My Early Independence experience - 1979 & 1980

                            The Independance & first National flag of SVG

Prior to 27th Of October 1979, I had just completed my training of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cadet Force. I was now looking forward to my first official national parade of which there were only two annually. The two parade were Statehood Day parade and the Memorial Day Parade. These parades give the members of the Cadet Force the opportunity to be outfitted in full ceremonial regalia.

This was a good time for me, for the simple fact, most of the senior Cadets had become inactive for one reason or the other; as a result, this put me in a position where, I was a prime nominated to be a part of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Cadet contingent to be on parade on that glorious night of October 26th 1979, as the clock struck 12 midnight and the new flag of the country raise to the national anthem; marking the birth of a sovereign nation. This parade would nullify the Statehood parade and celebration.

We (A contingent of new graduated Cadets and the faithful season contingent) practice for weeks in preparation for that sanctimonious occasion which would mark the Independence of St. Vincent and the Grenadines. There were to be a series of dress rehearsal with all of the organization that was a part of that historic night. Sensing the historic significant of the occasion Cadets of all description, some who have not attend a Cadet organized function for years; showed up claiming the rights to be a part of the contingent to participate in the auspicious functions. This un expected occurrence forced the Cadet authority; to pull out the records and make some hard decision; which resulted in the turning away of many, who have been inactive for too long.

Unfortunately for me and my hopes to participate in my first parade; were shattered by the mass return of the many inactive but season carder including None Commission Officers (NCO). As a result; I was dropped from the contingent, from being on parade dressed in full ceremonial regalia, carrying a 303 riffle. I must say at the time, I did not understood the historic significance of the occasion, for me it was just a fulfilling and satisfying my anxiety of participating in my first official National parade as a member of the Prestigious Cadet Force. It was not until later that I understood the significance of that parade, that moment and my presence at that significant occasion in the history of the land of my Birth: St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Although, I was not allowed to be on the actual parade grounds participating in the official ceremony, Me and others were told to show up to Cadet headquarters; in full ceremonial uniform; (the Cadet Headquarters was located at the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Boys Grammar School) as extra just in case anyone fail to show up or was late which were a regular occurrence. On the night of the 26th October 1979, there was another unfortunate occurrence; in that everyone was present to fulfill their obligation to their country as it related to the parade.

As a result, the other extras and I who were all members of the newly, passed out class of October 1979, were allowed to marched with the contingent that will be on parade at Victoria park, without a rifle I may add. On reaching the Victoria Park, we were marched away from the parade ground and were ushered up into the top of main pavilion in the western corner. Were we witnessed all of the activities.

Fast forward one year later, I attend all Cadet activities, practice, map reading etc. faithfully all year long, I was looking forward with anxious anticipation to being a part of the first Independence parade; and again all of the Cadets who fell back into their old delinquent behavior showed up once again; it was the same story all over again.

Those of us who were a part of the last recruitment drive were once again left out as extras. I was very disappointed. Because my sole purpose of becoming a Cadet was to get the opportunity to march through the streets of the capital Kingstown, in full Cadet ceremonial regalia, and especially carrying that 303 riffle on my shoulder, digging my heal into the pavement in military style; where my neighborhood friends, and other members of my community who often flock to Victoria park and the streets outside Benthic Square to watch the parade pass by.

However, this time I was allowed to participate in the parade and actually enter the parade grounds. I stood on the side of the parade Ground and participated by following all general command that was issued to the parade. It was not the same as being a part of the official platoon. I was disappointed but there was nothing I could have done to change the circumstances. While standing at the side of the parade ground, without a rifle, it was then I realized how difficult it was, to stand in one place for an extended period. I became tired, my feet hurt, I became hungry, I wanted to vomit, I even felt like I wanted to faint. But I held on.

At that time fainting was a sign of weakness in cadet circles and the cadet will pride themselves as being strong and somewhat superior to the police when police officers had to be taken out of a parade even for one minute and there were no such causality of the parade ground from the cadet contingent. Even though I felt nauseous I refuse to submit or ask for assistance. The only how I was going to leave the parade ground is by marching out with the contingent at the end of the parade or on a stretcher because I actually passed out.

Then something happened, one of the season cadet collapsed and fainted and had to be carried off the parade ground as a causality of the parade. The Regimental Sergeant Major (RSM); was visible upset at the fact that one of his men became a casualty of a parade. He took the rifle walked over to the reserved Cadet, and without a warning threw the rifle too me. One of the things I quickly learn is the passing of rifles is thrown and to cause a rifle that was thrown to you; to fall to the ground is a grave travesty.

I saw the rifle in the air coming towards me from my peripheral vision; it was then I realized what was happening, and the seriousness of the occasion. I immediately forget all of my feeling of illness, and I quickly move forward about two steps to the flying rifle and I catch that rifle with both hands. Then the command came to replace the falling Cadet was given to me. I smartly tuck the rifle under my arms in the shoulder arms position and I fill the void in the platoon on parade.

After a while, the fear of fainting engulfed me, and I began to experience the re-occurrence the feelings I had earlier. One thing I knew was, there was no illness that was going to stop me from getting the opportunity to march through the street for all of my friends and community to see. I held on and I made it to the end of the parade.

This was why I always wanted to be on national parade; at the end of the parade, I smartly march through the streets of Kingstown; I heard some of my friends and other members of my neighborhood shouting my name, although I wanted to turn my head, letting them know I saw them, give a proud thumbs up, a smile or a nod of my head; but instead I stayed true to my military character and I did my assignment as it was expected. My head held straight, while I sneak a view of my friends and villagers in the crown that lined the parade route through my peripheral; as I march with briskness and precision with my platoon. With very vivid memory, I can remember heard Ena Monroe, a family friend and Community mother declared with a loud voice; a sense of admiration and pride occupied the words, “look at Allan; he serious boy, he is not even a wink” she expressed in her Vincentian dialect that was readily understood.

Later, I reluctantly attended a few other parades representing the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force. But more than ever I cherish the memory of my participation in St. Vincent and the Grenadines independence celebration which began on the night of the 26th of October 1979, and ended on the morning of the 27th October 1979 and the first anniversary of Independence parade the following year.

However my funnest memory of the National Independence parade came came when I left the Cadet Force and took up rollerskating. when me and my friends will skate the parade rout with the parade during their dress rehearsals and on the grand day preforming dance moves and tricks on skates to the beautiful, funky music that emanated from the Royal Police Force band and the Cadet Force band produce.