The “intervention” of Grenada by US

The town exudes history, but most Grenadians prefer not to discuss the events of October 1983 which brought their island brief notoriety. In 1979, a group of radicals turfed out the eccentric and dictatorial Prime Minister Eric Gairy in a bloodless coup. Four and a half years of People’s Revolutionary Government, led by the charismatic Maurice Bishop, ensured in which long overdue reforms were introduced. But Grenada’s “revo” disintegrated as a hard-line faction tried to snatch power. Bishop was arrested, freed by a crowd and then, in scenes of appalling brutality, was executed with several supporters in the courtyard of Fort George.

The US, long suspicious of Genada’s links with Castro’s Cuba, seized the opportunity to invade. More than 6000 US Marines landed in what is euphemistically known as “the intervention”. As much of the world struggled to locate Grenada in atlases, Soviet television announced that the US had invaded Granada and a map of southern Spain appeared behind newsreader.

It seems long ago, but the scars remain. Those convicted of the murders are still in jail in Fort Frederick on Richmond Hill. Others still mourn their dead. However, some foreign investment has materialized and Grenada is now very proud of its national stadium on the north side of St Georges.

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