St Vincent Grammar School
1979 is a year that has gone down in the annals of St Vincent and the Grenadines history as one of the most memorable for several significant events.
The three major events that stuck in my mind were the eruption of La Soufriere, the introduction of CXC examinations in the Caribbean and the Uprising in Union Island (a Grenadine island). And then there was the overthrow of the Gairy Government in Grenada by the Maurice Bishop-led New Jewel Movement.
My colleagues and I were ‘preparing’ for the inaugural CXC examinations and had to contend with these two traumatic events, which did our preparation no good, particularly yours truly. Our minds certainly were preoccupied with the La Soufriere eruption which had disrupted our lives and our main concern was survival.
The CXC examinations were thrust upon us in 1978 when the Ministry of Education advised the nation of the introduction of a Caribbean-oriented examination.
I was in all honesty not too enthused; in fact, my attitude was one of indifference. For the truth be told, I was like most of my contemporaries, that the English- based GCE examinations were of a far superior standard especially as it was coming from a highly reputable university.
On the other hand, we were at best skeptical of the CXC examinations and deemed it to be an experiment with us being the ‘guinea pigs.’ We were afraid that the examinations will not stand the test of time and as a consequence we would have been involved in a futile exercise.
The manifestation of my indifferent position was borne out by the fact that subsequent to registering for my lone offering - Geography- I stopped attending Mrs Martin’s Geography classes much to her charging.
Mrs Martin, however, did not give up on me and was relentless in her efforts to convince me to sit the examination, even if it meant that I had to do it on my own, as she firmly believed that I was doing an injustice to my mother, my teacher, my alma mater and myself.
Her urgings coupled with that of my closest friends led me to sit the examination albeit armed with the unnerving knowledge that I was inadequately prepared. I had done so with one condition; that if I found the examination beyond me I was not going to do it as I was not willing to suffer the indignity, humiliation and embarrassment of failing.
On D-Day, I equipped myself with the necessary tools and journeyed to the school to be one of many persons across the Caribbean to sit the historic CXC examinations. On perusing the paper I was confident that I could attain a passing grade, so I remained in the room and did the Geography paper and obtained a Grade II much to my relief and delight of my mom, teacher and friends.
After graduating from school, I worked with the Central Water and Sewerage Authority [CWSA]. My association with this institution lasted for six years. I next entered the teaching profession where I was assigned to the Calliaqua Anglican School. During my long stint at this school I pursued and attained the Teaching Certificate at the Teachers’ College. I was then transferred to the Sion Hill Government School where I worked for two years.
My next port of call was the JP Eustace Memorial Secondary in 2006 where I am currently assigned as a Social Studies Teacher. Apart from my working life, I have been and still am a community activist, a sport administrator and a cultural organizer and participant. I have also had the distinct pleasure of serving in several positions on the St Vincent and the Grenadines Football Federation of which I am currently General Secretary. My worst fears about the inaugural examinations were unfounded as evidenced by the fact that the Council has grown from strength to strength and 30 years after stands tall in the Caribbean landscape.
Happy 30th Anniversary and long live CXC and CSEC!
