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 NON-GOVERNMENTAL PUBLIC ACTION SERIES

CIVIL SOCIETY ORGANISATIONS,

GOVERNANCE & THE CARIBBEAN
COMMUNITY

Kristina Hinds
 Non-Governmental Public Action

Series Editor
Jude Howell
Department of International Development
London School of Economics
London, UK
Non-governmental public action (NGPA) by and for disadvantaged and
marginalized people has become increasingly significant over the past
two decades. This series is designed to make a fresh and original contri-
bution to the understanding of NGPA. It presents the findings of inno-
vative and policy-relevant research carried out by established and new
scholars working in collaboration with researchers across the world. The
series is international in scope and includes both theoretical and empiri-
cal work. The series marks a departure from previous studies in this area
in at least two important respects. First, it goes beyond a singular focus
on developmental NGOs or the voluntary sector to include a range of
non-governmental public actors such as advocacy networks, campaigns
and coalitions, trade unions, peace groups, rights-based groups, cooper-
atives and social movements. Second, the series is innovative is stimulat-
ing a new approach to international comparative research that promotes
comparison of the so-called developing world, thereby querying the con-
ceptual utility and relevance of categories such as North and South.

More information about this series at

http://www.palgrave.com/gp/series/14728
 Kristina Hinds

Civil Society
Organisations,
Governance and
the Caribbean
Community
Kristina Hinds
University of the West Indies
Bridgetown, Barbados

Non-Governmental Public Action

ISBN 978-3-030-04395-7 ISBN 978-3-030-04396-4 (eBook)
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04396-4

Library of Congress Control Number: 2018962049

© The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s) 2019

This work is subject to copyright. All rights are solely and exclusively licensed by the
Publisher, whether the whole or part of the material is concerned, specifically the rights
of translation, reprinting, reuse of illustrations, recitation, broadcasting, reproduction
on microfilms or in any other physical way, and transmission or information storage and
retrieval, electronic adaptation, computer software, or by similar or dissimilar methodology
now known or hereafter developed.
The use of general descriptive names, registered names, trademarks, service marks, etc. in this
publication does not imply, even in the absence of a specific statement, that such names are
exempt from the relevant protective laws and regulations and therefore free for general use.
The publisher, the authors, and the editors are safe to assume that the advice and
information in this book are believed to be true and accurate at the date of publication.
Neither the publisher nor the authors or the editors give a warranty, express or implied,
with respect to the material contained herein or for any errors or omissions that may have
been made. The publisher remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published
maps and institutional affiliations.

Cover image: © ImageZoo/Alamy Stock Photo

Cover design by Akihiro Nakayama

This Palgrave Macmillan imprint is published by the registered company Springer Nature
Switzerland AG
The registered company address is: Gewerbestrasse 11, 6330 Cham, Switzerland
For Aziz
 Acknowledgements

Getting to the stage where I could write this book has been a stop and
start ten-year journey, but it has been one that I did not travel alone. Just
as it takes a village to raise a child, it took one to raise this book.
Key to my village are my parents Amina Stoakley, Dave Hinds, and
Cheryl Hinds and my husband Corey Mitchell. They have supported
me in many ways including, very importantly, by providing child care so
that I could do this work. Charisse Otey, Iahwa Gibson, Janelle Holder,
and Katrina Downes have been the sisters (by blood and by choice) who
have always encouraged me and to whom I could discuss anything from
my progress to my frustrations. I thank my colleagues in the Faculty of
Social Sciences at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus
for assisting me with their counsel and encouragement even when they
might not have known they were doing so. This work would also not
have been possible without the research assistance that I received from
my former Ph.D. student Dr. Louise Armstrong and the invaluable
proof-reading assistance that Marsha Hinds provided. I also owe a debt
of gratitude to the Faculty of Social Sciences and Campus Research
Awards at the University of the West Indies, Cave Hill Campus as both
entities provided me with some of the financial assistance that I needed
to make this book a reality.
Finally, I wish to acknowledge all the people who were willing to
speak with me, correspond with me, answer my several questions, and
who provided me with precious information. I have not mentioned any
of these people by their names in this book for confidentiality purposes.

vii
viii    Acknowledgements

Yet, these unnamed people provided me with numerous insights into the
workings of governments, regional institutions, civil society organisa-
tions, and Caribbean societies. I have not presented all of what I learned
from these people in this book, both for practical and ethical reasons, but
I am exceedingly grateful to have had the opportunity to draw on some
of what they so generously offered me.
My hope is that this book will be sufficiently meaningful that it does
at least some justice to the contributions of all of those who have helped
me to put it together.
 Contents

1 Introduction 1
1.1 The Choice of CARICOM, the OECS, Civil Society,
and CSOs 3
1.2 Purpose and Analytical Approach 6
1.3 Organisation of the Book 17
References 18

2 Conceptualising Civil Society for the Caribbean 21

2.1 Issues of Meaning: Civil Society and Civil Society
Organisations 22
2.2 The Resurrection of Civil Society 27
2.3 Caribbean Civil Society 31
2.4 Conclusion 48
References 50

3 Caribbean Political Culture, Governance,

and Participation 55
3.1 Governance: The Good, Collaborative, Participatory,
and New 56
3.2 Caribbean Political Culture and Governance 62
3.3 Conclusion 73
References 75

ix
x    Contents

4 Civil Society Involvement in Regional Governance 79

4.1 CARICOM 80
4.2 OECS 84
4.3 The Mandates for Civil Society Involvement
in CARICOM and OECS 87
4.4 Civil Society and CSO Spaces in CARICOM and OECS 92
4.5 Conclusion 95
References 97

5 Barbados: Civil Society Inclusion with Social Partnership 101

5.1 Background Discussion 102
5.2 Barbados: Social Compromise, Social Partnership,
and Limits to Collaboration 105
5.3 CSOs and Governance Outside the SP 110
5.4 Wider Civil Society in Governance 116
5.5 Narratives of Governance, Collaboration,
and Stakeholders 121
5.6 Conclusion 127
References 129

6 Trinidad and Tobago: Shifting Times, Shifting

Governments, and Shifting Inclusion 133
6.1 Race, Ethnicity, Class, and Politics 135
6.2 The Turbulent 1970s and Inclusive Governance
Arrangements 138
6.3 Economic Conditions from the 1980s and National
Consultative Efforts 141
6.4 Mechanisms for Wider Civil Society Access to Governance 149
6.5 Narratives of Governance, Collaboration,
and Stakeholders 152
6.6 Conclusion 157
References 159

7 Openness in Governance Spaces Across the Region 163

7.1 Other Caribbean Examples of Participatory Efforts 165
7.2 Other Avenues for Civil Society Involvement 174
7.3 Conclusion: The Domestic-Regional Linkage 178
References 181
 Contents    xi

8 Conclusion: Prospects for the Caribbean Civil

Society-Governance Dynamic 185
8.1 What the Case Studies Reveal 187
8.2 The Need for Cultural Shifts 191
8.3 Final Thoughts 195
References 196

Index 197
 Acronyms and Abbreviations

BANGO Barbados Association of Non-Governmental Organisations

BARP Barbados Association of Retired Persons
BAS Barbados Agricultural Society
BLP Barbados Labour Party
BMA Barbados Manufacturers’ Association
BPSA Barbados Private Sector Agency
BWU Barbados Workers’ Union
CAFRA Caribbean Association for Feminist Research and Action
CAISO Coalition Advocating for Inclusion of Sexual Orientation
CARICOM Caribbean Community
CariFLAG Caribbean Forum of Lesbians, All-Sexuals and Gays
CARIFTA Caribbean Free Trade Association
CARIWA Caribbean Women’s Association
CBO Community-Based Organisations
CCJ Caribbean Court of Justice
CCL Caribbean Congress of Labour
CDB Caribbean Development Bank
CDEMA Caribbean Disaster Emergency Management Agency
CDM Comprehensive Disaster Management
CET Common External Tariff
CHOG Conference of Heads of Government
COFAP Council for Finance and Planning
COFCOR Council of Foreign and Community Relations
COHSOD Council for Human and Social Development
COIP Caribbean Organisation of Indigenous People
COP Congress of the People (Trinidad and Tobago)

xiii
xiv    Acronyms and Abbreviations

COTED Council for Trade and Economic Development

CPDC Caribbean Policy Development Centre
CSME CARICOM Single Market and Economy
CSO Civil Society Organisation
CTUSAB Congress of Trade Unions and Staff Associations of Barbados
(CTUSAB)
CXC Caribbean Examinations Council
CYEN Caribbean Youth Environmental Network
DLP Democratic Labour Party (Barbados)
ECCB Eastern Caribbean Central Bank
ECCM East Caribbean Common Market
ECCU Eastern Caribbean Currency Union
GIS Government Information Service (Barbados)
HDI Human Development Index
ICT Information and Communication Technology
IMF International Monetary Fund
JCC Joint Consultative Committee
LDC Less Developed Countries
MDC More Developed Countries
NAR National Alliance for Reconstruction (Trinidad and Tobago)
NCD National Non-Communicable Disease
NECC National Economic Consultative Council/Committee
NESDC National Economic and Social Development Council
NGO Non-governmental Organisation
NJAC National Joint Action Committee
NPC National Planning Commission
NSA Non-state Actors
NTAC National Tripartite Advisory Council
NUPW National Union of Public Workers
OECS Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States
OTN Office for Trade Negotiations
OWTU Oilfield Workers Trade Union (Trinidad and Tobago)
PANCAP Pan-Caribbean Partnership against HIV/AIDS
PNM People’s National Movement
PSTT Private Sector Trade Team (Barbados)
SAP Structural Adjustment Program
SERVOL Service Volunteered for All
SP Social Partnership
TOP Tobago Organisation of the People
TTGPA Trinidad and Tobago Group of Professional Associations Limited
TUC Trade Union Congress
ULF United Labour Front
 Acronyms and Abbreviations    xv

UN United Nations
UNC United National Congress (Trinidad and Tobago)
UNDP United Nation Development Programme
UNIA United Negro’s Improvement Association
USAID United States Agency for International Development
WINAD the Women’s Institute for Alternative Development
WISA West Indies Associated States Council of Ministers
YWCA Young Women’s Christian Association
 List of Figures

Fig. 1.1 Relationship between domestic and regional levels 11

Fig. 2.1 Spheres of social practice (Adapted from Martinussen [1999]) 23
Fig. 5.1 Coding density: Language of inclusiveness
in governance—Barbados 123
Fig. 5.2 Comparative coding density—Language of inclusiveness
in governance—Barbados 124
Fig. 5.3 Coding density: Stakeholder actors noted
in collaboration—Barbados 125
Fig. 6.1 Coding density: Language of inclusiveness
in governance—Trinidad and Tobago 153
Fig. 6.2 Comparative coding density—Language of inclusiveness
in governance—Trinidad and Tobago 154
Fig. 6.3 Coding density: Stakeholder actors noted
in collaboration—Trinidad and Tobago 155
Fig. 7.1 Country study populations (2018 est.) (Estimates taken
from: http://www.worldometers.info/world-population/
caribbean-population/) 165

xvii
 List of Tables

Table 3.1 Governance patterns based on discussions contained in

Waheduzzaman and Mphande (2014) and Kooiman et al.
(2008) 62
Table 3.2 Caribbean governance 73
Table 5.1 Basic background information—Barbados 103
Table 6.1 Basic background information—Trinidad and Tobago 134
Table 7.1 Consultation/collaboration in planning; national mechanisms 172

xix
 CHAPTER 1

Introduction

One of the stories often left untold about survival in the states that
comprise the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) is the story of civil
society and civil society organisations (CSOs). If one considers discus-
sions of governance particularly within the field of politics, the known
stories relate to the role of political parties, race, class, institutions, eco-
nomic/financial stewardship and the role of external forces on these
small, predominantly microstates. The members of CARICOM are most
popularly known for sun, sea, sand, Bob Marley, Rihanna, Usain Bolt,
cricket, carnival, and food. Yet, the resilience of Caribbean people and the
somewhat unlikely viability of the states they occupy has been supported
in no small part by myriad organisations that fill social, economic, and
political gaps that have been left vacant by formal politics and the state
apparatus. This element of Caribbean resilience seems to be overlooked
in scholarly evaluations of the region. Also overlooked are the contribu-
tions that Caribbean civil societies and CSOs have played in integrating
the region. Instead, Caribbean regional integration narratives seem to
favour placing emphasis on formal regional structures and formal politi-
cal processes. This book places civil society and CSOs in focus for their
roles in helping to sustain the region and to scaffold regional integra-
tion in the Caribbean. It asserts that based on these contributions, civil
society/CSOs should have space for inclusion in governance processes.
Consequently, the central focus of this book is straightforward: it inves-
tigates the spaces that exist and that are absent for CSO participation in

© The Author(s) 2019 1

K. Hinds, Civil Society Organisations, Governance
and the Caribbean Community, Non-Governmental Public Action,
https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-04396-4_1
 1 INTRODUCTION 13

excluding people from governance outside of the election season (Girvan

2015; Henry 1991; Hinds 2006). People are important for deciding
the composition of the government but are not included in acts of gov-
ernance. People tend to be subject to the decisions made in institutions
that are designed to be outside of their reach. In the words of Norman
Girvan, “People participation is limited to cheering at election rallies and
a ten-second act of voting every five years. Government is reduced to
Prime Ministerial dictatorship” (Girvan 2015, 100).
At the level of regional institutions, the picture regarding people’s
involvement may be even sparser with the formal institutions govern-
ing regional integration being dominated by regional bureaucracies and
the political directorates of the member states. Consequently, the role
of people is all but absent. Although there are civil society groups, asso-
ciations, organisations, and networks that have been formed to address
common regional interests, concerns, and causes, they may not always be
easily able to access formal regional structures. Greater possibilities for
democracy can be achieved if institutionalised spaces are created for such
CSOs, both at the domestic and regional levels.
The assertion that CSOs can democratise is not one that is necessarily
readily accepted though. CSOs do not themselves represent the diverse
concerns or interests of people, no matter how many of such organisa-
tions exist or are incorporated in governance. However, inclusion of such
organisations in governance practices is a step towards expanding the
closed and often secretive processes of decision-making. Such inclusion
should be broad and allow varied CSOs to opt in rather than being heav-
ily selective and state managed, if it is to redound to democratic poten-
tials. All the same, even this type of openness to varied CSOs is but a
single step and is not the only step required to demystify governance and
make it less elitist and prone to authoritarianism in the Anglo-Caribbean.
Clearly, then, this book advocates civil society participatory govern-
ance as providing a corrective for only some of the failings of Caribbean
governance.
Perspectives that advocate participatory or collaborative governance
generally describe these as public decision-making and policymaking
arrangements that embrace varied actors beyond the formal state appa-
ratus.3 My argument draws on this type of literature which advocates

3 See Ansell and Gash (2008), Emerson et al. (2012), Kooiman et al. (2008), Wampler

(2012a, b) and Waheduzzaman and Mphande (2014).

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ses bagages, et frissonna de terreur en en voyant les murailles nues
comme si le feu y eût été mis. Les admirables boiseries sculptées
par Van-Huysium et le portrait du Président avaient été vendus, dit-
on, à lord Spencer. La salle à manger était vide, il ne s’y trouvait plus
que deux chaises de paille et une table commune sur laquelle
Marguerite aperçut avec effroi deux assiettes, deux bols, deux
couverts d’argent, et sur un plat les restes d’un hareng saur que
Claës et son valet de chambre venaient sans doute de partager. En
un instant elle parcourut la maison, dont chaque pièce lui offrit le
désolant spectacle d’une nudité pareille à celle du parloir et de la
salle à manger. L’idée de l’Absolu avait passé partout comme un
incendie. Pour tout mobilier, la chambre de son père avait un lit, une
chaise et une table sur laquelle était un mauvais chandelier de
cuivre où la veille avait expiré un bout de chandelle de la plus
mauvaise espèce. Le dénûment était si complet qu’il ne s’y trouvait
plus de rideaux aux fenêtres. Les moindres objets qui pouvaient
avoir une valeur dans la maison, tout, jusqu’aux ustensiles de
cuisine, avait été vendu. Émue par la curiosité qui ne nous
abandonne même pas dans le malheur, Marguerite entra chez
Lemulquinier, dont la chambre était aussi nue que celle de son
maître. Dans le tiroir à demi fermé de la table, elle aperçut une
reconnaissance du Mont-de-Piété qui attestait que le valet avait mis
sa montre en gage quelques jours auparavant. Elle courut au
laboratoire, et vit cette pièce pleine d’instruments de science comme
par le passé. Elle se fit ouvrir son appartement, son père y avait tout
respecté.
Au premier coup d’œil qu’elle y jeta, Marguerite fondit en larmes
et pardonna tout à son père. Au milieu de cette fureur dévastatrice, il
avait donc été arrêté par le sentiment paternel et par la
reconnaissance qu’il devait à sa fille! Cette preuve de tendresse
reçue dans un moment où le désespoir de Marguerite était au
comble, détermina l’une de ces réactions morales contre lesquelles
les cœurs les plus froids sont sans force. Elle descendit au parloir et
y attendit l’arrivée de son père, dans une anxiété que le doute
augmentait affreusement. Comment allait-elle le revoir? Détruit,
décrépit, souffrant, affaibli par les jeûnes qu’il subissait par orgueil?
Mais aurait-il sa raison? Des larmes coulaient de ses yeux sans
qu’elle s’en aperçût en retrouvant ce sanctuaire dévasté. Les images
de toute sa vie, ses efforts, ses précautions inutiles, son enfance, sa
mère heureuse et malheureuse, tout, jusqu’à la vue de son petit
Joseph qui souriait à ce spectacle de désolation, lui composait un
poème de déchirantes mélancolies. Mais, quoiqu’elle prévît des
malheurs, elle ne s’attendait pas au dénoûment qui devait couronner
la vie de son père, cette vie à la fois si grandiose et si misérable.
L’état dans lequel se trouvait monsieur Claës n’était un secret pour
personne. A la honte des hommes, il ne se rencontrait pas à Douai
deux cœurs généreux qui rendissent honneur à sa persévérance
d’homme de génie. Pour toute la société, Balthazar était un homme
à interdire, un mauvais père, qui avait mangé six fortunes, des
millions, et qui cherchait la pierre philosophale, au Dix-Neuvième
Siècle, ce siècle éclairé, ce siècle incrédule, ce siècle, etc... On le
calomniait en le flétrissant du nom d’alchimiste, en lui jetant au nez
ce mot:—Il veut faire de l’or! Que ne disait-on pas d’éloges à propos
de ce siècle, où, comme dans tous les autres, le talent expire sous
une indifférence aussi brutale que l’était celle des temps où
moururent Dante, Cervantes, Tasse e tutti quanti. Les peuples
comprennent encore plus tardivement les créations du génie que ne
les comprenaient les Rois.
Ces opinions avaient insensiblement filtré de la haute société
douaisienne dans la bourgeoisie, et de la bourgeoisie dans le bas
peuple. Le chimiste septuagénaire excitait donc un profond
sentiment de pitié chez les gens bien élevés, une curiosité railleuse
dans le peuple, deux expressions grosses de mépris et de ce væ
victis! dont sont accablés les grands hommes par les masses quand
elles les voient misérables. Beaucoup de personnes venaient devant
la Maison Claës, se montrer la rosace du grenier où s’était consumé
tant d’or et de charbon. Quand Balthazar passait, il était indiqué du
doigt; souvent, à son aspect, un mot de raillerie ou de pitié
s’échappait des lèvres d’un homme du peuple ou d’un enfant; mais
Lemulquinier avait soin de le lui traduire comme un éloge, et pouvait
le tromper impunément. Si les yeux de Balthazar avaient conservé
cette lucidité sublime que l’habitude des grandes pensées y imprime,
le sens de l’ouïe s’était affaibli chez lui. Pour beaucoup de paysans,
de gens grossiers et superstitieux, ce vieillard était donc un sorcier.
La noble, la grande maison Claës s’appelait, dans les faubourgs et
dans les campagnes, la maison du diable. Il n’y avait pas jusqu’à la
figure de Lemulquinier qui ne prêtât aux croyances ridicules qui
s’étaient répandues sur son maître. Aussi, quand le pauvre vieux
ilote allait au marché chercher les denrées nécessaires à la
subsistance, et qu’il prenait parmi les moins chères de toutes,
n’obtenait-il rien sans recevoir quelques injures en manière de
réjouissance; heureux même, si, souvent, quelques marchandes
superstitieuses ne refusaient pas de lui vendre sa maigre pitance en
craignant de se damner par un contact avec un suppôt de l’enfer.
Les sentiments de toute cette ville étaient donc généralement
hostiles à ce grand vieillard et à son compagnon. Le désordre des
vêtements de l’un et de l’autre y prêtait encore, ils allaient vêtus
comme ces pauvres honteux qui conservent un extérieur décent et
qui hésitent à demander l’aumône. Tôt ou tard ces deux vieilles gens
pouvaient être insultés. Pierquin, sentant combien une injure
publique serait déshonorante pour la famille, envoyait toujours,
durant les promenades de son beau-père, deux ou trois de ses gens
qui l’environnaient à distance avec la mission de le protéger, car la
révolution de juillet n’avait pas contribué à rendre le peuple
respectueux.
Par une de ces fatalités qui ne s’expliquent pas, Claës et
Lemulquinier, sortis de grand matin, avaient trompé la surveillance
secrète de monsieur et madame Pierquin, et se trouvaient seuls en
ville. Au retour de leur promenade ils vinrent s’asseoir au soleil, sur
un banc de la place Saint-Jacques où passaient quelques enfants
pour aller à l’école ou au collége. En apercevant de loin ces deux
vieillards sans défense, et dont les visages s’épanouissaient au
soleil, les enfants se mirent à en causer. Ordinairement, les
causeries d’enfants arrivent bientôt à des rires; du rire, ils en vinrent
à des mystifications sans en connaître la cruauté. Sept ou huit des
premiers qui arrivèrent se tinrent à distance et se mirent à examiner
les deux vieilles figures en retenant des rires étouffés qui attirèrent
l’attention de Lemulquinier.
—Tiens, vois-tu celui-là dont la tête est comme un genou?
—Oui.
 —Hé! bien, il est savant de naissance.
—Papa dit qu’il fait de l’or, dit un autre.
—Par où? C’est-y par là ou par ici? ajouta un troisième en
montrant d’un geste goguenard cette partie d’eux-mêmes que les
écoliers se montrent si souvent en signe de mépris.
Le plus petit de la bande qui avait son panier plein de provisions,
et qui léchait une tartine beurrée, s’avança naïvement vers le banc
et dit à Lemulquinier:—C’est-y vrai, monsieur, que vous faites des
perles et des diamants?
—Oui, mon petit milicien, répondit Lemulquinier en souriant et lui
frappant sur la joue, nous t’en donnerons quand tu seras bien
savant.
—Ha! monsieur, donnez-m’en aussi, fut une exclamation
générale.
Tous les enfants accoururent comme une nuée d’oiseaux et
entourèrent les deux chimistes. Balthazar, absorbé dans une
méditation d’où il fut tiré par ces cris, fit alors un geste d’étonnement
qui causa un rire général.
—Allons, gamins, respect à un grand homme! dit Lemulquinier.
—A la chienlit! crièrent les enfants. Vous êtes des sorciers.—Oui,
sorciers, vieux sorciers! sorciers, na!
Lemulquinier se dressa sur ses pieds, et menaça de sa canne les
enfants qui s’enfuirent en ramassant de la boue et des pierres. Un
ouvrier, qui déjeunait à quelques pas de là, ayant vu Lemulquinier
levant sa canne pour faire sauver les enfants, crut qu’il les avait
frappés, et les appuya par ce mot terrible: A bas les sorciers!
Les enfants, se sentant soutenus, lancèrent leurs projectiles qui
atteignirent les deux vieillards, au moment où le comte de Solis se
montrait au bout de la place, accompagné des domestiques de
Pierquin. Ils n’arrivèrent pas assez vite pour empêcher les enfants
de couvrir de boue le grand vieillard et son valet de chambre. Le
coup était porté. Balthazar, dont les facultés avaient été jusqu’alors
conservées par la chasteté naturelle aux savants chez qui la
préoccupation d’une découverte anéantit les passions, devina, par
un phénomène d’intussusception, le secret de cette scène; son
corps décrépit ne soutint pas la réaction affreuse qu’il éprouva dans
la haute région de ses sentiments, il tomba frappé d’une attaque de
paralysie entre les bras de Lemulquinier qui le ramena chez lui sur
un brancard, entouré par ses deux gendres et par leurs gens.
Aucune puissance ne put empêcher la populace de Douai d’escorter
le vieillard jusqu’à la porte de sa maison, où se trouvaient Félicie et
ses enfants, Jean, Marguerite et Gabriel qui, prévenu par sa sœur,
était arrivé de Cambrai avec sa femme. Ce fut un spectacle affreux
que celui de l’entrée de ce vieillard qui se débattait moins contre la
mort que contre l’effroi de voir ses enfants pénétrant le secret de sa
misère. Aussitôt un lit fut dressé au milieu du parloir, les secours
furent prodigués à Balthazar dont la situation permit, vers la fin de la
journée, de concevoir quelques espérances pour sa conservation.
La paralysie, quoique habilement combattue, le laissa néanmoins
assez long-temps dans un état voisin de l’enfance. Quand la
paralysie eut cessé par degrés, elle resta sur la langue qu’elle avait
spécialement affectée, peut-être parce que la colère y avait porté
toutes les forces du vieillard au moment où il voulut apostropher les
enfants.
Cette scène avait allumé dans la ville une indignation générale.
Par une loi, jusqu’alors inconnue, qui dirige les affections des
masses, cet événement ramena tous les esprits à monsieur Claës.
En un moment il devint un grand homme, il excita l’admiration et
obtint tous les sentiments qu’on lui refusait la veille. Chacun vanta sa
patience, sa volonté, son courage, son génie. Les magistrats
voulurent sévir contre ceux qui avaient participé à cet attentat; mais
le mal était fait. La famille Claës demanda la première que cette
affaire fût assoupie. Marguerite avait ordonné de meubler le parloir,
dont les parois nues furent bientôt tendues de soie. Quand,
quelques jours après cet événement, le vieux père eut recouvré ses
facultés, et qu’il se retrouva dans une sphère élégante, environné de
tout ce qui était nécessaire à la vie heureuse, il fit entendre que sa
fille Marguerite devait être venue, au moment même où elle rentrait
au parloir; en la voyant, Balthazar rougit, ses yeux se mouillèrent
sans qu’il en sortît des larmes. Il put presser de ses doigts froids la
main de sa fille, et mit dans cette pression tous les sentiments et
toutes les idées qu’il ne pouvait plus exprimer. Ce fut quelque chose
de saint et de solennel, l’adieu du cerveau qui vivait encore, du cœur
que la reconnaissance ranimait. Épuisé par ses tentatives
infructueuses, lassé par sa lutte avec un problème gigantesque et
désespéré peut-être de l’incognito qui attendait sa mémoire, ce
géant allait bientôt cesser de vivre; tous ses enfants l’entouraient
avec un sentiment respectueux, en sorte que ses yeux purent être
récréés par les images de l’abondance, de la richesse, et par le
tableau touchant que lui présentait sa belle famille. Il fut
constamment affectueux dans ses regards, par lesquels il put
manifester ses sentiments; ses yeux contractèrent soudain une si
grande variété d’expression qu’ils eurent comme un langage de
lumière, facile à comprendre. Marguerite paya les dettes de son
père, et rendit, en quelques jours, à la maison Claës une splendeur
moderne qui devait écarter toute idée de décadence. Elle ne quitta
plus le chevet du lit de Balthazar, de qui elle s’efforçait de deviner
toutes les pensées, et d’accomplir les moindres souhaits. Quelques
mois se passèrent dans les alternatives de mal et de bien qui
signalent chez les vieillards le combat de la vie et de la mort; tous
les matins, ses enfants se rendaient près de lui, restaient pendant la
journée dans le parloir en dînant devant son lit, et ne sortaient qu’au
moment où il s’endormait. La distraction qui lui plut davantage parmi
toutes celles que l’on cherchait à lui donner, fut la lecture des
journaux que les événements politiques rendirent alors fort
intéressants. Monsieur Claës écoutait attentivement cette lecture
que monsieur de Solis faisait à voix haute et près de lui.
Vers la fin de l’année 1832, Balthazar passa une nuit
extrêmement critique pendant laquelle monsieur Pierquin le médecin
fut appelé par la garde, effrayée d’un changement subit qui se fit
chez le malade; en effet, le médecin voulut le veiller en craignant à
chaque instant qu’il n’expirât sous les efforts d’une crise intérieure
dont les effets eurent le caractère d’une agonie.
Le vieillard se livrait à des mouvements d’une force incroyable
pour secouer les liens de la paralysie; il désirait parler et remuait la
langue sans pouvoir former de sons; ses yeux flamboyants
projetaient des pensées; ses traits contractés exprimaient des
douleurs inouïes; ses doigts s’agitaient désespérément, il suait à
grosses gouttes. Le matin, les enfants vinrent embrasser leur père
avec cette affection que la crainte de sa mort prochaine leur faisait
épancher tous les jours plus ardente et plus vive; mais il ne leur
témoigna point la satisfaction que lui causaient habituellement ces
témoignages de tendresse. Emmanuel, averti par Pierquin,
s’empressa de décacheter le journal pour voir si cette lecture ferait
diversion aux crises intérieures qui travaillaient Balthazar. En
dépliant la feuille, il vit ces mots, découverte de l’absolu, qui le
frappèrent vivement, et il lut à Marguerite un article où il était parlé
d’un procès relatif à la vente qu’un célèbre mathématicien polonais
avait faite de l’Absolu. Quoique Emmanuel lût tout bas l’annonce du
fait à Marguerite qui le pria de passer l’article, Balthazar avait
entendu.
Tout à coup le moribond se dressa sur ses deux poings, jeta sur
ses enfants effrayés un regard qui les atteignit tous comme un éclair,
les cheveux qui lui garnissaient la nuque remuèrent, ses rides
tressaillirent, son visage s’anima d’un esprit de feu, un souffle passa
sur cette face et la rendit sublime, il leva une main crispée par la
rage, et cria d’une voix éclatante le fameux mot d’Archimède:
EURÊKA! (j’ai trouvé). Il retomba sur son lit en rendant le son lourd
d’un corps inerte, il mourut en poussant un gémissement affreux, et
ses yeux convulsés exprimèrent jusqu’au moment où le médecin les
ferma le regret de n’avoir pu léguer à la Science le mot d’une
énigme dont le voile s’était tardivement déchiré sous les doigts
décharnés de la Mort.

Paris, juin-septembre 1834.

FIN DU TOME QUATORZIÈME.

 TABLE DES MATIÈRES.

ÉTUDES PHILOSOPHIQUES.

La Peau de Chagrin 1
Jésus-Christ en Flandre 225
Melmoth réconcilié 241
Le Chef-d’œuvre inconnu 283
La Recherche de l’Absolu 308

FIN DE LA TABLE

PARIS.—IMP. DE PILLET FILS AINÉ, RUE DES GRANDS-AUGUSTINS, 5.

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