Davianne Alexander
Beanefield Comprehensive Secondary School
On September 28, 2003, the people of St. Lucia experienced the loss of a man whom many believe was one of the major pioneers in creating opportunities for Caribbean and black men alike. While we may have lost one of our biggest advocates, let us remember the words of William Shakespeare, “some are born great, some achieve greatness, and some have greatness thrust upon them.” This statement encompasses the life of the late George William Odlum in its entirety, as he not only earned greatness but exuded an air of excellence that many still aspire to emulate and his impact will forever remain a crucial part of our lives as St. Lucians shaping our identity.
From an early age, George showed a propensity for a greatness that seemed to be ingrained in his blood. Born on the 24th of June, 1934, the Castries native never let his background hold him back but instead strived to make the most of what he had and make a name for himself. After completing his tertiary education, George went on to attend one of the most prestigious schools in the UK, the University of Bristol, in 1956, studying economics. He later went on to become one of the first few Black Caribbean students to attend Magdalen College in Oxford in 1959. At University, George was not only an intellectual being, but he also participated in sports such as cricket and football, he took up acting and even made a name for himself in debating, truly solidifying his status as an all-rounder. After graduating from Oxford, Odlum returned to St. Lucia in 1961 where he became a permanent secretary in the Ministry of Trade. In 1964, he moved to the UK to become an economist in the Commonwealth Secretariat before returning 3 years later where he began his ambitious journey.
While many may view George Odlum as a controversial figure, one thing that is accepted universally is that this man created history and achieved a level of greatness that is still revered by many. During his time at the University of Bristol, he became the first Black student to captain the debating team, as well as the first black president of any Student’s Union in Britain, creating history not only for St. Lucia but for the Caribbean and black people as a whole and consequently beginning a social revolution. In fact, his impact was so substantial, he had an entire room in the University named after him in 2004. But he didn’t just stop there.
George later went on to begin many movements and changes in his country. In fact, his vision and determination for a better St. Lucia resulted in diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China in 1997. This resulted in several development projects such as the Free Trade Zone and the construction of the Stadium in Vieux Fort which was named the George Odlum Stadium in his honor. He also impacted the Caribbean, starting in 1967 when he became executive secretary of their grouping, the West Indies Associated States. In addition, he was an advocate of the “Black Power Movement” that initiated riots in Jamaica, in 1968, and uprisings in Curaçao and Trinidad in an effort to create better conditions for the Caribbean.
In 1972, Odlum founded the St. Lucia Action Movement (SLAM), which shunned the Westminster electoral system. However, in 1974 he stirred some controversy when he merged SLAM with the SLP, a party he previously harbored a dislike for. Although Odlum went on to switch loyalties throughout his tenure in politics, no one can discredit the man of his wondrous achievements.
George Odlum showed us that greatness is not only about what you have achieved but the impact you have made on others. Brother George as he was affectionately called by his colleagues was a man who was down to earth and cared about the wellbeing of the people with a compassion rivaling that of Sir John Compton. He never forgot his roots and the struggles he endured. Instead, Odlum made it his duty to help and empower the working class in an effort to create an economy geared toward equality and empowerment. He delivered many public speeches in St. Lucia and made it clear that he believed that as St. Lucians, we should take a stand in order to ensure we do not fall prey to piracy. In fact, he stated that St. Lucia should remain “a warm, hospitable island but a no-nonsense island, where foreigners know they are welcome to enjoy themselves and partake of nature’s bounty in peace but an island with no scope for piracy, an island which jealously guards the pride and dignity of its people and will not sell its birthright for the proverbial mess of pottage”.
He was described as pioneering, brave and prepared to step into the unknown in order to make a difference. George wasn’t afraid to let his voice be heard and even held a campaign against the unscrupulous terms demanded by the US oil transnational Amerada Hess to build a giant tank-farm on our island, which made him a local hero. He was also an advocate of togetherness and prosperity.
His charisma and confidence are two of his most well-known characteristics as well as his affinity to take risks. Odlum had a vision for change and made it his duty to ensure he left his mark on not just his country but the world at large before his untimely death at age 69 at the Tapion hospital in Castries. His funeral saw widespread grieving, with Ralph Gonsalves, the Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, describing him simply as a “giant of a man”.
In conclusion, George Odlum was a man who was, although not born into greatness, had greatness flowing through his veins and from an early age had a desire to prosper. He made drastic changes that our society today can still feel the impact of and was an advocate for the prosperity of the people. He was down to earth and impacted many people.
However, I want to express immense disappointment in us as a country. We had the opportunity to meet a visionary who had magnificent plans for our country yet we failed him spectacularly by not supporting his quest to be prime minister. This man made the world his oyster and wasn’t afraid to take decisions that many considered unconventional.
We claim to honor and appreciate him yet refuse to take the necessary actions required to renovate a stadium that is supposedly in his honor which now serves as the main hospital in the South. Instead, we see it fit to fight amongst ourselves for a power that belongs to neither of us in the first place. How is it that a man born and raised in our country gets more respect from the outside world than from his people? As a people, we should be looking to emulate the greatness that George Odlum possessed and wanted his country to possess. We have lost sight of the true meaning of politics and patriotism, content to sit back and watch as our country slowly falls to its doom. Therefore, we need to reevaluate ourselves and take a page out of Odlum’s book of selflessness and togetherness in an effort to continue his legacy.
About the author
I am 16 years old and a former student of the Belle Vue Combined School and currently a Form 5 student at the Beanefield Comprehensive Secondary School. I reside in Pierrot, Vieux-Fort, with my parents Dashka Dupre St. Romain and Marvin St. Romain along with my three siblings and extended family. At present I am studying English A, Literature, Geography, Social Studies, Biology, Spanish, Chemistry and have decided to undertake Principles of Business since I wrote Mathematics earlier this year.
I aspire to be a Medical Scientist however I would also love to work in the field of social sciences where I can help persons directly. Although I am not an active sports person, I participate in any activity that is required of me and am an avid believer in school spirit. With regards to extracurricular activities, I recently advocated for the creation of a new group in my school called ISCCF or the Interschool and Christian Fellowship, a place where students of Christian belief can come to congregate and share in their love of God. As we speak we are steadily building membership.
Researching and writing this essay motivated me tremendously. As I delved into the life and history of Mr. George Odlum, a range of emotions overtook me. I was in awe of Mr. Odlum and his many achievements because he was a brave pioneer whom I believe marked a change in our country. On the other hand, I felt a pang of disappointment because as a young person born and raised in this St. Lucia I was unaware of just how impactful Mr. Odlum was in our history. Whilst we may make mention of him here and there, no one has taken the time to explain to our generation just how groundbreaking this man’s achievements truly were. We are losing an important part of our history and I don’t think we place sufficient importance on his upstanding qualities.
As I concluded my research into his exciting and rollercoaster history, a few things stuck with me: the immense need to begin a change in our country and the need to restructure our mindsets and make a difference in our country the way he would have wanted.
Other Two Shortlisted Essays
Teia-Marie Alexander on The Greatness of George Odlum
Cyann Alfred on The Greatness of George Odlum
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