The Tribune

By RICARDO WELLS

Tribune Staff Reporter

rwells@tribunemedia.net

DESPITE a small turnout, one official of the Bahamas National Citizenship Coalition’s (BNCC) “Re-enactment of Burma Road Walk and Festival” yesterday said that the goal of bringing awareness to the “enduring issues of economic ownership, independence and sovereignty” was achieved.

Wesley Campbell, an advisor to the BNCC, indicated that although only ten people participated in the re-enactment of the historic march, the link between the present generation and the “men that died for an honourable cause” was made.

According to Mr Campbell, those that took part in the early morning march received a “greater understanding” of the story behind the infamous riot that took place nearly 43 years ago.

“Our march today was in honour of those men that stood up – they had no guns, no knives – they stood up for their right against merchants that didn’t want to be burdened with having to pay hard-working men reasonable wages,” Mr Campbell said.

“Obviously the central issue speaks to equality. Equality issues still exist today and that is what our young Bahamians connect to.” He added that the “historic format” of the story of the Burma Road Riot has been “reframed to suite a small few”. He said “the truth must now work its way to the forefront”.

The re-enactment walk yesterday highlighted some of the key stops on the historical journey.

BNCC officials led participants from Laird Street to Brougham Street, Peter Street, down to the Sports Centre (known at the time as Windsor Field).

In 1942, British colonial leaders were working to construct an airfield in the Windsor Field area to aid aircraft inbound from America during the Second World War.

It was proposed that all workers employed on the construction be paid eight shillings per day; however, it was later discovered that officials had plans to pay black-Bahamian workers only half that amount.

That decision was met with anger by many workers from the over-the-hill communities, who marched to the to the Windsor Field area to verify the claim.

After confirming those claims, the crowd of predominately young black Bahamians marched from Windsor Field Road up to Thompson Boulevard and down to Poinciana Drive.

The crowd then marched onto Blue Hill Road and then up to Bay Street.

Mr Campbell explained that once on Bay Street, just east of Market Street, the crowd was approached by the British Highlanders (riot police) and read the Riot Act. Shortly after, shots were fired. James Rolle, David Smith, Roy Johnson and Donald Johnson were shot; two died on site.

Participants yesterday paused for a five-minute silence to commemorate the lives of the four men.

The commemorative route continued up Bay Street, south onto Armstrong Street, west on Shirley Street for a second stop, this time at Collins House.

In 1942, after the deaths of the first four men, officials implemented a curfew to restore order. On June 3, on his way home from work, Roland Mcintosh was stopped by British Highland officers. In a state of fear, Mr Mcintosh panicked and attempted to flee; he was shot in the upper right shoulder and died just west of Collins House.

Mr Campbell said: “That is the history we are working to bring to the forefront. They died for a cause, that issue is still present today. The FNM, PLP and the UBP have worked to push this history to the back. We want to get the message out there, this event made so much possible in the Bahamas. We are working now to make so much more possible.”

Mr Campbell said the BNCC has advocated for Bahamians to have the shared ownership of the country’s natural resources. He claimed that the group remains strong proponents for a new social contract based on economic ownership, independence and sovereignty.

In addition to yesterday’s march, officials have planned a three-day festival, through until tomorrow. Officials said the festival would feature presentations by historians, musical performances and recognition of family members of the five men slain in 1942.