At first it was just another labour dispute involving workers of the Bermuda Electric Light Company, who had formed picket lines in front of the company’s entrance as part of a demonstration to seek union recognition by management.

Initially, there was no sign that this strike would boil over into what is now known as the Belco riots of February 2, 1965.

After 50 years of reflecting on that fateful morning, which happened without modern, camera-equipped cellphones and was over in a matter of seconds, those of us who were at the scene left with heavy hearts that the Island had entered a new era in its history of labour relations and our social infrastructure.

There are perhaps many different versions of how it all unfolded, but the significant part is that an old-fashioned Bermudian quality kicked in, which prevented what was truly an ugly scene from becoming even worse.

As a policeman was lying bleeding with a terrible head wound, other officers tried to shield him as frantic efforts were made by Bermuda Industrial Union officials to calm the workers and halt what was a very bad situation fast slipping out of control.

It was early in my broadcasting experience, with the relatively new ZFB radio station, when I went to Berkeley Road, Pembroke, after reports reached the station that those picketing Belco had reached boiling point, over an incident involving someone on the line who had been brushed by a vehicle either leaving or entering the plant the day before.

On February 2, 1965, as picketers took up their positions to continue their strike action, Police also formed a line on the opposite side of the street. It was a challenging time even for the Police, whose duty is to maintain law and order.

I was standing on a wall west of the scene, with a small 8mm movie camera. I cannot recall what was being said, but there were raised voices before the actual confrontation. Quite a number of people had gathered, apart from the workers on strike. Tempers were beginning to flare and it seemed like there would be trouble.

To the best of my recollection, the Police appeared to approach the picketers, who I was later told had armed themselves with some type of rods from a nearby garden.

At this point, I started rolling film. Within a few seconds there were loud screams and I stopped filming and began to move away.

As I did so, I heard a female voice shout, “don’t throw him over there”. There were people running in all directions. One man who knew I was with the radio station shouted to me to “go tell the people they are rioting”.

I recall going on the air with a brief report that simply said that violence had broken out between picketers and the Police, and more details would be forthcoming.

Our news director, Ira Philip, began the process of gathering as much information as possible about what had happened. By now, much of the Island was aware that a serious labour disturbance at Belco had erupted into a riot.

My film contained images of bottles flying in the air and people scurrying about. In those days, film was sent abroad for processing and took almost two weeks to return. Unfortunately, it was later lost with other rolls and never recovered. Remember, this was 50 years ago.

Moments after returning to the station that morning, I learned that BIU officials had directed workers to gather at Devonshire Recreation Club, as efforts began to restore order.

People had been hurt and some would face court proceedings, and subsequent jail terms. It was a dark day for Bermuda, and I recall a BBC newsflash which said: “They are rioting in the City of Hamilton.” That was not quite the case but people overseas would not have known the difference.

The Belco riot would not be the last major disturbance, not all labour-related, that would bring Bermuda to its knees.

However, what happened on February 2, 1965, was a wake-up call to those in authority that something needed to change drastically in the Island’s administration to ensure justice for all — required to move away from the shadow of racism that affected so much of community life.

Many believed that climate was the root cause of the explosive situation that left Bermuda shaken to the core.

It would be a long road ahead, to seek ways of bringing communities together, and even after further painful experiences, lessons hopefully were learned to possibly avoid disagreements spiralling out of control.

Very often in serious confrontation, some details are bypassed in focusing so much on the event itself.

There were women at Belco that day who I heard calling for calmness and urging people to stop the violence. These were people who knew that Bermuda was better than that. The greatest lesson we can learn from that fateful day is that any form of injustice or unfairness should never be allowed to exist.

After 50 years, let’s hope we have moved in the direction of better understanding and the knowledge that full cooperation by leaders and our communities will be the only way to eradicate negatives that stifle proper growth.

This is not a time to point fingers, but to join hands in building a Bermuda we can all be proud of.

There is much work to be done, but success will involve every Bermudian who loves our Island.