James Mitchell, known locally as “Son”, was a politician as well as owner of the Frangipani Hotel. After studying agriculture overseas at the University of British Columbia he returned to his family home on Bequia. Son entered politics in 1966 by winning a legislative seat with the St. Vincent Labor Party, and was the Premier of the country from 1972 – 1974. In 1975 he founded the New Democratic Party and became the sole Parliamentary opposition to the Labor Party until 1984.
When St. Vincent gained its Independence in 1979 Milton Cato, then Premier, became the first Prime Minister of the newly-named St. Vincent and the Grenadines. In 1984 Cato called for a premature dissolution of Parliament, confident that he would win the majority of the 13 seats he needed in order to remain in power. Mr. Cato was in for a surprise!
Politics on Bequia became all-consuming, it was all anyone talked about during the five-week campaign period. The vast majority of Bequians supported Son Mitchell, with only a handful rooting for the Labor Party. It was common knowledge who was NOT for Son, and arguments between the two groups were up-close and passionate!
Bequia’s “House of Parliament”, the area under the almond trees in the harbor, was an interesting place to sit and listen as elections drew near. Back then it was where people gathered to gossip, or in this case campaign for an election, and some of the impromptu speeches I heard were pretty entertaining! I always knew when Son was about to speak, the strains of “Oh God Our Help In Ages Past” would drift up from the harbor through his megaphone.
On July 24th 1984 the people of St. Vincent spoke up loud and clear at the polls. The country, with a population back then of 104,000, had 47, 863 registered voters. 42,507 votes were cast that day, an astonishing voter turnout of almost 90%, and Son’s NDP party won seven of the thirteen seats needed to oust the Labor Party from power. Son Mitchell was the new Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
What a celebration! Bequia rejoiced (except for the supporters of the Labor Party) and the Frangipani Hotel was mobbed with people wanting to touch and congratulate Son. I was right there in the midst, sitting in the hotel’s lobby with a small radio tallying the votes as they were announced. This was a chore Momma Simmons (Son’s favorite aunt) had performed in the past, and one that I took over with pleasure for subsequent elections.
Son Mitchell would rule the country for 17 years, from 1984 until 2000, and five years after gaining Independence he would guide St. Vincent into a new era. Son became so popular that in 1989 he would win all 15 of the parliamentary seats, having split two of the constituencies due to their geographical size.
Sir James Mitchell was a true Stateman, well respected Internationally as well as regionally, and the country prospered with him at the helm. He had a vision for his country and the drive to succeed, and I for one think he did a tremendous job.