Volume No. 2 Issue No. 27 - Friday January 25, 2008
Pierre Colaire Story and the Monument Project
 By Hon Ron Green and Dr. Emanuel Finn
Sari and Alanna Finn at the Pierre Colaire Monument and site of the La Plaine Riots.
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British Crown colony rule and governance was seriously affected and ridiculed because of the Au Vent incident. The British government conducted a Commission of Inquiry into the incident, which resulted in the changing of the manner in which it imposed and collected taxes in the colonies.
It also resulted in the punishment of some of the officers involved.
My (Finn�s) late grandfather, Burton Allan, who was the village�s oral historian, always related proud stories about the involvement of his father during the uprising especially the wounding of his uncle and death of his close relatives during the incident.
He always reminded me to ensure that I relate the stories of that sad historical day to my children in order to give them perspective of where we are today and �from whence we came�.
Today we stand on the giant shoulders of our determined peasant forefathers who were �cut down� by British Forces while defending their impoverished but dignified community and meager life possessions with honor and purpose.
Today La Plane is viewed as a beacon of hope and is often referred to as the provincial capital of the Au Vent region. We are rewriting our history and living on the legacy of Pierre Colaire and the uprisings.
Colaire�s action can be described today as the same as the Boston Tea Party in 1773, which ignited a series of events leading up to the American independence.
We hold these beliefs to be self evident and as a testament that when people are united great things can happen even when death is the ultimate punishment.
The story of that tragic day in the La Plaine high lands was enacted by the Koulirou Theatre Group of La Plaine in 1990 with a popular play entitled �RIOT� and was featured around the island.
A concerned citizens group in La Plaine led by Parliamentary Representative Ronald Green and Mr. Placid St. Hilaire, initiated celebrations of the 98th and 99th anniversaries of the La Plaine uprising culminating in a grand centenary celebration in 1990.
A small monument to the event and the four persons who lost their lives was constructed less than a hundred yards from the actual site of Mr. Colaire�s house.
The project is badly in need of funds to resuscitate the Riot Monument. A mural of the riot scene and a small museum is being planned at the site.
Also we hope to beautify and recognize the site as an Ecotourism Historical Heritage site.
Upon completion, the project will provide an attraction to the rural community. Hopefully it will result in some earnings for members of the community, especially the youth, through tourist visits.
The project aims to build pride, dignity and self respect among the youth.
The project seeks to counter a growing alienation of that segment of our community due to the lack of economic opportunity and a bit of ignorance about their rich, proud and colorful history.
On April 13th, the 115th anniversary of the La Plaine uprisings will be observed at the site.
Please join our mailing list and help us build a museum to tell the world about this historical uprising.
For more information on the project and ways one can assist, please contact Hon. Green at [email protected] or Dr. Finn at [email protected]
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