The road to Independence, Pt IV - On the 1962 election trail

THE GENERAL election of April 10, 1962 resulted in a handsome victory for the Jamaica Labour Party. The party leader, Sir Alexander Bustamante (Busta), could not have been more pleased. Champagne and whisky flowed at his Tucker Avenue residence in St Andrew that night.

Prompted by reporters, he proceeded to name prospective members of his Cabinet, including "Donald Sangster, of course, Bob Lightbourne, Eddie Seaga (he pronounced it Seega) and, oh yes, Edwin Allen, the BA", he chuckled, in a dig at Allen's propensity to attach his degree to his name at every opportunity. The Cabinet was not officially selected until two weeks later at a meeting held at his retreat property in St Thomas.

The excitement had hardly died down before the country turned its full attention to preparations for a smooth transition to Independence. A planning committee chaired by Gleaner Editor Theodore Sealy had been charged with making plans for the celebrations and to select in time, for August 6, a national anthem, a flag, a motto, and other national symbols.

The two key symbols - the anthem and the flag - had a rough passage before finding consensus. First of all, an anthem was prematurely published and played on the radio, but turned out to be the wrong selection.

It took a composition of words written by the Reverend Hugh Sherlock, music originally written by Robert Lightbourne and almost completely rearranged by musicians Mr and Mrs Mapletoft Poulle, and a military version arranged by Major Joe Williams, to give Jamaica her national anthem two weeks before the big day.

Subject of debate

The flag was also subject to much debate. According to Theodore Sealy, Busta was comfortable with any design, "just put a little Union Jack in it". On the other hand, Manley had told him, "Sealy, our flag must represent all our races." From 23 colours, it boiled down to black, as a matter of course, yellow chosen for its brightness, and green winning out over blue as most of the parliamentarians did not want any colour that was in the British flag.

By Sunday, August 5, Jamaica had taken on a festive look with the island dressed in her new national colours. Special church services were held across the island. Street lights were also strung up through all major towns and city centres.

The main event was set to take place at the National Stadium that night, with the British flag to be lowered and the Jamaica flag hoisted at precisely midnight to symbolically proclaim the birth of the nation.

Excited crowds filed into the new stadium which had been officially opened the evening before by Princess Margaret.

Almost time

Her Royal Highness accompanied by her husband, Lord Snowdon, arrived for the historic Independence function at precisely 11:01 p.m. to take their places in the Royal Box. Music from the massed bands and combined choirs entertained the crowd. Prayers were said at 11:51 p.m. It was a moment of high drama as the United Sates Vice-President Lyndon B. Johnson arrived late, ferried to the stadium by helicopter.

At 11:57 p.m., Governor General Sir Kenneth Blackburn and Premier Sir Alexander Bustamante stepped down to the flagpoles on the field in front of the box. The premier received the flag from a Boys' Brigade runner who entered the stadium at the end of a 14-day cross-the-island run carried out by the brigade. At 11:58 p.m., God Save The Queen was played, while the Union Jack was lowered.

Tension was high and the organisers were on edge. There had been speculation that when the lights were turned off for the raising of Jamaica's flag there would be demonstrations from an unmanageable crowd.

Sir Alexander handed the flag to a warrant officer of the Jamaica Regiment. At 11:59 p.m., the lights went out in the National Stadium. The organisers held their breaths. The Jamaican flag was being raised. For those few incredible seconds, there was pitch-darkness and absolute silence.

Then at precisely midnight, the lights were turned on and Jamaica saw her new flag, symbol of Independence, fluttering under the floodlights in the gentle breeze. Tears fell and voices choked as 30,000 Jamaicans joined in singing Eternal Father Bless Our Land. For the first time. Let the celebrations begin.

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