JNF-The-Working-Class-Struggle-of-Half-a-Century

At West Farm the marchers were prevented by armed policemen
sent from Basseterre from entering the yard of the estate. A part of
the crowd, however, made their way through the fields and satisfied
themselves that the West Farm labourers did not intend to continue
working after they had learnt that workmen on several other estates had
struck
.
The crowd grew larger as it moved along. News reached
Basseterre that the situation was taking alarming proportions. A number
of influential men including Rev. Mansfield Williams, the Honorable
Clement Malone, His Worship Mr. E.P.S. Bell, Magistrate, District
“D”, and Major O. St. A Duke, Inspector of Police, overtook the crowd
in the neighboring Lamberts Estate and tried to persuade them to refrain
from any act which may tend to create public disorder.
The strikers gave their promise to maintain due regard for the
King’s peace. The march continued to Stonefort, Middle Island, Lamberts
and Godwin at which places an additional number of persons
joined in the demonstration. At Sandy Point the strikers received a report
that the labourers on Buckleys estate had turned to work. The
crowd divided, one half continuing the march to the eastern district of
the island and the other turning back towards Buckleys. Fresh men had
been recruited in the morning on the estate to carry on the work but
were soon after urged to cease. Having reaching Buckley’s estate, the
strikers met a man on a cart in the estate yard and advised him to
abandon the cart. The man readily did so.
It is alleged that Mr. Dobridge, manager, and Mr. Pond overseer
on the estate, appeared with loaded shotguns on the scene and ordered
the crowd out of the yard. A firearm was discharged in the crowd
and, as a result four persons suffered minor wounds.
Report of the Chief Justice
St. Kitts had become a battle field on which estate workers in 1935
were struggling for a living wage. The method they used was criticised
but they could see no other course to take. Their request for a rise of
pay led to a stoppage of work; the “strike” led to an island wide call on
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