Dr Rita Pemberton

World War II is an important marker in the history of Tobago, because it was the springboard for a number of developments which were of significance to the population and which resulted in the economic, demographic and political transition of the island.

When war broke out, Tobago was experiencing an economic slump, caused by the crash of the country's cocoa industry, the main revenue-earner and means of support for many families, in addition to the administration's failure to devise a policy to stimulate the economy.

The situation was compounded by the post-World War I depression, unbridled cost-of-living increases, the continuing plague of extremely low wages and the lack of mitigating welfare services. These conditions, which mirrored those in other Caribbean territories, stimulated a radical left movement which espoused communism as the ideology which offered the solution to the problems faced by the masses. The high incidence of poverty and protest marches in the region during the 1930s raised serious concerns in imperial circles, the bastions of democracy.

As a result, policies which were intended to forestall such an unthinkable development as the entrenchment of communist ideas in the region, were implemented. The Allied powers were taking no chances and sought to prevent a situation which would permit the infiltration of the enemy (The Axis powers and their ideology) in the region, which was of strategic importance to the US.

At the outbreak of war in 1939, and particularly from 1941, when the Caribbean was included in the theatre of war, these concerns, which provided a hidden agenda for the war policy, underlay the priority matters which commanded imperial attention.

The result was the institution of policies intended to ensure vital trade links to the colonies were maintained during the war and that food was available to the population. The intent was to prevent poverty and social distress from becoming the avenue for communist infiltration.

In order to prevent any development during the international conflict that could impede trade, an elaborate system of bulk buying and organised food distribution through the region was devised to protect shipping. This was of critical importance because of the colonies' heavy dependence on imported food.

For the first time, the focus of imperial policy was shifted from agriculture for export to emphasise local food production. A Grow More Food campaign was instituted across the region. This opened the market for the produce of the farming community of Tobago.

The presence of army camps in Tobago and American bases in Trinidad increased the demand for food, especially chicken, eggs, fish and meat. Tobago producers also supplied the needs of the local population for pigeon peas, corn, ground provision and fruit, for which there was an insatiable demand in Trinidad.

The improved marketing arrangements, with guaranteed prices, an assured market for all produce and convenient collection points pushed food production t