Seventy-two Jamaican migrants left yesterday afternoon on the Ascania for Britain. The majority are joining relatives in England. Others are going directly into jobs there. The Ascania arrived yesterday morning from England and docked at No 3 Pier. Two hundred and thirty-six Jamaicans, who had been resident in Britain, returned home on the ship yesterday morning.
From earthquakes, hurricanes and fires to Olympic glory and Independence, The Gleaner started chronicling Jamaica's roller-coaster history ride in 1834, and has had a front-row seat at every major event since. The Honourable Roy McNeill, minister of home affairs, announced yesterday that he has refused the application of the Reverend Clennon King, a United States citizen, for political asylum in Jamaica. McNeill, according to the official statement, considered King's application and reached the decision that his case is not one that qualifies for political asylum. King, of Albany, Georgia, arrived in Kingston last month and asked for political asylum from what he describes as insidious persecution and official harassment in the United States.
From earthquakes, hurricanes and fires to Olympic glory and Independence, The Gleaner started chronicling Jamaica's rollercoaster history ride in 1834, and has had a front-row seat at every major event since. BARCLAYS BANK DCO announced today that to mark the emergence of Jamaica as an independent nation in the Commonwealth, it was as a gift to the Caribbean island an X-ray machine, an electro-cardiograph machine and other equipment for a children's hospital. VARIOUS COMPLAINTS of unfair treatment by certain sections of the police have been lodged by Jamaicans with the London High Commission. One distinct case was brought to the attention of Jamaica's prime minister, Sir Alexander Bustamante, who immediately Save instructions to the amaican Migrant Service to engage legal representation, at a cost to the Jamaican Government, of up to three hundred pounds.
According to colonial records, he was granted his freedom, given 13 slaves and 15 acres of land and allowed to grow coffee and sugar cane, as a surrogate plantation owner. When this declaration of the rights of all men was denied to the slave population, they revolted and in 1791, the rebellion swept the northern part of the island like a massive tidal wave.
Born Francois Dominique Toussaint, he gained historical recognition as "Toussaint L'Ouverture"-the "L'Ouverture" part of his name was bestowed upon him as a result of his freedom-fighting exploits later in his life. He was a self-educated slave who joined other slaves to fight for their common goal-their freedom and the establishment of a free country. He had no military training, or formal education but he possessed a passion for freedom, and an innate ability to organize. He was born on the island of Hispaniola on the Breda plantation between 1743 and 1746 having descended from the Arrada people of the Dahomey Coast, Africa. Toussaint was the oldest son of a slave brought to the French colony of Santo Domingo located on the eastern part of the island At that time, the island was called "Hispaniola;" the name "Haiti" came later on. It was Toussaint who eventually brought Haiti into being as an independent country. His slave-master was one Count de Breda who originally named him Toussaint Breda. The master also encouraged young Toussaint to learn to read and write, a rarity for a slave-master. It was because of Toussaint's assistance, the French were victorious against the British and the Spanish forces, yet the French were not willing to grant freedom to the slaves, which was the primary teason that Toussaint had lent his expertise to them. His series of military campaigns became known as "L'Ouverture" or "the opening," because he exploited openings in the defenses of the opposition. And Francois Dominique Toussaint then became known as "Toussaint L'Ouverture." In addition to their treachery and deception, France sent more regiments to the island m furtherance their scheme to renege on the moderate terms of peace and freedom that were promised to Toussaint and his men. The French were contemptuous and they boldly proclaimed, "Did Toussaint think that they had brought half a million African slaves to the New World to make them French citizens?" As leader of the nation, L'Ouverture organized a structured government and instituted public improvements. He was widely renowned, revered by Blacks and detested by Whites-the French and the Americans. L'Ouverture's activities did not go unnoticed by the U.S., a country that was prospering off slaves and their free labor. In his book "In the Matter of Color," author and noted jurist, A. Leon Higginbotham noted a French historian and politician who at that time wrote, "Thus it is that in the U.S., the prejudice rejecting the negroes seems to increase in proportion to their emancipation." (These events apparently propelled Nat Turner's rebellion as he attempted to follow the footsteps of L'Ouverture in Virginia).
Toussaint L'Ouverture: The Other Bonaparte! When the friction of social injustice and deprivation ignite that fuel, glimmers of hope begin to surface. So it happened with the baby boy who came on the world scene as Toussaint L'Ouverture. Acts such as these stirred [Toussaint]; he felt destined to remedy the societal ills. He also knew the time was not yet right, so he waited and learned. Toussaint became the most humble, obliging slave. He was held up as a model to other slaves.
Black In Latin America, premiering nationally Tuesdays April 19, 26 and May 3, 10, 2011, at 8 p.m. (ET) on PBS (check local listings), examines how Africa and Europe came together to create the rich cultures of Latin America and the Caribbean. Latin America is often associated with music, monuments and sun, but each of the six countries featured in Black in Latin America including Brazil, Cuba, the Dominican Republic, Haiti, Mexico and Peru, has a secret history. On his journey, Professor Gates discovers, behind a shared legacy of colonialism and slavery, vivid stories and people marked by African roots.
Today Haiti is looked at as a struggling island filled with poverty and conflict. It truly gets labeled with the "Third World" stereotype. Actually, the history of Haiti is rich and shows that it was actually the home of some of the greatest heroes in the fight to end western hemisphere slavery. Haiti caused the break up of the worst form of slavery in the history of the world. This island with the largest Black population in the Caribbean has immense economic challenges. This adventure taught the Haitian survivors a great lesson: The European military machines are vulnerable and can be defeated with proper planning. When they returned to Haiti, they spread that information amongst the slave populace and the planning began. In 1791, the historical slave revolt in Haiti began. It lasted until 1804. The rebellions caused Britain to give up on the slave trade in 1807 and the rest of Europe started their withdrawal of this evil practice. Many white French settlers left Louisiana and Haiti and moved to what are now Cuba, Dominican Republic and Puerto Rico. Many of the free Haitians moved to New Orleans and those ties still exist. Haiti was the catalyst in the abolishment of slavery. Thank you my brother Haitians.
