New group promotes Merikin history

According to the National Library and Information System Authority (NALIS), “The story behind the arrival of the Merikins in Trinidad goes back to the American War of Independence, 1775 – 1783 when runaway slaves were first encouraged to join the British fighting forces. A major enticement for their enlistment was the promise of freedom by Lord Dunmore, the then Colonial Governor of Virginia. At the end of the war these ex-soldiers were granted their freedom and taken to Nova Scotia in Canada, Sierra Leone, Jamaica and the Bahamas.” The story of the Merikins is one that should be made more available to the wider TT public, says secretary of newly-formed group ,The Merikin Commission, Curtis McNish. The group was registered last month and one of its initial objectives is to bring together all of the Merikins in the North. The Merikins who settled in Trinidad originally settled in the southern part of the island, including New Grant, Princes Town.

But, McNish noted that there were hundreds of Merikins in the north and the group’s mandate was to coral and galvanise those people. He is puzzled as to how the role of the Merikins -- as the group celebrates its bicentennial anniversary this year -- has been left out of the country’s history books. “The history of the Merikins is an integral part of our history,” Mc Nish said.

Asked about the impact of the history of the Merikins on the youth of TT , Mc Nish said he was uncertain of that.

However, he believes its impact could be a positive one if the wider society was more aware of the Merikin’s history and contributions. Mc Nish said he too was unaware of this history for a long time. Although he had made several trips to Princes Town and even though his parents were Merikins themselves, he was unaware of what that meant and its significance.

“My great, great grandfather was a part of the original 1816….Part of their payment for fighting along the British in 1812 was freedom and occupancy in one of the British Colonies…In the West Indies it was only Trinidad, and our forefathers chose Trinidad.

“As a young man my dad would take us to Princes Town. My dad was born in Princes Town and take us down there. He never mentioned the word Merikin. I never knew about Merikins at that point…In 2004 I got involved in it when aunt’s friend, who was a historian began doing some research. He came to the US and invited me to come to a lecture. Truth be told, I did not want to go…I went but had no desire. Several years after I started to read this book and really became interested in it. Last year when I retired, I really took it up,” he said.

The group has some events planned in commemoration of the Merikin’s bicentennial anniversary, among them a youth convention and an award ceremony. The youth convention would focus on young people between the ages of 18 to 35. The convention, he added, “is aimed at giving them a better perspective on life.” He said that the convention would allow for the youth to have role models and to receive guidance. At the award ceremony Merikin Medals of Merit will be given to members of the Merikin Community in four categories -- Service to Community, Service to Country, Youth Development and Promotion, and Open Selection.

The recipients could be either living or dead. The ceremony is scheduled to take place on November 24 at the Central Bank Auditorium.

The group McNish said plans to make MerIkins more visible to wider TT , giving a voice and presence to the community.