National hero: a warrior for change

By NORMAN ROLLE, Weekender Editor

mailto:norman@nasguard.com

Long before the Progressive Liberal Party came into being in 1953, Milo B. Butler was at the forefront fighting for social change in The Bahamas. He began his social activism without fanfare in the 1930s with frequent hospital visits, issuing gifts to the shut-ins. This benevolent work prefigured a larger role for Sir Milo who at the time wanted to do the greatest good for the greatest number of people, whom he described as the "down trodden."

The injustices at the time consisted of greed, segregation, the plural vote, low wages, resistance to trade unions and collective bargaining, and the uncaring attitude among the elected representatives toward the masses. Although he was from humble beginnings with limited education and finance, Sir Milo was determined to win a seat in the House of Assembly; he was determined to challenge the minority white oligarchy head-on.

In 1936, he ran for the House of Assembly Western District seat against multi-millionaire Sir Harry Oakes and lost. But in a bye-election the following year he won, defeating Dr K.V.A. Rodgers. He was unopposed in the 1942 election, but lost in 1949. In 1956, he was elected as the PLP representative for the Western District. He won every subsequent election up to 1972.

In 1956, the six PLP representatives - Lynden Pindling, Randolph Fawkes, Cyril Stevenson Clarence Bain, Sammy lsaacs and Milo Butler - were known as the 'Magnificent Six.' They provided unrelenting advocacy in the House of Assembly for full adult suffrage, equitable labour laws, equitable distribution of the Assembly seats, and an end to racial and other discriminations.

According to popular belief, it was Sir Milo's intervention in the Burma Road Riot that prevented much bloodshed. He quelled the riot and demanded the release from prison of seven of its organisers. At the time, he said, "You had to take your chances, if you wanted to get anywhere." He took his chances in the House, often clashing with Sir Stafford Sands who would often remark: "We don't want to hear anything from that quarter." In his trademark thunderous voice Sir Milo would retort: "Mr Speaker, if they don't listen to the cries of the poor for relief, the day will come when Bay Street will walk neck deep in blood."

In an effort to silence him in the House, he was once locked up in men's washroom.

The greatest drama in the House of Assembly played out on April 27, 1965, dubbed Black Tuesday, when PLP leader Sir Lynden Pindling tossed the Mace - the symbol of the Speaker's authority - outside of the window. Sir Milo followed by throwing out the hour glass, the speaker's timing device. This was in protest to electoral reform by the United Bahamian Party government.

It ushered in a change of fortune for the PLP, as those events focused international attention on the plight of the Bahamian masses. Sir Milo was a member of a PLP delegation that made representation to the U.N. Committee of 24 on decolonisation in New York and to the Colonial Office in London.

In 1956, in keeping with an election promise, Sir Milo and Sir Randol Fawkes went into the Royal Bank of Canada, Bay Street, and demanded and won employment for Bahamians. The duo repeated the same at the Bank of Nova Scotia and Barclays Bank.

In 1967, Sir Milo was made Minister of Health and Welfare in the first PLP Government. One of his early and notable changes was including more nutritious foods to the meal menu at Her Majesty's Prison.

He became the first Bahamian governor-general in 1973 upon The Bahamas gaining its independence. In his inaugural address on August 1973, Sir Milo observed: "I have been fortunate enough to share with many of you the ups and downs of the past; I have witnessed many of the most significant events in the quiet revolution; I have also played a part in a number of these events.

"The future of The Bahamas as a nation will be achieved only by the practical application of the principles of Christianity, unity and the rule of law and hard work.

"Now is the time for all of us to work hard and show the world the mettle which we are made of."

Indeed, Sir Milo was no stranger to hard work. He was the only son and the eldest of his parents' eight children. His father died when he was 14, whereupon he took on leadership role, providing for his mother and siblings. He was born August 11, 1906. He married Caroline Loretta Watson of Dunmore's, Long Island. To that union were seven sons and three daughters.

An Anglican, he served as a member of St Matthew's Vestry for 17 years, and for six years he was a. member of the Synod.

He founded Milo B. Butler and Sons Wholesale distributors which is currently headed by Franklyn Butler.

In his address at the unveiling of the Burst of Sir Milo in Rawson Square on January 22, 1993, Franklyn Butler, oldest son of Sir Milo recalled: "He championed the cause of the under-class when such an undertaking lacked popularity and offered no glamour, at the risk of invoking even the displeasure of many of his own colleagues."

Minister of Foreign Affairs Fred Mitchell, a member of Sir Milo Library Committee in 1991, in advocating for the commemoration of Sir Milo's death as a national holiday, made the following observation: "Heroes far surpass the reputation of other citizens. They stand over us. They are persons who when others would not take up the challenge dared to step forward and make their actions count. If ever there was a man who did that, Sir Milo was that man."

Throughout his life Sir Milo bore no ill will, but was perpetually saddened by the plight of his people. He said, "For them, I will fight to the bitter end." Sir Milo died on January 22, 1979 at 72.