How wise was it to give a small and vulnerable volcanic island independence?

By Ricky Browne

The Caribbean nation of St Vincent and the Grenadines is under fire – or at least under the effects of fire – following the eruption of its La Soufrière volcano.

With the volcano erupting on Friday and again since then, the country — a part of the Windward Islands chain –has been trying to get its citizens to safety – including evacuating some of them off the island via cruise ships from the Carnival line. The nearby island nations of St Lucia, Grenada, Antigua and Barbados have agreed to take evacuees. Some 20,000 people have already fled the island – that’s almost 20 percent of the country’s population.

But more eruptions are expected in the days and weeks ahead, so who if anyone, can be safe on the small island nation?

The eruption is really the last thing that St Vincent and its population of 110,000 people needs, as it is in the throes of  the Covid-19 pandemic. And the pandemic adds a new complexity to the whole thing – trying to minimise crowding. People who are not vaccinated can not get on a boat to leave the island.

PREVIOUS ERUPTIONS

The last time La Soufrière erupted was in 1979 – not that long ago. But this eruption is being compared to the far worse eruption of 1902, when some 1,680 people were killed That eruption was overshadowed by another eruption by Mount Pelée on the nearby island of Martinique, which killed some 29,000 people.

But the volcano, which towers at 4,049 ft (1,234 metres) tall, has erupted at least two other times, in 1718 and 1812.

Miraculously, or perhaps thanks to good planning, no one has died in this eruption.

The volcano is as far removed from the capital of Kingstown as you can get on an island of 133 square miles (345 Km for those of metric mindset) – just 18 miles (29 kilometeres) long and 11 miles (18 kilometres) wide.

But that is hardly far enough to escape the threat of an exploding volcano – as even the island nation of Barbados, some 120 miles away, is now suffering under clouds of ash, with the population there told to stay indoors for their safety.

Is it really wise for a tiny volcanic island to be an independent stand-alone country? One can understand the eagerness of the United Kingdom to relieve itself of colonies across the globe that had become more of a cost than a benefit. One can even understand the desire of some people to belong to an independent state.

But how can a tiny, volcanic island of only 110,000 people be seriously expected to stand on its own two feet?

If millions of people in the UK and millions more around the globe think that the sixth largest economy in the world cannot survive as an independent state, but should instead be a part of the European Union – then how can any rational person think that St Vincent can make a success of it?

HOW ABOUT HANOVER?

Jamaicans who want to consider this question can think of their own country of 4,400 square miles that is divided into 14 parishes. What if each of those parishes was an independent country. What is Hanover, the smallest of the parishes (other than Kingston) was its own country?

Hanover is 267 square miles (430 square kilometres) with a population of about 70,000. That makes it almost twice the size of St Vincent, though with a smaller population. Its economy is based largely on tourism. Could such an area be an independent country – and if not, why not?

MAKING A FEDERAL CASE OUT IT

There was an attempt in the 1950’s for the United Kingdom to get rid of all its Caribbean possessions in one fell swoop, wrapping 13 territories up together in the Federation of the West Indies. But in 1958 Jamaica held a referendum on the issue, and the people decided that they did not want to be united with those other territories – with Guyana’s capital of Georgetown being as far from Jamaica’s capital of Kingston as was Washington in the US.

In the words of then-premier of Trinidad Eric Williams – “thirteen minus one leaves nought” – thereby laying the blame for the Federation’s failure on Jamaica’s shoulders.

But couldn’t a smaller federation have existed without Jamaica – particularly of islands that were closer together?

When St Vincent got is independence handed to it in 1979, it had an economy that was based on sugar cane, but the death of that industry has not really brought a replacement. Tourism is probably the great hope, and indeed the island owns part of the beautiful Grenadine chain of islands to its south, with it shares with Grenada.

The island of Mustique was a famous vacation spot for Princess Margaret, and has been visited by many other royals and A-list celebrities. Its rustic Basil’s Bar is well known by many well-heeled patrons, who kick off their heels to enjoy the relaxed vibe.

But it’s a bit of a hike to get to St Vincent, requiring a stop-off at Barbados or another island – and then some other means to get to the Grenadines.

The country also has a successful citizenship programme, where the well-heeled can acquire a St Vincent passport – which can be handy if your primary passport is restrictive, Nigerian or Chinese or whatever.

St Vincent was the last of the (British) Windward Islands to gain independence – though Martinique is still not independent and is a department of France. Other independent countries in the Windwards include St Lucia, Grenada and Dominica.

GRENADA

It may have made more sense for the UK to have tied St Vincent to Grenada – to which it is already tied geographically, through the Grenadine islands. At least then, the poor people of St Vincent could escape the volcano by moving to another part of their own territory – instead of having to depend on the charity of neighbours.

Even united with Grenada, however, the two island nations would still be miniscule on the world stage. But perhaps a little stronger than they are now in their divided state.

But while many celebrated the country gaining its independence, La Soufrière seemed to object to the development blowing its top in a massive eruption in April 1979 – just a few months before the country became independent on October 27, 1979.

Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves has been in that position for decade — since 2001 — and his son Camillo is now the Minister of Finance. Ralph has a socialist bent, and doesn’t seem to be going anywhere soon. His son has the name of a hero of the Cuban revolution — Camilo Cienfuegos, a good mate of Fidel and Che.

As a sign of the importance of the country, the United States has no official presence in St Vincent, with its ambassador based in Barbados.

Maybe this latest eruption can help St Vincent to reconsider its stand-alone independence, to consider some sort of union with other nearby islands. Many other Caribbean islands, including Grenada, Dominica and St Lucia have volcanoes as well. Grenada has two – Mt St Catherine and Kick’Em Jenny.  St Vincent itself has two other volcanoes, though not active. So maybe its time to think about having greater strength through unity.

The post La Soufrière holds the nation of St Vincent hostage appeared first on Matt Haycox.