Grenadian Revolution

[la-troy]

I would like to know what are the views on the Grenadian Revolution and what could have been done to prevent the collapse of the JEWEL movement.

[Avtomat_Icaro]

Support from USSR? Perhaps placing some nukes on that island just like they did on Cuba?

[metalero]

I don't know much about it, but it seems hard to understantd why such sectarian struggle arose inside the pretty young Grenada revolution? Bernard Coard had Maurice Bishop executed. Both were prominent marxist leaders. Coard was seen as a "stalinist"(?), while Bishop was a marxist with populist leanings. Yet I can't figure any reason for how the PRG got themselves fucked-up over petty ideological crap instead of securing the revolutionary process.

[Ander]

Perhaps placing some nukes on that island just like they did on Cuba?

I really don't see how this would have benefitted anyone...

I don't know much about the JEWEL movement but I recall that its leader was executed by members of his own party. A more united party probably would have been a good idea.

[la-troy]

A more united party probably would have been a good idea.

I agree. But I think that even if there were differences in ideology if they had been more open about it with the public or at least waited until the revolution was older and had more stability before they stab each other in the backs.

Even though I am no big fan of Democratic socialism at the time and under the conditions it was the best option for Grenada. Coard was foolish for trying to go hard line Marxist so early.

Other than that what do you guys thing of the treatment of the revolutionaries after the US invasion?

Heres an article on it Hugh O'Shaughnessy Grenada revisited (http://www.counterpunch.org/oshaughnessy02272007.html)

[Sankara1983]

Bishop had great popular support, but within the NJM he had so little backing that to even speak of a pro-Bishop "faction" would exaggerate his influence. This is one of the main reasons why the revolution had long since collapsed when U.S. troops arrived.

[la-troy]

revolution had long since collapsed when U.S. troops arrived.

What do you mean by "long since collapsed" if i remember good the revolution was still strong. in fact the people where more than willing to fight the U.S. troops when the expected invasion arrived. When Bishop died at Fort Rupert he was leading demonstrators showing that the people still had that revolutionary zeal. his death and the short lived military government that came after just gave the U.S. another reason to invade.

[la-troy]

when I saw more than ready i mean that the people had started to pick up arms, if the materials i have read are correct. They would protect the man, Bishop, and more importantly the revolution that had made real change in their country.

[sexyguy]

As I understand it, it was Bishop who tried to organise a coup d’état against the majority of the New Jewel Party. He ‘broke out’ of a very relaxed ‘house arrest’ to do it.
I am trying to get some sources from an old contact and will post with the results asp.