I was not falling into line the way the UDP leaders believed I should have, so they stepped on me, hard. (Five years later, the same thing happened to me with the ruling PUP, in early 1978, when their leadership decided they had to discipline me.) I understand more today why the UDP stepped on me in 1973 and 1974. I still do not believe it was fair, but there?s no hard feelings.

The thing is that this is a part of Belize?s political history which the UDP absolutely refuses to discuss seriously. And that is why this Tuesday night on the Kremandala Show, John Avery, the editor of the UDP GUARDIAN, confessed that he was surprised when last week Wednesday night?s student/union/UDP demonstration at the Belcan Bridge became a lumpenproletariat riot and looting on Albert Street within a half hour or so.

John Avery was surprised because he does not know the history of May 29, 1972. On that evening the UBAD Party was staging a Pan African Day march, and night fell as we marched across from the Northside to the Southside. I am trying to remember how we crossed the Haulover Creek. I remember marching past Premier George Price?s house on Pickstock Street, and then I remember distinctly coming up Orange Street into Albert Street, where the uprising started in front of the Guatemalan Consulate, which in 1972 was upstairs of the old Odette?s across from Brodies. Was the pontoon bridge between Pickstock and Richard?s Sidewalk still in place? I don?t remember.

Anyhow, I distinctly remember that when the attacks on the Guatemalan Consulate began, Finnegan was right next to me. He was a UBAD member at the time. UBAD proceeded to break every piece of glass marching down Albert Street and up Regent Street until we reached Courthouse Wharf. There was almost no looting. Serious thing. The destruction was political in expression. One of the things I will never understand is that a police jeep, which included an Inspector Allen, led that parade of destruction all the way down Albert Street and all the way up Regent Street.

UBAD was supposed to have a rally at Courthouse after the Pan African march, but it was cancelled.

At this point it appears that a group of three UBADers ? secretary-general Norman Fairweather; Michael Hyde (deceased), my younger brother; and Edwardo Burns, the printer of Amandala, decided to make a series of direct attacks on the ruling PUP. The evidence in Supreme Court at their trial in October of 1972 indicated that they broke open Premier George Price?s office in the Treasury Building, tried to destroy the BELIZE TIMES office and press on Queen Street, and then attacked and smashed Radio Belize transmitters on Princess Margaret Drive. (Radio Belize was a much hated government monopoly.)

The political mood of Belize was such that a jury of nine, despite the evidence, acquitted the ?Pan African Three.? They were defended by attorney Dean Lindo, who was Norman Fairweather?s brother-in law, and who at that time was a friend of UBAD?s.

On that day of acquittal more than 33 years ago, UBAD was very powerful and we were united. But that same night, while we were celebrating at Riverside Hall, the first signs of division began to appear. That is the rest of the story some leaders of Her Majesty?s Loyal Opposition do not wish to be told.

People like John Avery, Ambrose Tillett, and even Dean Barrow himself, know almost nothing about May 29, 1972. I?ve always told the story of 1972 in order to explain that I was the victim of a conspiracy. But today I tell this story from the standpoint of honouring Norman, my younger brother Michael, and Edwardo Burns, who happens to be an older brother of the poet who calls himself River of Fire. Norman was unquestionably the leader of the three, and to him should go most of the historic and heroic credit for a statement in the streets which broke the street power of the PUP and paved the way for the coming of the UDP in 1973.

If the people who lead the UDP do not wish to discuss this part of Belize?s history because they do not wish for my name to be cleared, then they should discuss it to make sure that the heroism of Norman Fairweather, Michael Hyde and Edwardo Burns is honoured and remembered by future generations of our people. I like John Avery and I believe that he is a sincere Belizean. With the UDP newspaper at his disposal, John should investigate the truth of May 29, 1972, and give Norman Fairweather his righteous glory.