Even in this 21st Century (2018), many countries, the world over, still have never heard of Union Island, the third largest islands of the Grenadines. Is this a surprise to historians in the Caribbean? "The answer here is an unequivocal No!" Said Leslie Jennings, a historian, and third generation immigrant from the island of Trinidad, West Indies. "The Caribbean Sea is comprised of more than 700 Islands, and in a wider sense, the mainland countries of Venezuela, Guyana, Belize and French Guiana are a part of this Tropical atmosphere." She continued. "Every island have a past, or are linked to another larger island or islands that share a common history." Such is the case with Union Island, a 3.5 square mile landmass that was deemed the epicenter of an archipelago of 32 small islands. And although Union Island's history is intrinsically linked to Grenada and St. Vincent, two larger islands in the region, Union Island's history, for the most part, is an independent one that dates back to the mid 18th Century.During the 17th and 18th Centuries, Union Island was a hub for the French privateers that traversed the waters of the Grenadines on their voyages to the larger Islands in the region. And there are a lot of informative and intriguing information that is derived from the Caribbean during the early European presence. Unfortunately, the history of these islands in the vicinity (St. Vincent, Grenada, St. Lucia, and Dominica) was vaguely documented and was never taught in the schools of the Caribbean. Instead, the students have been force-fed the history of Europe and the might of the British Empire. The contents of the history textbooks at the schools and institutions in the Caribbean were pro-Europe; the students were daily served this menu as part of their intellectual diets. No data of St. Vincent & the Grenadines or Africa, the origin of the forefathers and foremothers of the current African generations was ever mentioned in the history books. Instead, the British Empire was lauded. Names such as Queen Isabella, King Ferdinand, John Hawkins, Walter Raleigh, Admiral Penn, General Venables, Francis Drake, and Henry Morgan were revered. Many of them were knighted "Sir" regardless of the taints and notorieties that are attached to their names. Regrettably, history teaches that these personalities should be respect and admired nonetheless.Fortuitously, for Union Island, its complete history is depicted in details in a new book Union Island History -Servitude, Metayage, and Civilization. In this intriguing text, the history dates back to the 1750s when this 3.5 Sq. Miles landmass was strong-armed from the Carib Indians by the French. The French proposed the cultivation of the cotton crop on the island based on the climate and the evanescence of its annual rainfall. Cotton, they thought, would have generated a sizable income in Europe. But free or cheap labor must first be put into place for the cultivation of the proposed cotton crop. Immediately, 350 Africans have been ushered in bondage from the west coast of Africa and were used as slaves for the first time on this tiny island.But with the principle of retributive justice or the doctrine of inevitable consequence being expressed in only a few years, the French ownership of Union Island was short lived. Their rulership was vehemently interrupted with the intervention of the Treaty of Paris in 1763, which give rise to the British dominance in the region. In reprisal, the French's wrath and resilience were felt a few years later when they reclaimed the neighboring island of Grenada. Consequently, the Grenadines were impacted negatively by the resurgence of the French in such proximity. To bring about tranquility in the region, which was rife with mayhem, another agreement (Treaty of Versailles) was drafted in the year 1783. This treaty represented the end of all territorial conflicts and insurgency; it installed a state of decorum and stability in the region. Unveil the details.
About the Author: The author is a Caribbean middle-aged male, whom one can classically call "A student of life." Despite having limited resources available to him throughout his youthful years, he has always found a way to attain knowledge via creative utilization of every opportunity and challenges he has encountered. Working his way up, he has self-taught and mastered the discipline of woodworking before eventually preparing himself for a career in the medical field as a HealthCare Provider -a passion he has long harbored since he was a young boy. Observing the phenomenon of Caribbean immigrants that have left their homes each year in search of a better life in America has prompted him to examine the trend of relocation, and the impact that it has on them. Armed with the knowledge that had been passed down to him from elders, coupled with his youthful experiences, assertiveness, and unwavering tenacity for knowledge, he set out to archive his valued collection -history rather. Over the span of a decade, he has amassed a wide array of information by way of interviews, books, and an extensive range of Internet research. Steadily piecing together an accurate and intricate story-like narrative of his birthplace, this erudite has expressed it superbly in his second book, Union Island's History -Servitude, Metayage & Civilization. His work is surely a Classic.