On more than one occasion, former Prime Minister Edward Seaga repeated the notion that if you wish to hide something from the public, you could place it in a book. This, in fairness to Mr Seaga, did not come to influence his latter days; for, as is widely known, Mr Seaga published a series of books about his political life following his appointment as a Distinguished Fellow at the University of the West Indies.
These books include: My Life and Leadership: Clash of Ideologies (2010), A Hard Road to Travel (2010), Grenada: The Inside Story (2009) ; and Revelations: Beyond Political Parties (2009). They provide good material for historians and social scientists, as well as for the general reader, intent on enhancing our collective understanding of post-Independence Jamaica and the Caribbean.
When read alongside several other books, including, inter alia, the veritable bookshelf of publications at the hand of Michael Manley and other members of the Manley family, P J Patterson's comprehensive My Political Journey (2018), and Professor Patrick Bryan's majestic review on Mr Seaga – Edward Seaga and the Challenges of Modern Jamaica (2011) — readers have a fair body of material about the recent past and concerning possible future directions.
With the West
One prominent feature of Mr Seaga's time as prime minister between 1980 and 1989 was Jamaica's relationship with the United States of America. This is not at all surprising. From the earliest days of Independence, the Bustamante Government had sought to align the country with the North American superpower in the midst of Cold War tensions.
“We are with the West”, as pronounced by Bustamante, was a characteristically pithy but politically shrewd comment on Jamaica's foreign policy orientation — a comment capturing majority sentiment in a manner reminiscent of Eric Williams' own “one from 10 leaves nought” about the demise of the West Indies Federation.
So, post-Independence Jamaica unquestionably embraced the West in its first years. Following 1972, however, this political orientation was not always beyond question. Critics of the Manley regime at one end of the spectrum — including Seaga — argued that the People's National Party's shift to democratic socialism and non-alignment portended significant steps towards realignment with Moscow in the Cold War.
Contending forces
Others — including Manley – argued that non-alignment, fraternity with Cuba, and willingness to criticise the USA on some issues, were merely signs that Jamaica was prepared to participate actively in advancing the cause of the Third World in a global economic environment characterised by inequity and an unfair division of labour.
Against this broad background of contending forces, US President Ronald Reagan and Seaga were important allies on the side of conservative standard-bearers in the Cold War. Significantly, this was not a quiet alliance. Notwithstanding the power disparity between Jamaica and the USA, Reagan was keen to show public support for Seaga.
Evidence
There is, moreover, some evidence that this public support was in line with Reagan's personal views. In this regard, The Reagan Diaries, a 2007 publication, edited by Douglas Brinkley, consisting of daily personal diary entries by the US President makes interesting reading, regardless of the reader's political orientation.
The first entry mentioning Seaga in The Reagan Diaries is at page 1. Reagan had come to power on January 20, 1981. The diary entry for Wednesday, January 28, 1981, reads as follows:
“Visit by PM Seaga of Jamaica, his wife & members of his admin. Our 1st state luncheon. He won a terrific election victory over a Cuban-backed pro-communist.
“I think we can help him & gradually take back the Caribbean which was becoming a “Red lake.”
Consistency
Reagan's view that Seaga was opposed by a “pro-communist” may have been misconceived – the arguments flew in various directions at the time. But, in any event, the US president stuck to his guns. Thus, his diary entry for July 2, 1981 asserted:
“Met with the task force David Rockefeller has put together to stimulate investment in Jamaica. PM Siaga (sic) is trying to recover from the ec(onomic) damage done to his country by the Marxist Mandel (sic) who preceded him. I am greatly encouraged.”
The third Reagan diary item on Seaga pertains to the president's visit to Jamaica, in April 1982:
“Wed (April 14). we arrived at Jamaica and went right into meetings with PM Seaga. Amazed at the warmth of the people and their sincere affection for Americans. Met Gov Gen and his lady – a state dinner at his residence.”
The fourth entry, for February 22, 1982, notes that Reagan met again with Seaga, and adds that Seaga was working to unravel “left wing pro Cuban policies”.
Grenada
The next two entries concern the United States military action in Grenada, in the wake of the killing of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop in 1983. The Grenada intervention was supported by some Caribbean leaders, including Eugenia Charles of Dominica, whose performance Reagan describes as “magnificent” (Monday, October 24, 1983).
Reagan also notes that the Grenada intervention was treated with the highest confidence, to the point that he did not tell British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher when it had started. The confidentiality here has been confirmed by Seaga in Grenada: The Inside Story; according to Seaga, not even the US ambassador to Jamaica was aware of the plan to intervene.
On the Grenada action, Reagan identifies Seaga as “a staunch ally” (November 5-6, 1983). And, on November 2, he notes that, “On Jamaica, PM Seaga has ordered several Soviet diplomats ousted for planning to murder a gov't official there.”
Last items
The last three items which expressly mention Seaga in The Reagan Diaries pertain to April 11, 1988, October 3, 1988, and January 17, 1989. The first of these pertains to an unproven allegation concerning Seaga. Reagan says that, “Seaga is naturally upset & has a right to be. The story is phony.” The second refers to a visit to Reagan at which the leaders looked at “hurricane pictures” (Mr Gilbert, I presume), and the third indicates “Got word Pres. (sic) Seaga setting date for (JAMAICA) election February 9.”
In the election held on February 9, 1989 the People's National Party was returned to power in Jamaica, with Seaga taking up the position of leader of the Opposition. On January 20, 1989, Reagan and his family left the White House for “home and the start of our new life.” On the basis of The Reagan Diaries, the Seaga-Reagan alliance seems to have held firm – from start to finish.
Ambassador Stephen Vasciannie is Professor of International Law at The University of the West Indies, Mona.
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