About 25 persons gathered in the Buckleys estate yard on Wednesday January 28,2015 to observe the anniversary of the Buckleys Riots in St.Kitts. The commemoration of this event annually is to create awareness of the great struggles and sacrifice of our ancestors who put their lives on the line for our freedom and fundamental rights.
The organizers also hope to erect a monument in Buckleys yard to symbolize the importance and relevance of the Buckleys uprising to St.Kitts and Nevis history.
On the 28th January 1935 estate workers at Buckley’s, frustrated by their employers refusal to address their low wages and bad working conditions, put down their tools and walked off the estate. The workers were confronted by the estate owner, a Mr Dobridge from England who asked them to return to work at Buckleys Estate. The workers stood their ground in spite of mounting pressure from the local police authorities who were defending the planter class interests. They were joined by other workers as they walked around the island. Three people were killed…Joseph Samuel,John Allen,and James Archibald…. and eight were injured by the police who fired shots into the crowd to put down the uprising .
As a result of the Buckleys uprising a ban on trade unions was lifted, and the British Government commissioned an inquiry into the event, which had triggered similar workers strike actions in other Caribbean islands. The Commission’s recommendations to improve living and work conditions and introduce adult suffrage, changed the course of history in the British colonies including St.Kitts-Nevis.
The event is hosted annually by the Rastafari Nyabinghi Theocracy Order with Ras Dabo Penny as master of ceremonies. Penny provided an historical perspective of the Buckleys Riot.
Other speakers included Prime Minister Dr Denzil Douglas, Parliamentary Representative for the area Sam Condor, SKNLP representative for #3, Konris Maynard, and Trades and Labour Union stalwart and social commentator Mr. Earl Clarke.
Freedom Fm paid tribute to this legacy on its radio programme “THE GREAT BLACK EXPERIENCE” heard daily at 1 Pm and 9 PM and on “ISSUES” at 1:30 PM daily.