The Betrayal of Christena and the Erosion of Labour’s Legacy

The relationship between the islands of St. Kitts and Nevis, unified under a single flag and government, is a complex one marked by a historical undercurrent of mistrust, particularly between Nevisians and the dominant St. Kitts Labour Party, once led by the Federation’s first National Hero, Robert Llewellyn Bradshaw. This complex relationship stems from a history of perceived political neglect, culminating in the tragic Christena ferry disaster and the subsequent rise of the Nevis secessionist movement. Understanding this history is crucial to grasping the lingering ambivalence, and sometimes outright hostility, that many Nevisians still harbor towards Bradshaw and his party’s legacy.

The seeds of Nevisian discontent were sown in the late 1960s, following constitutional changes and the Anguilla rebellion. The St. Kitts Labour Party, under Bradshaw’s leadership, focused its attention and resources on its political rivals in St. Kitts, the People’s Action Movement (PAM), effectively sidelining Nevis and its lone Labour-aligned parliamentary representative. This perceived neglect fueled a sense of marginalization among Nevisians, who felt their needs and concerns were ignored by the Basseterre-centric government. This growing resentment created a fertile environment for the emergence of a political movement that prioritized Nevisian interests and challenged the dominance of St. Kitts.

The tragic sinking of the MV Christena ferry in 1970 proved to be a turning point in the relationship between the two islands. The overloaded ferry, returning from Emancipation Day celebrations, capsized, resulting in the loss of 227 lives, impacting nearly every family on Nevis. The Bradshaw-led government was accused of negligence in maintaining safety standards, further exacerbating the existing tensions. For Nevisians, the Christena disaster was not merely an accident; it became a potent symbol of the perceived disregard and marginalization they experienced under the Labour government. This tragedy galvanized the formation of the Nevis Reformation Party (NRP) just two months later, led by Simeon Daniel, whose platform centered on secession from St. Kitts.

Throughout the 1970s, the political paths of St. Kitts and Nevis diverged dramatically. The NRP gained parliamentary representation, and in the 1975 elections, Nevisian voters overwhelmingly rejected Bradshaw’s Labour Party, giving the NRP a decisive victory based on their secessionist platform. The call for separation intensified under NRP leaders like Ivor Stevens and Simeon Daniel, culminating in secession resolutions presented in both the Nevis Council and the national House of Assembly. Mass demonstrations in Charlestown underscored the widespread support for autonomy among Nevisians. Bradshaw’s Labour Party, once seen as merely neglectful, was now perceived as an oppressive force denying Nevisians their right to self-determination.

The relationship between Bradshaw and Daniel became increasingly acrimonious, marked by accusations of neglect and disregard for Nevis’s welfare. Bradshaw’s infamous remark about “bones in our rice, pepper in our soup,” intended as a metaphor for austerity, was interpreted by Nevisians as a dismissive comment reflecting Basseterre’s contempt for their island. This perception further solidified the belief that Nevis was treated as a secondary concern. In 1977, Nevisians held a referendum, voting overwhelmingly in favor of secession. Although Bradshaw dismissed the vote as invalid, the political rift between the two islands deepened irrevocably.

Even Bradshaw’s death in 1978 did little to bridge the divide. His successors failed to gain the trust of Nevisians, and in the 1980 elections, the Labour Party lost its long-held dominance. The NRP, winning both Nevisian seats, formed a coalition government with the PAM, marking the first time in over three decades that Labour was relegated to the opposition. This power shift gave Nevisians, through Simeon Daniel, a significant voice in the political landscape. The coalition paved the way for independence in 1983, with the new constitution enshrining Nevisian autonomy through the creation of the Nevis Island Administration and granting Nevis the legal right to secede through a referendum.

The legacy of Robert Bradshaw remains a complex and contested issue. While revered in St. Kitts as a national hero and anti-colonial figure, he is often viewed in Nevis as a symbol of neglect, tragedy, and the denial of their aspirations. The Christena disaster, the dismissal of secessionist demands, and the perceived arrogance of Basseterre continue to resonate deeply within the Nevisian collective memory, shaping generations and influencing political perspectives. Nevisians often see the Labour Party not as liberators but as centralizers, prioritizing Basseterre’s power at the expense of Nevisian dignity. The enduring legacy of this period is a persistent undercurrent of separatist sentiment and a lingering distrust of the St. Kitts Labour Party. This historical divide continues to shape the unique and often uneasy relationship between the two islands, highlighting the complexities of their shared history and the enduring impact of past grievances.