Cyann Alfred on The Greatness of George Odlum

Cyann Alfred
Vieux-Fort Comprehensive Secondary School

“All the world’s a stage, and all the men and women merely players; they have their exits and entrances, and one man in his time plays many parts,”—William Shakespeare. George Odlum, affectionately known as ‘Brother George,’ honorably played many roles in Saint Lucia’s political development, executing the lead role in his own theatrical performance. Although he was widely regarded at times for being unconventional, controversial, and misguided in his approaches, it is vital to recognize that his aggressiveness and determination were two of the factors that contributed to his remarkable success in his path to leadership during times of significant social change. He is credited with being one of Saint Lucia’s most vocal politicians, endowed with the gifts of astounding intellect, irrefutable decency, and excellent oracy. George William Odlum was an exceptional student, an impressive politician, and a decent human being. He was a visionary ahead of his time, and a proud ‘fisher of men.’

As a man blessed with intelligence, he attended many prestigious institutions including the Saint Mary’s College, Bristol University, and Oxford University. George Odlum was not known for his subtlety, and so made great impressions no matter where he travelled. His proficiency in the English language as well as in Kwéyòl, his mother tongue, offered him a significant advantage in arousing interest and influence in all he encountered. It was no different when he traveled to the United Kingdom to further his education. His self-assurance and charisma won him the honor of being the First Black President of Bristol University’s Students Union. He also made notable smaller strides at Bristol as an avid debater and a member of the drama society. After Bristol, he moved on to pursue a degree in Philosophy, Politics and Economics at Oxford University.

The unfamiliarity of the United Kingdom did not weaken George Odlum’s connection to Saint Lucian culture. On the contrary, he exemplified it as he remained an ardent footballer and cricketer. His commendable achievements abroad laid the groundwork for his future achievements in Caribbean politics. George Odlum’s close friend and former President of the United Nations General Assembly, Honorable Julian R. Hunte, contended that George possessed sufficient intelligence to justify his occasional political insanity. In his tribute to George Odlum, ‘He Would Be King,’ he asserted that despite their sometimes opposing political views, they maintained a respectable personal relationship that was founded on mutual acceptance and understanding.

Moreover, George Odlum held an extensive and varied political resume, serving in the Saint Lucia parliament and the United Nations. He began as a Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Trade before becoming Executive Secretary to the Council of Ministers of the West Indies Associated States three years later. In 1970, George Odlum organized a secret meeting with some of the most prominent and progressive figures of the eastern Caribbean islands, as civil unrest in Jamaica and insurgencies in Curacao and Trinidad had catalyzed the region’s new intellectuals two years earlier. Following that meeting, “Forum” groups were formed in several islands, including St. Lucia, to inform citizens about local and foreign threats to national and regional unity.

He orchestrated one of his major political moves when he founded the St. Lucia Action Movement (SLAM) in 1972, with the goal of rejecting the Westminster electoral system. However, soon after, SLAM merged with the St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP). Odlum and the SLP came to power in 1979, but a power struggle between Allan Louisy, the prime minister, and George Odlum, the deputy prime minister, culminated in the premature termination of the SLP government in 1982 and the calling of fresh elections. Quitting the Labour Party, Odlum founded the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) with which to contest the 1982 general elections. However, in this general elections, he lost his parliamentary seat and Sir John Compton and his UWP regained power.

In 2001, Odlum teamed up with the then-retired Sir John Compton to consider the possibility of national unity as the governance system for Saint Lucia. He was adamant that people must own and participate actively in government processes, and that good governance was a right of all people.

George Odlum’s dedication to regional integration was admirable; he was steadfast in his belief that it was the region’s best safeguard against globalization. When asked about the importance of foreign policy to small states like Saint Lucia, he said “when I look at the trading blocks arranging themselves, I want to say stop the world, we want to get off” due to its visibly malicious and unsympathetic structure. Regardless of Odlum’s sometimes rash and passionate behavior, his intentions were always for the benefit of his country. In fact, he served St. Lucia as Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Foreign Affairs, and UN Ambassador.

George Odlum exemplified drive and perseverance throughout his political career. He was never one to buckle under political pressure and abandon his principles or beliefs, making him a reputable and admirable politician.

Permit me to question how many of the leaders of today exemplify such ethics. Furthermore, the degradation of morality today is disturbingly alarming. Our leaders, the very people who preach the importance of legality and adherence to the law, have openly degraded the meaning of morals and principles.

Unfortunately, it appears that the late nineteenth and early twentieth centuries was the pinnacle of great leadership. George Odlum embodied morality and integrity in his quest to advocate for the “little people.” As a prominent political figure, he did not conform to society’s expectations of arrogance and inflated superiority. Admittedly, he was one of the few leaders who made himself available to hear his people’s plight. George Odlum is remembered for his moving speeches delivered on the political platform of the Castries Market Steps. He was a social justice warrior, armed with enough artillery to gobsmack a veteran military general. He was known to deliver some of his most powerful orations on issues such as racial and religious equality, improvements in the standard of living for all Caribbean people, improved working conditions for small farmers, and the eradication of poverty.

It is no secret that he appreciated good literature; some might even argue that it was the reason for his oratory success. From diligently reading the Bible and immersing himself in Shakespeare’s work, George Odlum was well-versed in Elizabethan English. As the owner of The Crusader, a Saint Lucian newspaper, he exhibited his ease of innovation, his performative skills, and his welcoming and approachable nature. I believe we can all agree that Brother George was a weaver of words and sowed the seeds of integrity.

Finally, George Odlum had a dream, a dream which still awaits fulfillment. A dream of a prosperous Saint Lucia propelled by effective leadership and cooperation among its citizens. However, it is futile to recall his greatness if the legacy that he left behind does not substantiate our claims. Fortunately, this was of no issue in the case of Brother George. He is remembered and celebrated through the George Odlum Foundation, the George Odlum National Stadium in Vieux Fort, the Odlum Room at the Bristol University Students’ Union, this Secondary School George Odlum Essay Competition, the forthcoming book, They Called Him Brother George: Portrait of a Caribbean Politician, by Dr. Anderson Reynolds, and of course the cherished memories that he made with his countrymen.

So, it is with immense sadness that we mourn the lost privilege of roaming the two hundred and thirty-eight square miles of our ‘Helen of the West’ with the Great George Odlum, a voice of the people and a visionary of change, a man who surpassed mere mundane mortality on the 28^th of September 2003.

About the Author

I am sixteen year old Cyann Alfred. I previously attended the Fond St. Jacques Primary School, and currently I am a form five student at the Vieux-Fort Comprehensive Secondary School. In addition to Mathematics and English, I am studying Biology, Chemistry, Physics, Principles of Business, History, Social Studies and Spanish. I reside at Morne Sion, Choiseul, with my mother Sendyann Daniel and my stepfather Laury Osman.

I am a senior prefect at my school and a Saint Lucian ambassador for the She’s Great: Gender and My Community Club. I hope to pursue a career in Forensic Science and I plan to continue my education at a tertiary institution after my departure from secondary school.

This opportunity to research and write about George Odlum has piqued my interest in the politics of my home country. I have grown to admire George Odlum’s political zeal, and participating in such an initiative has inspired me to make a greater effort to learn and preserve my country’s history.