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UWI TODAY
– SUNDAY 23 APRIL, 2017
HISTORY FEST 2017
As 1917 dawned
, it heralded a period of great change in
world events. It was the beginning of the end of World
War I, one of the bloodiest conflicts in human history – a
war where even West Indians served, though they were
rarely honoured for their contributions.
It was the end of Indian indentureship in Trinidad.
After over 70 years and thousands of East Indianmigrants
coming to local shores, calls to end their sub-human
living conditions were finally heeded. It was also a year of
turmoil for the Shouter Baptist community as intolerant
members of society tried to squash their formof worship.
These diverse historical milestones have a common
significance.
“They entailed some sort of fight, for liberation or
religious persecution, inequality and so forth,” explains
Dr. Sherry-Ann Singh, Head of the Department of
History at the St. Augustine Campus.
The struggles of these three groups in the turbulent
milieu of 1917 Trinidadwas the focus of History Fest 2017
held in March. Former department head Dr. Claudius
Fergus conceived the idea of History Fest in 2015 tomake
history more accessible. “The Department thought it was
a very good way of highlighting the discipline of history
to the larger public with special emphasis on students –
CAPE and CSEC students,” explains Dr. Singh.
This year the History Fest committee, led by current
Chair Dr. Gelien Matthews, was particularly struck by
the significance and conflict which characterised these
events of a century ago. Through activities, lectures and
presentations, the Department worked to bring these
landmark events to life.
The several events expanded on the themes and
included “Causes and Consequences of World War I”
facilitated by Dr. Karen Eccles, Divisional Librarian in the
West Indiana and Special Collections Division. Professor
Hazel Gibbs Depeza andDr. Claudius Fergus highlighted
the Shouter Prohibition Ordinance with presentations
on the “Growth of the Baptist Faith in T&T” and “The
Shouters Prohibition Ordinance of 1917: Constitutional
Issues in Enactment and Repeal”. Professor Brinsley
Samaroo presented on “Experiences of Indian Indentured
Labourers”.
The well-received presentations drew an audience of
secondary school students andmembers of the public. Dr.
Singh observed that some of the students were surprised
at howmuchmore they learned about indentured labour,
a topic which is only lightly covered in their syllabi.
Professor Samaroo vividly brought to life the struggles
of ancestors who dealt with deplorable conditions, harsh
penalties for minor infractions and language barriers that
made it harder for them to fight for their rights.
Dr. Eccles discussed many issues which resonate
today, including the lead up to imperialism and
colonialism. She observed that several students were
particularly interested in the Balkans and the terrorist
activities that led up to the war. She was blown away by
their insightful questions. SomeWest Indians joined the
British Army because of their economic situation and out
of loyalty to the British. Some women even joined the war
effort. Dr. Eccles cited the examples of Leonide Cipriani
who served as a clerk in the London War Office, and
her sister Jules who worked in a government munitions
factory. Black men who joined often received laborious
tasks. They worked on canal defences, barbed wire
entanglements and bombs. They also endured racism
and poor living conditions.
The presentations on the Shouter Baptists highlighted
the group’s struggles to practice their religion against
strong opposition from established faiths and the
middle class who often reported on their activities to
the authorities. According to Dr. Matthews, “They were
seen as inferior and closely linked to slavery days and the
degradation of people of African descent.”
Why StudyHistory?
B Y D I X I E - A N N B E L L E
Soldiers returning home.
PHOTO COURTESY THE TRINIDAD AND TOBAGO
YEARBOOK 1916-1918, THE ALMA JORDAN LIBRARY.
A member of the University of the Southern Caribbean debate team.
PHOTO: ANEEL KARIM
UWI debate teammember makes a point.
PHOTO: ANEEL KARIM
Spiritual
Baptists in
attendance
at the
Baptist
Forum
