Aboard the Commandante Pineres: The 11th World Festival of Youth & Students, Cuba July 1978, & the Caribbean Struggle for National Liberation , 2016
The Cuban Revolution trip in 1978 undertaken by student leader Gabriel Christian is at the cente... more The Cuban Revolution trip in 1978 undertaken by student leader Gabriel Christian is at the centerpiece of this well-documented memoir of the Caribbean independence movement by Gabriel Christian, who participated in it as a young student leader. The trip to Cuba in 1978 provides Christian with a platform from which to observe and opine upon the social changes and political upheavals on Jamaica, Dominica, St. Lucia, and the Grenadian Revolution made one year later on March 13, 1979. The Grenada Revolution is made, in part, by some of the delegates who represented Grenada at the 11th World Festival of Youth & Students and who befriended Christian. Christian is also a leader in the radical surge, which removes Dominica's Prime Minister Patrick John following the May 29, 1979 riot and uprising on his own island. Invited by his Grenadian revolutionary comrades to celebrate the Grenadian Revolution's first anniversary, Christian glimpses the first signs of the intolerance that ultimately dooms the Grenadian Revolution. In some form or the other, Christian had been involved in the radical politics that shaped his youth from the relatively tender age of nine when news of the 1970 Trinidad Regiment mutiny during the Black Power surge in that sister English speaking island stirred a debate in his household. After witnessing the rise and fall of Caribbean radicalism and post independence leaders' efforts to build just and prosperous societies, Christian has had great exposure that allows some to comment with some wisdom. A practicing attorney in Maryland and US federal courts, Christian is an active civic leader in the Washington, DC metro area, the wider Caribbean, and his island Dominica. He remains committed. His memoir confirms the importance of democratic norms such as free and fair elections, strict adherence to parliamentary procedures, the rule of law, due process, a strong civil society, an independent judiciary, a dynamic private sector committed to social responsibility, equality of opportunity society, and integrity in governance as key to the continued freedom and prosperity of the Caribbean people.
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This booklet seeks to share a brief history of Blacks in aviation.
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1. raw lime juice
2. otto of lime
3. lime juice cordial
citrate of lime
4. pickled limes
5. distilled lime oil
6. green limes
Dominica was the primary producer of limes for the British Royal Navy, as the fruit and its byproducts were critical to staving off the ravages of scurvy, a disease common among sailors born of vitamin C deficiency.
Between 1915 and 1920, Dominica exported an average of 390,000 barrels of lime juice, primarily to the United Kingdom, and was the largest lime exporter in the world
This booklet seeks to share a brief history of Blacks in aviation.
1. raw lime juice
2. otto of lime
3. lime juice cordial
citrate of lime
4. pickled limes
5. distilled lime oil
6. green limes
Dominica was the primary producer of limes for the British Royal Navy, as the fruit and its byproducts were critical to staving off the ravages of scurvy, a disease common among sailors born of vitamin C deficiency.
Between 1915 and 1920, Dominica exported an average of 390,000 barrels of lime juice, primarily to the United Kingdom, and was the largest lime exporter in the world
A Reflection on Our British Heritage, Pan Africanism, Development and British Heritage as seen from the perspective of one born in the British West Indian colony of Dominica during the period 1961 through 1982.
That we remember them is to realize a consolidation of a sense of victory, and “can do” which propelled military veterans such as Norman Washington Manley, Wellington Wellwood Grant, Captain Arthur Cipriani, Tubal Uriah “Buzz” Butler, Edward Scobie, Errol Barrow, Cy Grant, Ulric Cross, Wendell Christian, Twistleton Bertrand, DudelyThompson, Milton Cato, Julian Maryshow and many others to leadership roles in the governance and civic life of their respective countries. That we gather at Andrews Air Force Base in Maryland marks another milestone, as it the first time – to our knowledge - that veterans of the British West Indian war effort in World War II are paid tribute on US soil. Their valiant struggle, as part of the Allied crusade against tyranny and for freedom and democracy, allowed us a better dispensation that we enjoy today. But for their efforts in the Caribbean and Europe, coupled with the heroism of the famed Tuskegee Airmen of the US Army Air Corp which forged an expansion of equality of opportunity, there may have never been a Baroness Scotland Attorney General of England, a General Colin Powell or a President Barack Obama. In a manner that they may never have realized, they ushered in a brave new world of opportunity. So, for those who paid the ultimate sacrifice, their lives were not given in vain.
Irving Andre and I have consecrated the sacrifice of the British West Indian military by rescuing its achievement and glory from oblivion. By rendering that noble military lineage born of our proud British West Indian heritage in words, we ensure that generations yet unborn will know of these brave men and women. Our work, then is the genesis of Caribbean Glory: that philosophy of noble memory enrolled in the service of national development. We see this work, therefore, as a catchment of collected and collective wisdom that inspires us to achieve excellence in all our endeavors. This is a time of serious challenge in our Caribbean, and we must be mindful that we preserve that integrity which is the essence of our democracies. Our work, then is a clarion call to reject those who would succumb to deviance in civic leadership and so impoverish our people amidst a maelstrom of misconduct that negates the rule of law.
At this moment, may we grant greater meaning to those few we honor this Caribbean heritage Month of June 2009. Though fail in body, they are forever brave of heart. They are the last of that contingent that reported for duty to King and Country when war came in 1939. We may never see the likes of them again. It is therefore right and proper that we salute them for having braced themselves to their duties at Mankind’s darkest hour; may we always remember them.
The library was a gift to our island by Scottish American iron magnate Andrew Carnegie at the urging of Dominica's then British Governor Hesketh Bell. Opened in 1905, the Roseau Public Library is the de facto national library that has opened the doors of knowledge to generations of our people.
On either side of Didier Lane was one and two storey cinder block bungalows painted in gay blues, pinks, greens and creams. The homes were all covered in corrugated tin roof; some roofs were painted in brick red. There was a big three storey building built by a Dominican-Lebanese store owning family the Brohims on our lane, but that came later. There were many empty lots with guava, mango and tamarind trees. However, the tamarind tree in Didier Lane was very sour and we - the kids - preferred to go to the seaside next to Huxley Shillingford's house where there some stout tamarind trees; the tamarind fruit on those tree were sweeter.
General Charles received his disciplinary and military background as a Cub Scout and Boys Scout, the Royal Army Cadet Corps of the St. Mary’s Academy, and the Cadet Corps of the Dominica Grammar School with the rank of Sergeant. His spiritual background was shaped via membership in the Children of Mary, Young Christian Students (YCS) and the Holy Name Society through the St. Mary’s Academy.
A U.S. Army Vietnam Era veteran, he served in Europe as a French Linguist and Finance Specialist with the U.S. Army Elements at Supreme Headquarters Allied Powers Europe (SHAPE) in Belgium, and the 106th Finance Section serving the US European Command Headquarters in Stuttgart, Germany.
A member of the Virgin Islands Army National Guard from 1976, he was commissioned a 2nd Lieutenant in April 1977, upon graduating from the Infantry Officer Candidate Course (OCS) at Ft. Benning, Georgia. He is a 1998 inductee of the OCS Hall-of-Fame at the U.S. Army Infantry School on Ft. Benning, Georgia.
His military decorations include the Meritorious Service Medal, Army Commendation Medal with one Oak Leaf Cluster, Army Reserve Component Achievement Medal (w/ 7 Oak Leaf Clusters, National Defense Service Medal w/ Star Device, Humanitarian Service Medal w/1st Bronze Service Star, Armed Forces Reserve Medal with Bronze Hour Glass, Overseas Service Ribbon, Global War on Terrorism Service Medal, Army Service Ribbon, Reserve Component Overseas Deployment Training Ribbon, VI Meritorious Service Medal, VI Commendation Medal, V.I. Long & Faithful Service Medal; V.I. Emergency Service Ribbon.; American Legion Meritorious Service Award, Basic Parachutist Badge, and the Cold War Certificate.
BG Charles is a graduate of the New York Institute of Technology (NYIT). He is a Gospel singer and soloist. He is married to Peturna Laura Richardson and has six children and eight grandchildren.