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

age. In the following month, January 1943 a Labour delegation interviewed
Sir Cosmo Parkinson, Permanent Under Secretary of State for
the Colonies, who paid a short visit to the island, and discussed several
problems facing the territory. The delegation presented a memorandum
which stated, it is our considered opinion that the solution of the economic
and social problems of the Presidency lies more and more in the
direction of the gradual and steady extension of the present program of
land settlement for St. Kitts, begun with the purchase of Fahies and
Saddlers estates... We find ourselves at war with the present large estate
system since it breeds nothing short of economical and social slavery,
in the nature of cause and effect for the masses of the people; and
one of the permanent disabilities of this system is the fear that it is very
largely in the hands of absentee proprietors.
To remedy the damage of three centuries of slave society in
these parts could be no small task. The bad housing and other deplorable
conditions peculiar to the landless population have come down all
through the years. On its formation in 1932, the Workers League attempted
to find solutions for the housing problem. Since this was an
agricultural community, it was essential that the masses be associated
with ownership and control of land and made their contribution to national
production as a class, and in their own rights. Laws were enacted
in 1948 to deal with slum clearances as well as with town and country
planning. Housing projects and various schemes were created to help
crystalise the workers’ dreams of a stake in their country. Scores of
working class families have been assisted in getting their own homes.
Pursuing its land policy, the Government has brought under
public ownership 23 of about 90 estates in the territory till 1969. This is
a bold step forward. However, the goals of making the fullest use of
these estates and getting the greatest returns from them must be steadfastly
followed up by government and people alike. Success of the enterprise
will be achieved to the extent that a serious program of crop
cultivation and stock raising is carried out by conscientious persons
supported with scientific guidance and modern implements.
Caution
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