The Antigua and Barbuda High Commission Official Newsletter - Issue 133 -- May 2009 Kelso Cochrane’s murder led the way for Race Relations Act in Britain Exactly 50 years after the violent The Notting Hill riots were recently Kelso through the heart with a stiletto murder of local resident Kelso highlighted in the popular British soap knife; three other men came to his aid Cochrane the Notting Hill community series EastEnders, in an historic prompting his attackers to flee. Those commemorated the anniversary by episode in March 2009, which for the three men took Kelso to hospital, installing and unveiling a Blue Plaque first time featured an all-black cast. where he died soon afterwards. His at the spot where he died in North funeral was attended by more than Kensington to honour his memory. Kelso Cochrane moved to London 1,200 people. from Antigua in 1954. He settled in The Kelso Cochrane Blue Plaque Notting Hill and worked as a carpenter. Oswald Mosley’s British Union event took place on Sunday 17th May He planned to study law and was Movement was active in Notting Hill at 3pm, 50 years to the day Kelso saving money earned from his work to and North Kensington at the time. A Cochrane was murdered. It was part of pay for his tuition fees. One evening Union Movement member, Peter a week end of activities organised by after fracturing his thumb in an Dawson, later claimed in an interview the 1958-9 Remembered Steering accident at work, he went along to the with the Sunday People that it had Group who have been running a year A&E department of Paddington been a group member who was long programme of events to General Hospital for treatment. responsible for the murder. Indeed not remember the 1958 Notting Hill race long afterwards Mosley held a public riots and to celebrate the community It was while walking home from there meeting on the spot where Kelso relations achievements since then. that he was set upon by a group of Cochrane had been murdered. No one white racists. One of the men stabbed was ever convicted. Continued on page 9 In This Issue 1. High Commissioner unveils “Blue Plaque” for Kelso Cochrane (pages 1, 3 and 9) 2. Prime Minister attends OECS Heads of Government Meeting in Tortola (page 4) 3. Minister of Education and Chinese diplomat discuss assistance for improving education in Antigua and Barbuda( page 8) Antigua and Barbuda High Commission Issue 133 - May 2009 formed by a party other than Boundaries’ Commission. It is to be the ALP, would be a one-term noted that a Boundaries’ Commission phenomenon. For the sake of was only constituted around the democracy, we are happy to middle of 2007 at the insistence of the see this “myth” shattered. ABEC. We commend them on their proactive action. The newly Following the elections many appointed Boundaries’ Commission,, residents in the country in spite of several set backs, was able began seeking answers as to to complete its work by June 2008 what seemed to have gone and its report was forwarded to the wrong. There were many Speaker of the House of accusations and many Representatives as required by the seemed so disappointed with Constitution. It took Parliament about the outcome that there was a two and a half months to adopt the concern that voter Boundaries’ Commission Report and disillusionment could set in. I to Gazette it as Statutory Instrument will limit my messages to a No. 50 of 2008. Why so long? What review and analysis of three were the issues which came into (3) issues of concern. These play? Is there a process or procedure are:- which needs reviewing? 1. Electoral Boundaries’ Adjustments The report was the first look at any boundaries and any issues 2. Suspected padding emanating there from in twenty-four of the voters list (24) years (that is since 1984). In this period the number of voters in three 3. Re-issuing of constituencies of concern (All Saints East and St. Luke, St. George and St. lost/stolen/defaced voter IDs Mary’s North) had increased by 44%, 88% and 68% respectively. It The 2009 Elections in Electoral Boundaries’ Adjustments therefore begs the questions: The question is always being asked: Antigua and Barbuda · What should trigger the “Was the adjustment of the electoral (Part 2) boundaries left until too late?” setting up of a Boundaries’ Concerns about certain boundaries Commission? In my last message I presented the first surfaced around the time of the first part of this series of articles on 2004 elections. In spite of these · How often should this be another very interesting elections in growing concerns registration of done? Antigua and Barbuda. The elections voters nonetheless continued took place on the 12th March 2009. unchecked for several years. As the · How long before the date of statement issued by the Antigua and General Elections should the On this occasion the United Barbuda Electoral Commission process of accepting, Progressive Party (UPP) led by Prime (ABEC) states gazetting and implementing Minister, the Hon. W. Baldwin “[a]s a result, as time progressed it became boundary changes be Spencer won nine (9) seats, the completed? Antigua Labour Party (ALP) led by the increasingly clear that Hon. Lester B. Bird won seven (7) persons had for a protracted period been registered in I believe that the report of the and the Hon. Trevor Walker of the Commonwealth Observer Team Barbuda Peoples Movement (BPM) constituencies other than the one in which they resided, effectively addresses this matter. It won the seat in the sister island of states that Barbuda. mainly due to the fact that these boundaries consisted “The legislative enactment of of imaginary lines ….” boundary changes should be The UPP, in successfully winning the reviewed in order to prevent polls, broke the “myth” that prevailed It was not until 2007 that some action boundary changes conflicting in the country that any opposition with the transfer of names on government, i.e. any government was taken by the ABEC in the absence of a duly appointed the list of electors from one Continued on page 5 2 The Antigua and Barbuda High Commission Issue 133 - May 2009 Presentation by High Commissioner Dr Carl Roberts at the Unveiling of the Kelso Cochrane “Blue Plaque” Memorial Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea, Councillor The Hon. Joanna Gardner, Mr Jak Beula, Chair of the Nubian Jak Community Trust, other distinguished guests, ladies and gentlemen. It is indeed an honour for me to be here with you today to join in remembering Kelso Cochrane, a fellow countryman who was murdered around 50 years ago. We are here to honour his memory with the unveiling of a “Blue Plaque”. The Cochrane family is prominent in Antigua and Barbuda and no doubt remembers this event with much sadness. The death of any close relative, friend or neighbour can at times be traumatic enough much less death under such circumstances in which Kelso Cochrane died. We simply have to ask Kelso’s brother Stanley, who still grieves on account of two sad facts: · He never got the chance to town of Soweto, was reminded by our Kelso Cochrane was no political activist. come to his brother’s funeral in tour guide of the deaths of Hector He was a humble carpenter, with a 1959, Peterson in 1976 and Steve Biko in strong ambition to better himself like · And the lack of justice meted 1977. Each of these events added many of the citizens of my country, who out to this family member. impetus to the struggle for change in migrated to the UK in the 1950s and 1960s. Kelso wanted to become a lawyer, nothing more. His death at the hands of a number of white youths, brought both whites and blacks of the community together in strong opposition to racism and the threatened growth of fascism. But the memory of this sad day gradually faded from our minds over the ensuing years. That is being corrected this year. The sacrifice which this citizen of Antigua and Barbuda made in 1959 will be remembered through this plaque which we unveil today. Let all who read it remember that God is in the midst of everything. He moves in his mysterious ways his wonders to perform. We hope that one day those with information about this horrible deed, in an effort for truth and reconciliation, will come forward and assist in the healing of the community. Let us look for the good in (left to right) Mrs Pauline Roberts, HE Dr Carl Roberts - High Commissioner for Antigua and Barbuda , Councillor Pat Mason and every bad situation, for since Kelso’s Mayor of Kensington and Chelsea, Councillor The Honourable Joanna Gardner death there has been some positive changes. Some barriers have been Though his murderers have never been that country and some will say that these broken down but we must recognise that brought to justice, Kelso Benjamin individuals were intimately involved in much more is still there to be done. Let Cochrane did not die in vain. the struggle for freedom and dignity of us therefore seek our Lord’s blessing as blacks in South Africa. Their deaths we continue our initiatives to heal this Several weeks ago I visited South Africa significantly changed the course of that nation. for the first time and, while touring the struggle and its eventual outcome. 3 The Antigua and Barbuda High Commission Issue 133 - May 2009 OECS Heads of the OECS Economic Union, environmental management and Government Meeting economic development.