From Hansard: June 5th 1998
http://www.ttparliament.org/hansards/hh19980605.pdf (pgs. 372-374)
Bloody Tuesday - 1975:
(Fitzgeral Hinds speaking)
I remember well March 18, 1975 and I am sure the Member for St. Augustine; the Member for Couva North; the Member for Couva South; the Member for Oropouche will never forget it, including some who have gone to the hereafter.
That was the so-called “Bloody Tuesday”.
That incident arose when a number of trade union leaders led by the Member for Couva North—who has now abandoned
the trade unions; who has brought pain to their very spirits; who has left them dejected and disgruntled—was at the forefront of that march in March 1975.
[Interruption] It was on January 1, 1976 that I (Fitzgerald Hinds - my insert) went into the Police Service. So that the group of police officers, the recruits at the time—
Mr. Panday: Are you one of the “fellas” who beat me up?
Mr. F. Hinds: The Prime Minister is asking if I was one of the “fellas” who beat him on that occasion. Indeed, I was not. I just said I joined the Police Service in 1976,
but God knows, I wonder how I would have felt if I was there. Because it
was a deserving—to use his word—beating, indeed.
Because, Mr. Speaker, as I recall it—I was not there—but I recall it well and I was reminded of it by my father—may his soul rest in peace—because he followed the incident very closely from his armchair at home.
He told me that at the forefront of that march were the Members whose names I have just called and those who have gone to the great beyond. It has to do with their claiming that they had notified the Commissioner of Police.
They did not understand and the Member for Couva North is a lawyer; the Member for Couva South was right there in the background. In those days, he was carrying around papers and trying to get his foot in.
Dr. Rowley: He was in the PNM.
Mr. F. Hinds: He was in the PNM at that time, in the youth league, trying to corrupt and to interfere with the heart and soul of the PNM.
Mr. Panday: Like everybody leaving!
Mr. F. Hinds: It was not long after, of course, he was ejected. Yes. Mr. Speaker, there they were; they had told the Commissioner of Police about the march; they had notified the Commissioner of Police; not realizing that what
was necessary was not a notification, but an application for approval.
Dr. Rowley: They knew, but they were being defiant!
Mr. F. Hinds: I am being told that they knew, but they were defiant, and now
the Member for Couva North is asking why he got beaten. “Bootoo”—not baton,
you know—ever more!
Mr. Speaker, I could see them now on the television, arm in arm. You would not believe it was the same Member for Couva North. Now he keeps three, 10 and 17 arms’ lengths away from the very trade unions. I have some words here from
the President-General of the Oilfield Workers’ Trade Union which I shall quote very shortly. In those days, he was amongst them—already silver at that time, sly as a fox—singing, ‘We shall overcome’.
Mr. Valley: He has overcome!
Mr. F. Hinds: I am told that they took the great and indomitable Mr. Butler—
Mr. Sinanan: Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler.
Mr. F. Hinds: Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler.
Mr. Panday: You do not know the name!
Mr. F. Hinds: They took that great soul out of his ailing bed at the time and brought him to the platform, so that he could declare the meeting and the march going and open. He stumbled out of his bed and they brought him and exposed him
to tear gas and “bootoo” and you know what, we have a long-standing memory of that in the police service.
In those days, the Commissioner of Police was Mr. Tony May. Tubal Uriah ‘Buzz’ Butler, in his great oratory, because he knew they had defied the Commissioner, Mr. May and that they had no permission. The Members for Couva North and St. Augustine knew as well.
But, Mr. Butler in his great oratory, that morning asked the people who had gathered on the Coffee or wherever they were coming from, “Let me ask you this, ladies and gentlemen! Which comes first? March or May?” And the crowd said, “March!”
And he said, “Let us go!” And they went. He was saying that the month of March came before the month of May,
therefore, Mr. May could say what he wanted, “Leh we go!”
Mr. Panday: You try that! It is not that you “may” get lock up, but you“shall”!
Mr. F. Hinds: As they did that, the police superintendent who is now deceased—I think his name was Superintendent Wilson—called the troops together and lined up the police helmets, baskets and blue tip sticks and he waited.
Of course, by the time the crowds got closer, the Member for Couva North receded into the background.
Dr. Rowley: He fled! It was the young moon!
Mr. F. Hinds: He fled the scene as usual, turned coat and ran. The Member for St. Augustine probably just does not know better. He remained in front and they continued; then tear gas was fired and sticks started to rain upon them and they cried injustice as they marched for bread, peace and justice, but they were breaking the law.
They were always, in that particular case, as often otherwise, law breakers and they were dealt with according to law.
Mr. Assam: Y ou know, that is not even good comic relief!
Mr. F. Hinds: Mr. Speaker, I am told that when the young policemen finally caught up with the Member for Couva North about two blocks away and Senior Superintendent Wilson was close to him, he begged Senior Superintendent Wilson,
“Please, you lock me up! Do not let them little fellas take me here today at all! The ones with no number!” He begged the superintendent to take him in arms like a baby and he did. [Laughter]
Mr. Speaker: You know, these anecdotes and stories are all very amusing, but surely, let us please deal with the issue. With the greatest deference, apart from the stories, please, could we deal with the issues.
