Modeste Downes Reviews the Definitive Biography of Sir John

Upon reading this enchanting biography on the life of one of the Caribbean’s most notable leaders, anyone who has had only an introduction to the history of civilization will have recalled some of the great figures down the ages who, in distinctive ways, helped to shape their part of the world, leaving indelible footprints behind. Images of Julius Caesar, the Pharaohs, Alexander the Great, Imhotep, among others, crept into my mind.

Although differing from them in that most were militaristic and expansionist, this hero is linked by the common trait that they were all nation builders and monumental in their accomplishments.

The author, Dr. Anderson Reynolds, tends to tackle material seemingly anathema to his peers—with the exception, perhaps, of Rick Wayne and McDonald Dixon. This daring, detailed and delectable treatment of the life and times of John Compton is no exception.

In John Compton: Power, Struggle and the Making of a Nation, armed with all the information he could possibly assemble, Reynolds flexes his creative muscles and what emerges is a true and near-complete picture of a man destined for leadership and poised to accomplish big things.

The narrative he weaves is of a character who springs from insignificance and, in lightning time, assumes political leadership of a country where he was not born, reconstructs the political modus operandi, and changes the face and prospects of the island of Saint Lucia by leaps and bounds.

In John Compton (Heroes of Freedom, Book One), we encounter the three-dimensional character of the man who wrests Saint Lucia from the apron strings of British colonial rule, into self-governance and independence, and sets the pace for economic development, industrial growth, and modernization.

At the center of this fast-paced narrative are John Compton the man, John Compton the politician, and John Compton the nation builder.

Local lore has it that John Compton was a shy man who had “a habit of not looking others in the eye”, an idiosyncrasy some regarded as weakness. (pg. 61). His wife remembers “being put off by what seemed to be his rude and abrupt manner” during their courtship. (pg. 132). It turns out that these were marks of a man of few words, whose actions spoke louder than volumes of words.

The Compton presented in this book reveals a man given to the simple things of life; a man who loved the sea and sailing—something planted in his DNA; a very hands-on man, a devoted farmer whose Mahaut estate was a place of refuge—for relaxation and cogitation. Above all, he was a devoted, caring family man, whose “greatest wish was not fame or recognition, but to be a devoted husband and father, living as a farmer.” (Ch. 12).

Besides, Compton comes across as a visionary who saw beyond the immediate solution to planks on which bigger outcomes were earmarked.

As a politician, John Compton’s involvement was marked by uncompromising determination and a clear vision: to free his country from the stranglehold of British colonialism. The conditions he witnessed upon arrival in Castries in 1939 and while growing up there; his brief working stint in Curacao; and his sojourn in England as a university student had all prepared him for this. And he pursued it with a passion.

Compton, the politician, was bold, strategic, focused, and self-willed. To wit: consider his 1957 gun-toting showdown with Denis Bernard, sugar factory owner, in support of striking workers. (Ch. 4).

It is the strategist and tactician who forged links with other politicians and the opposition, leading to the formation of his United Workers Party in 1964, that finished off George Charles and his team. (Ch. 5).

And though he admits he didn’t achieve things alone, it is clear that Compton was the architect of ideas, and once he set his mind on something, there was no turning back.

When he assumed the reins of power, Compton was hell-bent on shifting gears, on changing the living and working circumstances of the people. He saw the colonial administration as uncaring and a stumbling block to be dispensed with. In chapter after chapter, Reynolds demonstrates how Compton worked to rid the population of bilharzia, poor housing, low wages, illiteracy, and a shortage of schools, while contending with criticism, limited resources, and political opposition.

On his way to self-governance and full independence, the engineer in John Compton is frequently called upon, as evidenced by the major infrastructural projects that form part of his modernization campaign.

Of course, some criticized him as having “tunnel vision,” but it is the visionary in him that has made Saint Lucia the beneficiary of an impressive catalog of initiatives serving as planks for social, educational, economic, and human development, making the island the lead OECS state, and the envy of others in CARICOM.

One thing that must be said, finally, is that Compton was a profound regionalist and completely dedicated to the integration movement. He would have lamented the break-up of the West Indies Federation, and much credit must be given to him for the formation and success of the OECS.

The author intends this text particularly for young readers. However, I’m convinced the book is well-suited to an adult readership in any jurisdiction.

About Modeste Downes

Regarded as one of Saint Lucia’s ten greatest poets, Modeste Downes is the author of three critically acclaimed collections: Phases (2005), Theatre of the Mind (2012), and A Lesson on Wings (2019). His work has earned some of the country’s highest literary honors, including the inaugural George Odlum Award for Creative Artists (2004), the M&C Main Prize for Literature for Phases (2005), and the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) Arts Award for Poetry for Theatre of the Mind (2012).

Beyond poetry, Downes is an accomplished essayist, commentator, and distinguished Jako Journalist. His latest book, Jungle Democracy on Trial: The Politics of COVID, offers a penetrating examination of contemporary politics and public life in Saint Lucia.

Born and raised in the Vieux Fort district, Downes belongs to the remarkable group of writers whose work has established Vieux Fort as one of the island’s most significant literary centers. Through his poetry and prose, he has helped shape a distinguished body of literature that stands among the finest contributions to Saint Lucian letters.