1 The 1937 Inagua Riot Date: 5 th July, 2014 By: Sheleta Collie In August of 1937 there was a Riot in Inagua. Tension began when Josiah Erickson and his brothers (Douglas and Wentworth) opened the West Indian Chemical Company. The Erickson family clashed with locals when their livelihood was reportedly threatened by his attempts to revive the Salt Industry in Inagua. The Industry had collapsed following the increase production of salt in the United States and heavy tariffs by the Americans. During the decline of salt, young men worked as stevedore labourers on the steam ships which frequented Matthew Town until World War I. The challenges faced by the Salt and Steamship Industry plunged the island’s economy into depression, but showed signs of recovery. Arthur L. Symonette, a coloured man, occupied a position of considerable influence because he owned the store and the contract for the steam ship company, both of which he used to exploit the people using the truck system. This was an oppressive pay arrangement where food and goods were used instead of wages (money) for compensation. In response, the stevedores organized into a group called the “Rulers or Rock of Inagua” against him and forced him to pay wages. The Ericksons revitalized the salt industry and employed locals, but they encountered hostility with prominent persons such as Mr. Symonette and Nehemiah C. Alexander (Baptist Minister and Justice of the Peace) who were accustomed to a high level of power and influence. The root of the problem seemingly was, The Ericksons provided new employment opportunity which diminished their influence. These persons responded by instigating a series of
In August of 1937 there was a Riot in Inagua. Tension began when
Josiah Erickson and his brothers (Douglas and Wentworth) opened the
West Indian Chemical Company. The Erickson family clashed with
locals when their livelihood was reportedly threatened by his
attempts to revive the Salt Industry in Inagua. The Industry had
collapsed following the increase production of salt in the United
States and heavy tariffs by the Americans. During the decline of
salt, young men worked as stevedore labourers on the steam ships
which frequented Matthew Town until World War I. The challenges
faced by the Salt and Steamship Industry plunged the islands
economy into depression, but showed signs of recovery. Arthur L.
Symonette, a coloured man, occupied a position of considerable
influence because he owned the store and the contract for the steam
ship company, both of which he used to exploit the people using the
truck
system. This was an oppressive pay arrangement where food and
goods were used instead of wages (money) for compensation. In
response, the
stevedores organized into a group called the Rulers or Rock of
Inagua against him and forced him to pay wages.
The Ericksons revitalized the salt industry and employed locals,
but they encountered hostility with prominent persons such as Mr.
Symonette and Nehemiah C. Alexander (Baptist Minister and Justice
of the Peace) who were accustomed to a high level of power and
influence. The root of the problem seemingly was, The Ericksons
provided new employment opportunity which diminished their
influence. These persons responded by instigating a series of
2
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strikes among the so called Rulers, but rather than concede, the
Ericksons imported labour from Acklins, Long Cay and Mayaguana,
which only fueled the tension. The animosity escalated when Josiah
Erickson took over the steamship contract from Mr. Symonette which
later exploded in a brawl between locals and nearly the entire
white staff of the company. The Chief participants were Charles
Kaddy, a white American truck driver and George and Willis
Duvalier, black stevedores. Members from both sides were fined for
disturbing the peace, but Willis Duvalier threatened to kill
Erickson. The situation turned deadly on 19th August, when a black
labourer (John Munroe) thought to be a pimp was killed and the
Commissioner shot. The group also set fire to the Commissioners
house, the wireless station, the Erickson store and the Chemical
Companys Salt House. The following day, the Erisksons and a group
of employees, Dr. Fields and Corporal Edey fled Inagua but their
boat encounter engine problems so they drifted for four days, until
they arrived in Cuba. Upon arrival they were arrested for carrying
arms meanwhile, the Duvaliers terrorized the town, other
inhabitants also fled to Inagua until the unrest settled. The
Duvaliers then sought exile in Haiti, but were caught and returned
to Nassau and tried and executed for murder.
If you wish to learn more about the 1937 Inagua Riot, I
encourage you to visit the Department of Archives on Shirley. The
primary
source for this sheet is Great Inagua by Margery O.
Erickson.
