, to South Carolina, Alabama, Utah and England.

I discovered a former classmate from Montserrat Secondary School was a distant cousin.

Some of my DNA relatives were in my own house.

One day last fall, my wife called me. She was at lunch. She had just read a text from her younger sister. Bev had just recently received her 23andMe DNA results. The kit was a birthday present from my wife. She didn’t want to know her DNA. Friends and strangers often say we look like we are related. She feared the results would prove them right.

She did the next best thing. She bought one for her younger sister. Unlike me, they share both mother and father. Although I have six siblings, I am an only child. I am the only child of my mother and father. I share 100 percent of my DNA with no one. My wife is the complete opposite. She has eight siblings who share 100 percent of her DNA. Bev’s DNA results would be my wife’s DNA results.

Guess whose name showed up in Bev’s results, my wife asked.

Yes. She said she is your third to sixth cousin.

I want a divorce.

Those four words are my wife’s shorthand for “I don’t like what I just heard.”

We’ve gotten accustomed to people saying we look alike. You look like family, they said.

We are. We’ve been married for more than thirty years. When you’ve been together for a long time you start looking alike.

But Seriously. We are family. We are fourth cousins. We share a common ancestor who was alive in the 1900s. Geneticists said fourth cousins make perfect spouses.

Since then, I have heard from James “Da” West. We are cousins. The results confirm another cousin in England. Her grandmother and my grandmother are siblings. There are many other names with Montserrat ancestors. I hope to meet them one day.

*There are many ancestry DNA kits on the market. Testing is simple,* *and results are usually ready within weeks.*

One disadvantage of our slave and colonial heritage is that we have few records. Unlike many African Americans, Caribbean people are genealogically poor. We were not raised to treasure our ancestors. We have few records of those who came before us. Most of us don’t know our forebears beyond our great-grandparents. While the British like to boast of their 1,000 years of recorded history, they always treated our history and us as if we didn’t count. Our history matters. We have to treat it as if it does.

There are too many unanswered questions about who we are and where we’ve come from.

The March 17 celebrations is an opportunity, not just for revelry but to recommit ourselves to understand our past, how we got here as a prerequisite to charting our course forward.

I believe it is time for a grand experiment. It is time we filled out the Montserrat family tree. As many Montserratians who can afford it should take the DNA test. Civic groups should raise money for their members to take the test.

Some of the results will be surprising. There will be uncovered secrets. Your brother might not be your brother because you got the wrong father. That longtime friend is your third cousin because you shared a common great grandparent. You get the picture.

DNA results will unravel long buried lies. But more importantly, those results will unearth familial bonds. Knowing how closely we are related, even if we don’t know all the names of our common ancestors in the family tree, can be empowering.

I don’t believe it will solve all the problems that colonialism and racism have created. But knowing can begin to repair some of the psychological damage. Knowing will help our children even if it’s too late for some of us. Knowing is worth knowing.

Take the test.

Montserrat author and playwright Eddie Donoghue passes away at 82

EDWIN L. MARTIN

February 5, 2020

uncleeddiephoto — Eddie Donoghue is pictured on April 7, 2019 in Miami. Donoghue grew up in Montserrat and migrated to the UK in 1956.

Eddie Donoghue saw life as a perpetual cradle of opportunity and adventure. He embraced new challenges and never allowed himself to be categorized. At 17 he was operating his own business – a small shop called the Busy Bee Grocery. He would go on to be an activist, author, playwright, dancer, actor, salesman, politician and journalist. He also earned a PhD. And he says it was all possible because of the discipline he learned during his formative years in Montserrat.

Donoghue, a consummate Renaissance man, passed away Monday morning at his home in St. Thomas, Virgin Islands, after a prolonged illness. He was 82 years old.

Donoghue was born July 22, 1937 and grew up in the heart of George Street in Plymouth. His father, Reginald “Reggie” Martin Sr., controlled the fishing industry in Montserrat, supervised the dock workers, and ran a grocery store and night club, among other businesses. Mr. Martin also enjoyed the trappings of his wealth and popularity, fathering at least 17 children.

Donoghue, nicknamed “Tom Pond” as a boy, says his early upbringing was one of privilege. “The servants would come to my school with warm milk at 10 o’clock during break,” he said. “It was an extremely privileged upbringing while my father was alive.”

Donoghue attended the Montserrat Secondary School along with future luminaries Sir Howard Fergus and Attorney Kenneth Allen QC.

“He was my closest friend at school,” Allen says of Donoghue. “I was a school prefect, and the headmaster, Mr. Archer, commissioned me to make sure Eddie went to school. So I would pick him up in the morning.”

Eddie Donoghue, right, is shown with brother
John Martin, circa 1956.

Fortunes took a turn when Donoghue’s father died of renal failure at age 52 on May 17, 1950. Medical bills depleted the family funds, and creditors also came to collect after Reginald Martin’s death. The once-affluent family suddenly became destitute, and most of Martin’s children migrated after his death — mostly to Antigua, St. Kitts, the Virgin Islands and the United Kingdom.

In 1956, Donoghue received an endowment from a family friend that allowed him to travel to England to study accounting. When he obtained a copy of his birth certificate, Donoghue — who went through school as Thomas Edwin Martin — discovered that he was registered under Donoghue, his mother’s surname. So he adjusted his name.

Upon arrival in Britain he performed menial jobs such as cleaning train engines and working in a button factory. He also became a social activist, decrying racism during rousing speeches at Hyde Park. It was there that he met a Swedish young lady who was working in London as an au pair. They struck up a friendship and Donoghue eventually visited Sweden. It was a revelation.

“The people there were nice and kind,” Donoghue said during a 2018 interview. “They even gave me winter clothes. It showed me that I was wrong to lump all white people together. It became a philosophy in my life. I condemn white racism and I condemn black racism.”

Donoghue eventually relocated from England to Sweden. He learned the language quickly, got a job at a local dance company, and later became a dancer himself despite no formal training. But his main source of income was as a traveling salesman at outdoor markets. He sold mostly giftware and gained a big following for his charismatic style and sales gimmicks. Many articles were written about his technique.

Eddie Donoghue appears in the Swedish movie
*Peter von Scholten* in 1987.

Donoghue was also a family man. He had four children, two of which earned fame. His daughter Kiella was a popular model in Sweden. She sadly died in a car accident in 1994 at age 26. Another daughter, Zetma, was once lead singer for Swedish group Basic Element. They had a No. 1 song in 1993 called The Promise Man.

In 1981, Donoghue and his dance group – “Eddie’s Goodies” – toured the Caribbean and performed in Montserrat at the Agouti Club in Wapping.

In December of 1982, Donoghue earned his doctorate in Sociology from the University of Gothenburg. His dissertation, which was delivered in front of a packed auditorium, drew rousing applause. Shortly after, he relocated to St. Thomas to be near his ailing mother. Ann Donoghue-Pond passed away a few months later.

In St. Thomas, Donoghue worked as a researcher in the Virgin Islands Legislature, was a guest writer for several local publications, and also delved into politics. He had an unsuccessful run for office in the 2002 elections on the gubernatorial ticket with Alicia “Chucky” Hansen. But he was perhaps best known for his Saturday morning radio show on WSTA (1340).

Donoghue published several books, including Black Breeding Machines, Black Women/White Men and Negro Slavery: Slave Society and Slave Life in the Danish West Indies. He also wrote several plays, including the well-received Half Married, which debuted to standing-only audiences at the Pistarckle Theater in St. Thomas during the 2008-09 season.

“Eddie was for me a loyal and faithful friend who has never forgotten nor given up his Montserrat roots,” said Fergus, who knew Donoghue for more than 60 years. “What was particularly admirable were his efforts to use his position in the U.S. Virgin Islands and his talents to promote the development of Montserrat.”

Donoghue was known for being extremely punctual, and it rankled him when others didn’t extend the same courtesy. “People steal your life away when they steal your time,” he once said. “I like to be on time all the time.”

Donoghue is survived by his wife Eva and son Philippe in St. Thomas, daughters Veronica Martel in London and Zetma Zackrisson in Sweden, six grandchildren, and four siblings – Monica Martin in Montreal, Rosanna “Lynn” Fagon in St. Thomas, Lloyd “Bobby” Martin in Jamaica and Veda Martin-Carr in Connecticut.

A viewing will be held from 4 p.m. to 7 p.m. Saturday, February 22, 2020, at Turnbull’s Funeral Home in Charlotte Amalie, followed by a repast at Percy’s Bus Stop Bar & Restaurant.

Opinion: Time to ditch tradition of giving calypso monarchs automatic spot in the following year’s Finals

EDWIN L. MARTIN

January 9, 2020

kingandy — King Andy (Anderson Kirnon) is the last Montserrat calypso monarch to successfully defend his title (2005).

As a part-time calypsonian and full-time calypso enthusiast I consider myself somewhat of a purist. While others seem hell-bent on expediting the evolution of the art form I try to conform to the traditional musical foundation of calypso. In my estimation, if it deviates too much then it’s no longer calypso.

However, there is one calypso tradition on which I think we need to hit the refresh button: It is the custom of rewarding the calypso monarch with an automatic spot in the following year’s Finals. The monarch is not required to go through the gauntlet of the early rounds such as the eliminations and semifinals.

It’s one of those customs that wore out its logic years ago but continues to linger because the powers that be don’t want to tamper with a longstanding practice. But let’s put it in perspective.

Last year the Toronto Raptors captured the NBA championship. How would the other teams feel if the Raptors were automatically placed in this year’s NBA Finals regardless of their regular-season record? It would be a bit asinine, correct?

Usain Bolt, the most decorated sprinter of all time, had to compete in the heats at the Olympics and World Championships like everyone else regardless of what he accomplished in the past. He never earned an automatic qualification into the 100- or 200-meter finals.

The soccer World Cup, held every four years, gives automatic bids to the defending champion and the host country. Although I have issues with that practice as well I realize it’s done for marketing and promotional reasons.

I understand the rationale behind the calypso tradition. The monarch must be able to “defend” the title. However, I submit that the true way a monarch can defend a title is to start from the eliminations like everyone else and ascend to the throne again. Now that would be a true defense of the crown.

But to reward the monarch with a spot in the Finals when his or her songs have not even been heard and they have not been put through the litmus test of judged performances on stage? That makes little sense to me. One year has nothing to do with the other. Each year should be a clean slate.

I also believe that placing the monarch in the next year’s finals can work against the defending monarch. When one knows he or she is already in the Finals, it can spur complacency.

I have competed in the Montserrat Calypso Monarch competition four times. I have watched defending monarchs return the following year with mediocre songs and performances. Because they are automatically in the Finals they sometimes release their songs late and are unable to gain traction, proper radio play and public support due to the fact they often don’t perform their new songs on stage before the Finals.

If the calypso committee wishes to reward the defending champion, how about allowing him or her to choose at which position they wish to sing? Or some other incentive worthy of a defending champion.

Montserrat has not had a repeat calypso monarch since 2005, and I believe the “automatic” tradition is one reason. The year is now 2020. It’s time to show perfect vision for the future by ditching this relic of the past.

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1969: Red Poll Riot became one of the most infamous episodes in Montserrat history

EDWIN L. MARTIN

December 31, 2019

redpolephoto — Photo credit: Randy Greenaway
Peter "Red Poll" Howson was a popular figure, especially in Plymouth. Here he is shown during the 1967 New Year's parade.

Fifty years ago, the normally desolate and uneventful island of Montserrat was suddenly thrown into chaos. A popular downtown businessman had been assaulted by a non-national police officer and the locals were furious. Dozens surrounded the police headquarters and demanded justice. Insults and threats were hurled. So were bombs. Yes, actual bombs. A state of emergency was declared, the Defense Force was summoned, and a curfew was imposed.

The Emerald Isle was suddenly under siege.

When the mini-insurrection ended five days later, there were thankfully no casualties. But there were multiple injuries and serious damage, not just to property but to the relationship between the public and law enforcement.

The subject at the center of the incident was Peter “Red Poll” Howson, who hailed from Long Ground Village in eastern rural Montserrat but relocated to Plymouth as a teenager in the mid-1950s and became a town icon. Red Poll, nicknamed after the breed of cattle of the same name, was a food vendor, street peddler and consummate hustler. His Coconut Bar near the public market became a town staple. He cooked local dishes, including his trademark souse, and even sold apples from a push cart.

Red Poll (more commonly spelled “Red Pole”) endured many hardships. As a young man he almost died from fish poisoning. Layers of his skin were stripped away, his fingers became gnarled, and he was hospitalized for an extended period. But he recovered and persevered.

He even had a stint as a calypso singer. In fact he was one of the five pioneers who competed in the inaugural Festival calypso show in 1962. Although he didn’t take calypso seriously, he was Montserrat’s first unofficial Road March winner with his rendition of Sally Sally Water during the 1962 show.

INFAMOUS SHOWDOWN

On Saturday, April 12, 1969, Red Poll got into an altercation with Barbados-born Police Constable Carson Forde. The officer reportedly touched a young Montserrat woman inappropriately and Red Poll visited the station to ask why he did it.

“A lot of new recruits had come into the police force from the Windward Islands and there was jealousy among Montserrat men over them getting involved with the local girls,” said John Wilson, a longtime Plymouth shop owner. “The general public was on Red Poll’s side.”

Red Poll was beloved in the George Street community where he lived. Although not a saint, he was a generous and benevolent man. But he was also renowned for being outspoken so it was not surprising that he didn’t back down during the confrontation with Forde. The officer reportedly struck Red Poll with a bull pistle, a whip-like weapon made from the dried genital of a bull.

As news spread about the incident, a crowd gathered outside the station, which was located at the bottom of Harney Street, across from Her Majesty’s Prison and close to Fort Ghaut. Wilson, who was on hand for the gathering at the police station, says it was calm at first. Some in the crowd demanded that Forde step outside.

Suddenly, a group of officers – led by hulking Sergeant Paddy Lee, a Montserratian – emerged from the station decked in riot gear.

“They had huge shields and some long clubs,” Wilson said.

“Charge!” Lee told his officers, who approached the protesters and began swinging their batons. Several people were struck, many others ran, and that act of aggression transformed a once-peaceful demonstration into a powder keg. Making matters worse, Police Commissioner J.J. Vanterpool allegedly fired shots from a second-floor window of the station, striking two protesters in the arm.

SITUATION ESCALATES

As Saturday turned to Sunday, it appeared that tensions had calmed. But later in the evening, two loud explosions were heard coming from near the police station. It is believed that a protester lit two sticks of dynamite and threw them from the clandestine confines of Fort Ghaut into the police station yard. Explosives were easily accessible in those days because fishermen used them as a means of a quick catch. Dynamite was also used in construction to crush rocks.

There was some property damage at the station but no serious injuries. However, the authorities finally realized that the uprising was real. Other protesters threw chains atop the hanging electrical wires in town and short-circuited the system, knocking out electricity to entire grids in the Plymouth area. There were also reports of sporadic vandalism.

“A lot of new recruits had come into the police force from the Windward Islands and there was jealousy among Montserrat men over them getting involved with the local girls.”
John Wilson, longtime Plymouth businessman

A state of emergency was declared by Administrator (Governor) Dennis Gibbs, the Defense Force was called in, and a curfew was imposed. News of the tumult reached to Britain, and the BBC broadcast a report on the incident, stating that it began with an altercation involving a man named “Red Pell”. The Royal Navy was deployed offshore just in case.

During the uprising, Joseph Lynch was a 26-year-old corporal in the Defense Force. He remembers patrolling during the 9 p.m. to 5 a.m. curfew that began Monday, April 14, 1969.

“We had to guard the most vulnerable places such as Government House,” said Lynch, who eventually became a Major in the Montserrat Defense Force. “We had a lot of cooperation from the public. Sometimes in the middle of the night when they heard our boots coming they would come out of their house and give us coffee.”

Lynch said he and other officers placed garnett wire on the ground to establish boundaries. “We also had rifles but we never used live rounds,” he said. “Of course we didn’t let the public know that.”

THE AFTERMATH

The curfew was finally lifted on Thursday, April 17, 1969. The presence of the Defense Force had helped quell the insurgence. But that was because some of the agitators were actually members of the Defense Force, according to some insiders.

Forde, the officer who struck Red Poll, was subsequently issued a 21-day jail sentence and $300 fine following an extensive inquiry. About 90 percent of the police force threatened to resign over what they deemed an excessive punishment. Forde appealed, his sentence was later commuted and he made his way to Antigua under an assumed name, most likely with government assistance for his protection.

Many of the non-national officers eventually resigned and went back to their home countries or other islands in the region. The Royal Montserrat Police Force had to move quickly to supplement its losses. A group of Montserrat-born recruits were sent to Barbados for training. And a new crop of officers arrived from around the region.

For several reasons the Royal Montserrat Police Service has always been dominated by foreign officers. One former Montserrat-born police officer said some locals are reluctant to join the force because it’s sometimes awkward doling out discipline in a small community because of the close ties. Others say there used to be a stigma in Montserrat regarding police work. The pay was meager, and most policemen were recruited due to their brawn, not their brain.

In September of 2019 it was revealed that of the 74 current officers on the Montserrat police force, only 13 are local-born.

As for Red Poll, he continued his business following the riots. He was also a popular figure at Sturge Park during cricket matches and would invade the field, arms outstretched, to congratulate a local player’s achievement and hand him a monetary reward.

Red Poll relocated to the United Kingdom after the volcanic crisis in the late 1990s and settled in Leeds. He passed away in 2001.

Opinion: Montserrat election results should force some candidates to do serious soul-searching

EDWIN L. MARTIN

November 21, 2019

mnc candidates — Photo credit: ZJB
The Montserrat National Congress with Gregory Willock, left, Dr. Lowell Lewis and Chedmond Browne had a rough debut.

“Statistics are like a bikini. What they reveal is suggestive. What they conceal is vital.” ―Aaron Levenstein

There are many variables that determine the outcome of an election. Competence, experience and likability are common ones. And in a small society such as Montserrat, attributes become magnified.

When a voter enters the solitude of the booth, it becomes their safe space, their grotto in which they can privately wield their limited power. Their choices are often laced with emotion, including revenge, because most people vote with their hearts and not their minds.

On Monday, November 18, 2019, Montserrat held its general election. Thirty-five candidates waged battle for nine seats. The final results yielded some predictable winners, but they also gleaned some truths that should cause some of the failing candidates to do serious self-reflection.

Firstly, all politicians are flawed. The political arena is one in which there is never a universally liked candidate. Politicians can only hope to earn majority support, and there are critical factors involved.

Case in point: A candidate who never held political office clobbered his opponents Monday. Crenston Buffonge utilized his likability factor, boosted by a strong party apparatus, to earn a plurality of the votes. It sends a resounding message when not even the venerable Easton Taylor-Farrell, the new Premier of Montserrat, could garner as many votes as Buffonge.

People are ultimately judged by what they do consistently. Montserratians saw Buffonge as a hard-working, decent man who treated people with respect. So in many cases they took a chance on him rather than some more experienced candidates, some of whom had character issues.

Photo credit: MCAP
*Veronica Dorsette-Hector earned the fifth-most votes in her first time running for political office.*

Three candidates who rode success just five years ago struggled this time. Although party affiliation, or lack thereof, can determine one’s fate, personal choices cannot be discounted.

Delmaude Ryan, the erstwhile Deputy Premier who oversaw the giant Ministry of Education and Health during the PDM administration, garnered only the 16^th-most votes Monday after getting the sixth-most votes in 2014.

The public is capable of forgiving a candidate’s failures. But not when those failures are compounded by head-scratching comments and perceived arrogance.

On November 4, fourteen days before the election and a time when she should be endearing herself to the public through humility, Ryan committed an unforced error. During a debate she forcefully defended Britain’s right to hire consultancy Mott MacDonald to conduct an assessment of the island. The report, in part, questioned the education standards of Montserratians. “Montserrat is owned by the British government!” Ryan said. Her remark was met with groans from the audience and criticized by fellow candidates.

After the debate, Mrs. Ryan attended a PDM rally during which she gave a fiery speech lashing out at her detractors from earlier in the evening. Her rhetoric fired up her base but alienated some non-party-affiliated voters.

Another candidate who appears to have misread the electorate is former Parliamentary Secretary Gregory “Saga” Willock. After earning the ninth and final seat in the 2014 elections under the PDM banner, he probably felt his name recognition, folksy appeal and new Montserrat National Congress party would be enough to re-elect him. He finished 20^th.

“I could have campaigned harder. The people voted party. I’m hopeful that MCAP will do a good job.”
Dr. Ingrid Buffonge

And then there’s the good doctor, Ingrid Buffonge, who has ridden a political roller-coaster the past five years. She coasted to a seat in 2014 as PDM dominated with seven of the nine seats. But she left the party a year later and joined the opposition after being disappointed with her role.

She decided to run as an independent this time, hoping a coalition government would be elected, giving her a chance to run the health ministry. But like most of the other independent candidates, she got swept away by a party wave.

“I could have campaigned harder,” admitted Buffonge, who fell 12 votes short of a seat. “The people voted party. I’m hopeful that MCAP will do a good job. I’m disappointed that I won’t affect the bigger health-care picture but I hope MCAP will be receptive to [my ideas].”

If there’s one painful lesson from this election it’s this: Politicians should never assume. Each election cycle is different, there is always a natural yearning for change, and personality flaws can come back to haunt, especially when they are not mitigated by tangible accomplishments.

That said, here is my analysis of all 35 candidates (in order of finish):

Photo credit: MCAP
*Veteran politician Charles T. Kirnon takes over the crucial Ministry of Education, Health, Community Services, Sports, Youth and Ecclesiastic Affairs.*

1. Crenston Buffonge (MCAP, 1,378 votes): Most insiders predicted he would earn a seat, but his dominance stunned many, including Buffonge himself. A strong likability factor, buoyed by the MCAP juggernaut, carried him to the top spot. Here’s hoping Buffonge can change politics, and not vice-versa.

2. Paul Lewis (PDM, 1,251): Lewis’ popularity remained intact despite questionable tactics during the campaign and the party’s unceremonious deposing of former Premier Donaldson Romeo. Once groomed to be Premier, Lewis is now a member of the opposition . . . with Romeo.

3. Easton Taylor-Farrell (MCAP, 1,210): Family man, religious man, experienced man. The MCAP leader ticked all the boxes and was virtually guaranteed a seat. After decades in politics he has reached the helm.

4. Donaldson Romeo (IND, 1,060): He’s coming off a rocky tenure as Premier. Two party members crossed the floor, he fired another, and he was later removed as PDM leader. Yet he still enjoys a loyal base.

5. Veronica Dorsette-Hector (MCAP, 1,007): The first-time candidate surprised many with her top-five finish. An attorney and former magistrate, her acumen is certain. But her canvassing behind the scenes also paid dividends.

6. Dr. Samuel Joseph (MCAP, 998): After dominating in the 2017 By-Election, Joseph proved his political gravitas with another strong showing. He has been appointed Deputy Premier and assigned the Ministry of Communications, Works, Energy and Labour ― quite a meteoric rise for the Harris Village native and physics phenom.

7. Charles Kirnon (MCAP, 970): Kirnon, who is revered in the community, is back in Parliament after barely missing out in 2014. He assumes the crucial Ministry of Education, Health, Community Services, Sports, Youth and Ecclesiastic Affairs.

8. David Osborne (PDM, 947): “Mundo” showed that the Osborne name still garners respect. And his benevolence in the community earned him extra favorability. However, many constituents have expressed concern about his tenuous health amid the stress of governing.

9. Claude Hogan (PDM, 873): “Bambi” was fired from the Ministry of Agriculture, Trade, Lands, Housing and Environment in 2017 but his popularity held firmly enough for him to claim the ninth and final seat.

10. Dwayne Hixon (PDM, 862): So close, yet so far. Hixon, who joined PDM earlier this year, had a strong first-time showing and missed out by only 11 votes.

11. Dr. Ingrid Buffonge (IND, 861): She has been on a personal crusade to reform the health-care system, but after earning the second-most votes in 2014 with PDM she fell to a disappointing 11th as an independent candidate.

12. Jenzil Skerritt (MCAP, 854): Another first-time candidate, the young Skerritt fell short but has a bright political future. He expressed himself well during debates and will continue to hone his political skills.

13. Charlesworth Phillip (MCAP, 822): “Sonny” continued to show a passion for community service. As a veteran on the political scene he can still play a vital role for his party despite not having a seat.

14. Roselyn Cassell-Sealy (MCAP, 722): Sealy, as a former government minister, will be a vital sounding board for the MCAP government.

15. Emile Duberry (PDM, 698): In a strange way Emile and fellow PDM member David “Trixie” Duberry seem like the same candidate because of the surname and similar demeanor.

16. Delmaude Ryan (PDM, 687): Very disappointing ending for the former Deputy Premier. Yes, voter turnout was low, but she earned just about half the votes she got in 2014.

17. David Duberry (PDM, 651): See comments for Emile Duberry above.

18. Norman Cassell (MCAP, 550): The bright side for Cassell: He’s a member of the winning party.

19. Peter Queeley (MULP, 482): The financial specialist and numbers cruncher failed to pull in the figures that really counted: Votes! By the way, they should seriously consider changing the name or acronym of the party. “MULP” does not conjure great images.

20. Gregory Willock (MNC, 405): “Saga” re-branded himself with a new party; re-branding one’s reputation is a much tougher task.

21. Dr. Lowell Lewis (MNC, 327): The former Chief Minister seemed to run a passive, lackluster campaign and simply hope for the best.

22. Victor James Sr. (IND, 308): Another veteran politician who failed to make serious inroads with the populace amid a party-dominated field.

23. Shirley Osborne (IND, 253): She’s smart, she’s patriotic, she’s experienced, she articulated great ideas and she has the Osborne name and pedigree. Her lackluster support at the polls can only point to one element: Personal unfavorability with the public.

24: Jermaine Wade (MULP, 244): The former MCAP Parliamentarian hitched himself to the MULP wagon and the wheels fell off.

25. Veta Wade (IND, 233): She canvassed tirelessly. But as an independent and first-time candidate she faced an uphill battle. Her focus on the environment possibly pigeon-holed her as a one-issue candidate.

26. Franklyn Greaves (MULP, 204): “Algie” was a forceful speaker and advocate for Montserrat’s future but failed to gain serious traction.

27. Bertram Lee (MULP, 204): Another candidate who expressed interesting ideas. His delivery could use some polish.

28. Alvin “Jim” Gerald (IND, 196): He articulated interesting alternative ideas that were logical. Would make a great advisor if MCAP is willing to listen.

29. Eulyn Silcott-Greaves (IND, 142): Not only did she enter late, but many questioned her motives.

30. Karen Allen (IND, 120): “Lioness” represented herself well during the first debate and is a forceful and articulate advocate. Her lobbying for legalizing marijuana likely scared off many on still-deeply-conservative Montserrat.

31. Dunstan Lindesay (IND, 98): “The Conscience” has a huge following on social media but his ideas, although well intended, have a radical tinge that can alienate some voters.

32: Chedmond Browne (MNC, 96): The veteran still has the fire but MNC didn’t have the political fuel.

33. Keithroy Morson (MULP, 93): “De Bear” is clearly passionate about promoting Montserrat culture and he has a big following as a calypso icon, but his aggressive, quasi-bullying style turns many voters off.

34: Glenn Francis (IND, 92): The veteran educator showed zeal but perhaps entered the competition too late to make serious inroads.

35. Wilford Meade (IND, 51): “Moose” also entered late and was never considered a serious contender.

Rising star Crenston Buffonge helps MCAP dominate Montserrat election; Easton Taylor-Farrell is new Premier

EDWIN L. MARTIN

November 19, 2019

The person who coined the phrase, “Nice guys finish last,” needs to meet Crenston Buffonge. Because the rising political star has defied that notion in a mighty way.

The personable Buffonge garnered 1,378 votes to lead a victory Monday for the Movement for Change and Prosperity (MCAP) party in the 2019 Montserrat general election. Five MCAP candidates finished in the top nine, claiming the crucial majority needed to ascend party leader Joseph Easton Taylor-Farrell into the role of Premier.

Farrell assumes the helm from Donaldson Romeo, who served from 2014 until October 7, 2019, when terms expired for members of the Legislative Assembly. Romeo, who earned the most votes in the 2014 election, left the People’s Democratic Movement (PDM) following a party vote October 8 that ousted him as leader in favor of Paul Lewis. Two weeks later Romeo announced he will contest the election as an independent candidate.

Lewis earned the second-most votes Monday and Romeo the fourth-most. The former PDM allies now find themselves in the somewhat awkward position of working together as members of the opposition. MCAP will inherit several projects that were approved by the British government during the PDM administration, so it will be interesting to see if an opposition made up of three PDM members, plus a former PDM leader (Romeo), shows resistance to its own attainments.

The new government will be comprised of five MCAP members, three PDM and one independent.

“It’s how you make people feel that they will always remember. Treat all persons fairly and in turn you will get the reward someday.”
Crenston Buffonge

But the big surprise was the rise of Buffonge, a ticketing agent at the Montserrat port who failed to earn a seat as an independent candidate in 2014 but crushed the competition Monday. Buffonge held the top spot consistently as results trickled in Monday evening. He bested second-place finisher Lewis by 127 votes, earning solid support from just about every region of the island.

“If I was to say [I knew] it would turn out that way I’d be lying,” Buffonge told Radio Montserrat about getting the most votes. “I’m overwhelmed by the support and I want to say thank you to everyone who put their trust in me. They’ve showed clearly they have some level of confidence in me and what I can deliver.”

Buffonge says his many years of service, along with his respectful demeanor, helped catapult him with the electorate.

“I’ve been in service for quite a while, since the volcano,” he says. “There is a scripture that says, ‘He that exalts himself shall be humbled and he that humbleth himself shall be exalted. That has been my motto. It’s how you make people feel that they will always remember. Treat all persons fairly and in turn you will get the reward someday.”

Another surprise vote-getter was first-time candidate Veronica Dorsette-Hector, an attorney and former magistrate who was crowned Miss Montserrat during the 1990 festival. The MCAP candidate earned 1,007 votes Monday, fifth-best overall.

Photo credit: MCAP
*Easton Taylor-Farrell will become the ninth person to hold the office of Premier or Chief Minister in Montserrat.* *Two of the nine (John Osborne and Reuben Meade) served two tenures.*

Three candidates who held seats in the previous administration failed to get re-elected.

● Dr. Ingrid Buffonge, who ran with PDM in 2014 and earned the second-most overall votes, fell short this time as an independent candidate. She earned 861 votes, just 11 behind the No. 9 spot.

“Well it wasn’t meant to be for me,” Buffonge posted on Facebook around 1 a.m. Tuesday when results were still incomplete. “Congratulations to the new MCAP government! The people have spoken.”

● Delmaude Ryan, who ran the colossal Ministry of Education, Health, Social Services, Youth Affairs, Sports and Ecclesiastical Affairs during the PDM administration, earned just 687 votes Monday (she earned 1,205 votes in 2014). Already facing criticism for shortcomings in the health care system, among other issues, Ryan further rankled locals during a recent debate when she stated that “Montserrat is owned by the British government.” She later clarified her remarks, but the damage was done.

● Gregory “Sagga” Willock, another former PDM seat-holder turned opposition member, also failed to resonate with voters five years later. Willock launched his Montserrat National Congress (MNC) “brand” ― borrowing the name from the African National Congress once headed by Nelson Mandela ― but his populist approach and fiery speeches appeared to have grown stale with voters. Some said Willock’s appeal seemed rife with desperation.

The protracted 2019 election season was among the nastiest in memory, with rival supporters exchanging threats and vile insults on social media. The MCAP party even filed a libel suit again a journalist and PDM supporter. The parties traded barbs during contentious rallies and there were jingles, radio ads and other tactics as each group attempted to gain an edge.

But in the end MCAP appeared to be the one that was most unified with a central theme. The party drove its message with a marketing blitz boosted by spiffy posters, screaming billboards, omnipresent radio appearances and a raucous final rally Sunday headlined by Antigua soca artists Tian Winter and Claudette “C.P.” Peters.

“Well it wasn’t meant to be for me. Congratulations to the new MCAP government! The people have spoken.”
Dr. Ingrid Buffonge

The Montserrat United Labor Party (MULP) had a disappointing finish in its election debut. The best showing of the five candidates came from Peter Queeley at No. 19 overall.

“The people did not accept the message and the proposals advanced by the MULP,” Queeley posted on Facebook. “I live by the principal [sic] that the voice of the people is the voice of God.”

Many believed a coalition government would be elected, but for the third election cycle in a row constituents opted for the party route.

Also having a disappointing night was former Speaker of the House Shirley Osborne, who earned only 253 votes and failed to join her brother David as a Parliamentarian. Shirley Osborne had a clear grasp of the issues ― plus the iconic Osborne surname ― but she has been dogged by a reputation for being domineering.

“Go Montserrat!!! Congratulations MCAP!” Osborne wrote on Facebook. “Let’s all now see what you got!”

Click here to view the complete 2019 Montserrat Elections results.

Former Montserrat star batsman Kingsley Rock dies at 81: ‘Cricket was his life’

EDWIN L. MARTIN

November 8, 2019

kingsleyrockpic — Kingsley Rock, who grew up in the Town Hill area of Montserrat, was a standout cricketer and soccer player.

Former Montserrat cricket star and Defense Force officer Kingsley Rock passed away October 23 in New York after a long illness. He was 81 years old.

Rock joined the Montserrat cricket team in 1955 and was the first Montserratian to score a century in the Leeward Islands Tournament, tallying 125 against Nevis in 1959. In 1960 and ’61, Rock played for Antigua while working for LIAT and living on the island. In 1961 he scored 99 against Nevis. Antigua went on to capture the Leeward Islands Shield.

“He was a classical batsman, a classical stroke-maker, one of the finest you’ll ever see,” said John Wilson, Rock’s former teammate. “He could have played for the West Indies but the selectors didn’t pay attention to the Leeward Islands in those days.”

Rock played in two first-class matches for Leeward Islands. He scored 9 and 16 against Jamaica in July of 1958 in Kingston, and 28 and 1 against the Marylebone Cricket Club (England) in February of 1960 in Antigua.

Rock played for Montserrat for the final time in 1964. While in Antigua, Rock also played soccer, along with his brother John. Rock later migrated to New York, where he lived for the remainder of his life.

*Kingsley Rock is pictured in 1954 at age 16 as part of the Montserrat Defense Force cricket team.*

Rock was born Noel Kingsley Rock on December 19, 1937, and grew up on the outskirts of Plymouth in the Town Hill area. He was the fourth of five children born to H.G. (Hennessy Garfield) Rock and his wife Nellie. Mr. Rock was a pharmacist.

Kingsley Rock worked at Glendon Hospital and was also an insurance salesman in Montserrat. He then worked for Pan American Airlines when he relocated to New York. Rock’s elder sister Doris ran a restaurant/night club in Town Hill in the mid-to-late 1970s called The Cellar. The popular club, renowned for its delicious hamburgers, featured crab races and a jazz band on the weekends.

Rock was good friends with fellow Montserrat cricket standout Frank Edwards, who died June 7, 2019. Their lives and careers shared several parallels. The two were born just three months apart, both grew up in the Plymouth area, and both eventually passed away the same year.

“He was a disciplined batsman and a very disciplined person. Cricket was his life.”
Percy Arthurton, on Kingsley Rock, his lifelong friend

Rock and Edwards anchored the Montserrat batting lineup in the late 1950s. In the match between Leeward Islands and Marylebone Cricket Club in 1960 in Antigua, Rock and Edwards batted third and fourth, respectively. They were the only Montserrat players selected for the Leewards team that year.

“Kingsley was a disciplined batsman and a very disciplined person,” said Percy Arthurton, who knew Rock since the two attended St. Mary’s Primary School in Plymouth in the 1940s. “He was not a man given to many excesses. Cricket was his life.”

Rock is survived by his wife of 45 years, Tulip Bain-Rock, stepson Peter Bain, two grandchildren, brother-in-law Harold Joseph and several nieces and nephews. Rock’s parents and his four siblings — Doris, John, Queenie and Dorothy — preceded him in death.

There will not be a public funeral for Rock. The family will hold a private memorial service.

1979: Montserrat’s Jim Allen was part of cricket history in Australia. It’s a colorful story.

EDWIN L. MARTIN

October 15, 2019

jiminpink — Jim Allen is pictured playing for the West Indies team at World Series Cricket in Sydney, Australia on January 17, 1979.

It was a historic day in cricket – and Montserrat’s own Jim Allen was right in the middle of the action.

On January 17, 1979, West Indies played Australia in a 50-overs match at World Series Cricket – better known as the Kerry Packer series. Packer, the Australian TV mogul, organized the tournament in defiance of the International Cricket Council. But although the event was not sanctioned by cricket’s world governing body, the game that day was the first international match in which players wore non-white uniforms.

Since Test cricket became official in 1877, players always wore white, regardless the match format. But Packer was a visionary, and among his innovations was the introduction of colored uniforms for one-day (limited overs) matches.

On that day in January of 1979, Australia wore canary yellow and the West Indies took the field donning coral pink, a color that drew ridicule across the cricket world as being hideous and effeminate.

West Indies legend Viv Richards, speaking in an interview a few years ago, explained how the team felt about wearing the pastel-looking apparel: “When we were leaving the dressing room to go on the field, no one wanted to be the first to run out,” he said.

For Jim Allen, though, he would have gladly played in pajamas if he had to. Getting an opportunity to play with the best in the world was what really mattered. But he does admit that the uniforms took some getting used to.

“It wasn’t just the uniforms that were pink,” Allen said. “The pads were pink too. If we could choose our own color we would have chosen something different. But after a while we got accustomed to it. We didn’t have a choice. We couldn’t change it.”

Montserrat’s Jim Allen bats against Australia during the Kerry Packer series while wearing a non-white uniform for the first time. (Editor’s note: Apologies for poor video quality)

Batting sixth in the lineup, Allen entered with West Indies in trouble at 31 for 4. But he and Jamaican Richard Austin built a 34-run partnership as West Indies won the rain-plagued match on a faster run rate. Allen finished 20 not out, including a glorious four through the covers off legendary fast bowler Dennis Lillee of “Thomson and Lillee” fame.

Allen, widely considered the greatest cricketer in Montserrat history, played for his home country from 1969 to 1984 and also starred for Leeward Islands and Combined Islands. He played two seasons for West Indies in the Kerry Packer Series but never played in a Test match for the official West Indies team – a fact he says is the biggest regret of his career.

Nonetheless, he was definitely part of cricket history as Packer transformed the game and helped make it more marketable. Today, all international teams wear alternate uniforms for limited-overs matches. All-white uniforms are now reserved mostly for Test matches.

But Allen can’t forget that day when the West Indies team wasn’t exactly tickled pink about its fashion statement.

“They even gave us some extra uniforms,” Allen says. “The pink pants weren’t that bad actually. I even used to wear them as regular clothes.”

Click here to view the scorecard from the match.

Click here to order a biography of former cricket star Jim Allen.

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