dings.
What were the immediate effects of the US invasion of Grenada? It resulted in a heavy death toll of Grenadians, definitely more than the difficult to assess exactly, heard reports about mass Grenadians killed during the fighting We saw large scale destruction of utilities due to the combat.
Have OCCI solidating their position.
mass ve burge suspected of being at all progressive.
Two thousand Grenadians been detained at Point Salines.
tions and interrogated. Many people have been under surveillance and harassment in an effort. to suppress any opposition to the continuing occupation of the country.
combat troops trom Grenada. this is just not true. At least 450 from the szna airborne division Deployment Force) remain. These are supported by nearly 600 heavily armCaribbean forces Jamaican and Barbadan), and supported by four coast guard units and 15-16 helicopter gunships In addition there are 250 CIA and military intelligence officers who have taken over a ministry building in st Georges.
Is there any evidence of torture? We interviewed people who had been detained for short periods of time and showed us scars or the torture which had been used.
having been strangled twice almost to death. with rope and then submerged in water almost until drowning, during interrogation. Others had received similar treatment.
Of those detained at Richmond Hill least two suffered shock calment. right hand as a result of the torture usmain in detention without charge and all delegations have been refused access to these detainees.
So who controls Grenada?
Very clearly the Americans. governor general is at all times surrounded by American aides, and has assumed near dictatorial powers. The posedly as a neutral, care feker body; posedly as a neutral, caretaker is acting as a stooge for US interests Rather than acting purely ministratively they are transforming ine country politically economically, turning dependency of the US.
Economic development projects, part of Grenada's attempt to become economically more nave been walco. with the purges of the civil and educaLon services ased to dommo s. workers being sacked since the invaSUll which the revolution brought down from around 50 per cent under Gairy, to 12 per cent in 1983, has now returned to the levels of the Gairy dictatorThe US are clearly disrupting the curiolly. multinational investment and US aid, thus transforming Grenada into an economic colony of the United States.
of the achievements revolution was the development of free trade unions and popular mass since we graves lor and public Also the This has HaVe (Rapid (mainly One trade electric lost his At least 37 reThe adinto organisations to these since the invasion?
self-sufficient combined individual executive Evaders have used right (e.g the scallici the progressive unoas. they are resisting. force. were but the negotiated settlement.
of the FOR Growing Grenudian resistance still confronts US repression what has happened Now the trade unions have been subiece to sport and resources ang under of their transport and resources members have been arrested, detained, interrogated and in some cases torturea. Ine in wing unions WCIC waterTonl workers union) and the American Institute for Free Labour Development (AlFLD) to attack other unions, run smear campaings and try to take over However, Recently, оссируdown an agricultural workers strike, brought in to workers held out and got a The revolution represented a major gain for women in Grenada. How have women in particular been effected?
Women have been worst hit because the revolution progress women and their involvement in the process, especially in employment, Hau caly moved o the sacked civil servants and teachers Also CUBC Organisation disbanded and its staff sacked as have the staff of the Ministry of Women's Affairs.
Assistance to single parents and alt other social welfare programmes have been stopped and this has hit the large For women in urenada wac are single parents.
So how have the Grenadan responded to the invasion? Did you see any evidence of resistance? BE It's true that initially the position of most people was relief at the removal of the Military threw Bishop who did it. Now the mood is changing very rapidly. jority Grenadians frustrated and angry tinued occupation of their country The majority of working Grenadans been we spoke to were bert dosule.
country They do not want their programmes closed down or the pople harassed by the military in the first place.
This increasing people clear. stoned by young poeple in the coun tryside, American been British sent the country.
major blow clear For sion.
This What anywhere Secondly, delegation's tions, Council which overThey didn't really care It was clear that the mawere very with the contheir back and revolution back.' tionalist work. which they never invited resistance We saw American troops being Roseberry propaganda 01-806 9112. region five days before the invasion and were in Barbados along with the US forces prepared to go in.
The Tory government has also involved the police "advisors' have been most of the £3/4 million brilsh ald Is going towards selting ur a 550-man paramilitary defence force which will take over the running of What are the international implications of the invasion?
The defeat of the revoluion has been a to progressive struggles throughout the Caribbean and is a indication of the aggressive character and development of US imperialism in the region.
example, Jamaican officers told us that when they left Jamaica. they were told that they were going to Barbados to defend it against inva However, when they got there ano were too tney were coleow u invade Grenada, a large number oi the men retused to obev and were seni back to Jamaica.
shows a level of anti-imperialist understanding that will continue to develop and sharpen in the Caribbean despite the apparent strength of the United States. What do Grenadans see as our role here in solidarity?
They were quite clear on that. The progressive trade unions are desperate Tor our SuDoorl . CON tinue to operate unless they have international assistance to reduce the level of repression. They said that it's really important that you organise to get the troops out, to get the pressure off us and to get those CIA bastard out. We want you to act very quickly urgently to help uS return Grenada to some forin of democratic self-determination' One thing that began while we were there and has now been formall!
Maurice Bishor Memorial Foundation. This will be used to channe assistance to the vic tims of the massacre of 19 October and the invasion.
should organisations labour movement bodies do now? Firstly we need to get the facts known and the delegation welcomes invitations for speakers from organisations ... to inform groups about discuss the situation there are copies of the comprehensive report available and we welcome orders. It is important to get out to as many labour movement bodies as possible It is important for organisations to raise the human rights violations, the harassment, the searches, detentorture and situations where rights of employment are removed ar bitrarily because of political beliefs.
unions particular must organise around this We also urge organisations and individuals to attilate to the Britai Grenada Friendship Society which.
1980, played an important role in building support for the Grenadan revolution We think that the Caribbean is an important part of the world and that it is a priority to continue our internawork. So we urge all bodies ana malviauals to get invoivea in ini:
• Copies of the delegation's repor are available at fl. For further infor mation. soeakers and so on contac Movement Delegation Grats Bisse Avenue, Lorco- EC.#
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