IN THE WEEK leading up to the United States invasion of Grenada, the People's Revolutionary Government of Maurice Bishop was overthrown by a wing of the New Jewel Movement led by Bernard Coard. Maurice Bishop and other leaders of the Grenada revolution executed, a military government The United States used this as a pretext for its long planned invasion in order to roli back the revolution which had become a source of inspiration to the workers and farmers of the whole Caribbean.
In May of last year a new party was formed in Grenada, the Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement, pledged to free the country of US domination and defend the gains of the revolution. One of its founder members, GEORGE LOUISON, who was a minister in the People's Revolutionary Government, recently completed a European tour explaining the situation in Grenada today and the goals of the Patriotic Movement. RICH PALSER and BISI WILLIAMS spoke to him when he visited Sheffield.
Holland, the Federal Re- in the country, against Swe- another oI the ten and France, with three leadership , of the They executed Maurice started. Bishop, several leading The first was to re- members of the establish contact WILD and top political parties through- union leaders. out Western Europe which They broke the sacred had developed over the promise of the revolution ›eat› ws lne pally was and turned their guns on c the New Jewel Move- the people. They then went We wanted to dis- on to impose an around the mcill.
with the social- clock, shoot to kill curfew.
In all they established a democratic parties about he whole issue of re-entry reign oI terrol over the the Socialist Inter- people between 19 October rational, contact and 25 October. Of course communist parties the people recognised the with whom had other wing of the party led lations, well as other by Bishop as the leadership political movements which had given solidarity to The of the rection in Grenada both betore and power after the revolution. colonialists Our objective was to bring the inter- None national communitv up to date with the situation in years Grenada, so that there can the clique any be assistance and a propa- wily we was the ganda offensive for the re- revolution.
which something our actively engaged in work- ation. He ing for. vigorous The third aspect was to colonialism reach the trendship societies the solidarity what the which have Movement West Indian Hovelleill given support over the years, and to reactivate. them those remained forms of political, social and economic assistance they have given the tablished revolution De Coard fore. At this stage in the lour we can say we have Movement allve But achieved some important contacts and been able to on really re-establish our still hold position international work.
statement made in Grenada you said that the New Jewel Movement was he led now dead and the Patriotic that Movement was the continu- the Movement ation of that movement. at that time. Laa you explai LuIs. rated to show. Can In essence and in practice 1937 led in Grenada there is no New lewel Movement. The pasm toe post that mes very well known about the that the Grenada is that resistance LICIC. events of October — ana has gone back well over 19 October in particular - years. In the case smashed the 4wu. who became a free two There was one wing of coloured, being- init that carried out the most fluenced by the French comes ierrible, horrific and brutal revolution, he led an insurtake The British abolish capital, the British come against West ano consistently lic wo babel.
to behalf biggest miggreat oil led to of the oiltrade union among movement speaks in Sheffield Patriotic presence? based seratoni selves because to to even struggle was no invasion.
revolution choice, that the successful was the Movement in using the recent elections in Grenada to oppose the US were was our dewas major conform of progresswas the the forms of have been of the for. We knew they 'the! Lial We openly the duce a active once again, people a group be part CENS movement. election finished we should party inal oboul welc of of thi the sucstruggle had active new party.
were able , but with have What about after the left and progressive moveelections, what terrain for ment. The Grenadian revthe struggle now? shining But as a result of the It is very important to give you an idea of the political wav the COlElapsed - through a split in problems that surround the invasion to answer this the party - ine exampl The has not only disappeared terror that was unleashed avsulul. but disappeared in a war which the right wing has on the people by the Coard been able to take advangroup on 19 October made people of tage of. They you see what happened in say: 'Look, want to identify with any when they deforce whatsoever that cided to go left they just could get rid of the Coard ended enother."' killing group So when the Americans The right wing and the invaded in a climate where US took the offensive in people wer to They have • even if spent over $21 million in they came from Mars militarising the region anc who could get rid of the been able to get away with Coard group, there was arming the police in the nue resistance to me ma region. They have gone vasion. That has posed a into the most virulent antiditticult task for the COTO com minist denunciation gressive movement. of anything left that raises past year we have had to struggle to point out to the And in addition to all peoplest num ence acts of that, the left itself split once again over the quesbring to their minds all that tion, with some sections of the revolution had already pointed out • that the US it backing the Coard group initially. Even those who could not back the Coard long time and that this was group were confused betheir opportunity. Seconc cause they had no knowthat the invasion was ledge of what happened in of banditry. it was Grenada given the fact that criminal, and it had vịoit happened so suddenly. lated • known prin- Now the left and prociple of international conduct cess ve movements nave Third that the Yankee begun to discuss the issues presence would not bring thoroughly again, there have been two meetbut would in ings in the past year which Ine benells inat the revo lution had brought. Be- gressive partie present. I think now ever Cause contradiction in the minds there Was single party in the Caribot the people. Ihey naively Deal accepts what held the view that once the happened in Grenada was Coard group was removed a complete and total aberthey would be able to just ration marxismthe Coard group, and is therefore pre Yankees But of course different the Coard group pared to recognise that th • was respon sible for the collapse of the archlud. they have Grenadian revolution moved to I think the only pari So in that had some difficul was the Workers' Party of Yamac ollT they have ment was now come out and at least to However what we have where found with that party and with people here in Britain is that • some people nan: on to a new position in order to Keen the Coard group in the news for their Against this backThey cove their position under Human Rights Committee This is a complete mis application of the sacre principle of human rights what really they lla vt is a Free Bernard Coard committee. Both objectively and in practice that is how they function. rebuilding think tha those knowing and understand Grenada events have to be very forthright in pointing out to honest people that really what they are getting been dis- involved in is nothing but a Free Bernard Coard com ments the • mittee 1hat 11 has absolutely base viellada ana no possiollily of helping rebuild the pro. a new
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