Josiah Charles Waymouth (1852-1935), journalist and author, was editor and
publisher of St. Maarten's first newspaper "St. Martin Day by Day".
In the life of a country under colonial rule where elections are for all
practical purposes non-existent, a newspaper can play an important role. The
newspapers of the Dutch Windward Islands without exception have each been
the product of one individual's efforts. Inevitably that editor winds up in
political controversy and subtle as well was bold attempts on the part of
the authorities are made to suppress freedom of the press. Such attempts
serve only to strengthen the resolve of the editor to bring the news to the
people as he sees fit.
"St. Martin Day by Day" was a weekly newspaper quite influential for its
time as it interpreted the frustrations felt by the people of the Windward
Islands in relation to the administration on Curacao. One of Mr. Waymouth's
main concerns was the lack of a permanent judge on St. Maarten. He was also
very much concerned with events in the Methodist Church, of which he was a
staunch member.
The publication of "Day by Day" came to an unexpected end on Saturday the
1st May 1920 at a quarter to two when the printing press broke down. It was
to be the last paper printed or published in St. Maarten for the next four
years. Mr. Waymouth was not to be kept silent, however, and May 1924 marked
the beginning of "New Life" which was published until November 1925 reaching
a total of thirty-five issues.
That for which Mr. Waymouth is most fondly remembered by scholars in the
Windward Islands, however, is his book Memories of Saint Martin (Netherlands
Part) which covers the history of the island from 1852 to 1926. When the
book was published on Barbados in 1926 Mr. Waymouth was already seventy
years of age. Very few copies of the book are around today. The author of
this book was fortunate enough to obtain a copy from Mr. Lewis R. Johnson,
living in Florida, widower of Mr. Waymouth's daughter, Sue.
The book describes daily life on St. Maarten, and gives valuable insight
into the history of the old families as well as the history of the Methodist
Church. This was the first attempt made by a native of Sint Maarten to
publish a book of the history of his island. People like Mr. Waymouth are
given very little or no credit today for the role they played in the
development of their island. Sint Maarteners are are being led to believe
that history started with modern day politicians and, so to speak, that
after Columbus the next person to get off the boat was Claude Wathey. The
facts are different when one looks back on the history of the island.
The other native St. Maarten historian, Mr. Sydney J. Kruythoff(whom we
shall include later), in his book "The Netherlands Windward Islands",
describes the frustrations encountered by residents of St. Maarten during
the period of "St. Martin Day by Day". He describes the situation as
follows: "Mr. Fred Labega, a former schoolteacher, who acted as mandatory to
Kerenhappuch, grew impatiently disgusted with this as well as with similar
affairs, and supported by Mr. J.C. Waymouth, editor of the local paper "Day
by Day", kept hammering away on black and white on the slow and embarrassing
way in which judicial matters were conducted. The answer to "Day by Day's"
editorial clamours was a Gezaghebber and Judge dispatched to the Netherlands
Windward Islands."
Mr. Kruythoff went on to say, "The dissatisfaction of the population of St.
Martin was lulled for a short while. They were against Curacao domination,
and believed that these concessions had made them an independent colony of
the Netherlands. The islands remained under jurisdiction of Curacao and,
unfortunately, the spirit of dissatisfaction was soon rekindled. A series of
lectures given by Mr. F. Labega in the Public School at Philipsburg,
treating on the remoteness of Curacao, the monthly, mail service, the slow
sailing craft, and the drawbacks thereby incurred, aroused the inhabitants
to the question of segregation. A mass meeting was held, where a unanimous
vote was cast for segregation and a lengthy petition drawn up and sent to
the Crown but, in spite of it all, the form of administration established in
1919 has been carried on up-to-date." (1939)
Mr. Waymouth owned the two-story building on the beach side of Frontstreet
opposite what today is known as "L 'Escargot" restaurant. The building has
been restored; in appearance it is the same today as back then when he was
in his prime and publishing his newspaper from that location. His home was
also situated within close range of the Methodist Church, which was as close
to his heart as were his activities as a journalist, a writer and an
attorney.
Mr. Waymouth's legacy to those who love St. Maarten is his delightful and
informative book "Memories of St. Martin N. P. He must also be remembered
as the founder and publisher of the first weekly newspaper on St. Maarten
(St. Martin Day by Day 1911-1920).
Mr. Josiah Charles Waymouth died on April 29th 1935 at St. Maarten and is
buried in the Methodist Cemetery in Philipsburg. Of him we shall say, as he
said of someone else in his book:
"He, being dead, yet speaketh."
