De roaring 70's

the long version

In the early months of 1970 – February 26th to April 21st – the newly independent nation of Trinidad and Tobago was rocked by the massive street protest demonstrations of the poor and the dispossessed under the banner of Black Power. Led by the charismatic Makandal Daaga (Geddes Granger)1 and the National Joint Action Committee (NJAC)2, a coalition of university students. Trade Unions leaders and concerned citizens, the people protested the conditions of poverty and colour discrimination that was 1970 Trinidad and Tobago. Protests were aimed primarily at the foreign domination of the country especially with regards to White Power and the external white control and influence on the local economy and culture. In meetings, marches and demonstrations which became a daily occurrence, NJAC leaders called for the end to racial prejudice and economic inequality, described by one poet as ‘the luxury of the few at the expense of the many’3. Thousands took to the streets daily with the cry of Power to the People!, with the banner proclaiming “Indians and Africans Unite”, and the symbols of the clenched fists, the massive afro hair style and the red, black and green flags. After virtually two months of meetings, marches and mass demonstrations by all sections of the community, the leaders of the movement felt that the time was near when they could demand and obtain the resignation of the government. A nationwide general strike was planned for Monday April 21st, a massive march from Caroni to Port-of-Spain was organised for the same day, and sections of the army were prepared to give military support to the movement. The government, wary of rising disenchantment within the entire society, declared a state of emergency in the early hours of April 21st, imposed a dusk to dawn curfew and arrested and jailed the leaders. One year later a second State of Emergency was declared when the movement was once again gathering momentum. The book documents these historic events using interviews, newspaper sources and well documented analyses.