The Hew Jewel- Revolution in Grenada

...Grenada, which achieved early fame as "The Spice Island," is the world's largest producer of nutmeg...

...However, the question must be posed as to the limits of that strategy, since similar efforts throughout the third world have failed to break the chains of dependence and poverty...

...Such planned economic development would ensure increased employment, a decreased cost of living and equitable distribution of NACLA Reportupdate . update * update . update the economic fruits, and thereby raise the standard of living of Grenada's vast majority-the working people...

...With an intelligent leadership committed to the improvement of the quality of life of its constituency, a mass popular base and a willingness to explore new solutions for old problems, the PRG should be able to attain at least some of its goals...

...misuse of public funds, electoral fraud and corruption and incompetence in the civil service were ubiquitous...

...encouraged and created mechanisms for mass participation and the development of national consciousness...

...each Village and Workers Assembly would have equal representation in the National Assembly, the country's governing body...

...HELP FROM ABROAD The government is pursuing a policy of non-alignment (it was represented at the most recent Conference of Non-Aligned Nations, held in Havana) and has sought economic assistance from both capitalist and socialist countries...

...on what basis, then, can we assume that Grenada can escape the tentacles of imperialism...

...But we will take whatever steps necessary to get greater control of our resources and to end imperialist domination of our economy...

...In an effort to stimulate tourism, the government is constructing a new International Airport and a highway connecting the airport to main parts of the island...

...And one of the goals for 1980 is the planting of one million cocoa, nutmeg and banana trees...

...The PRG has made significant gestures toward economic independence via its present strategy...

...however, investors will be made aware of specific guidelines aimed at integrating all investment activity into the overall development plan...

...EXTENDING DEMOCRACY Although the revolution must confront, over the long-term, the pernicious domination of global capitalism-a far greater danger than the destabilization tactics of the revolution's opponents, or U.S...

...organized a literacy campaign...

...THE NEW JEWEL MOVEMENT The most significant expression of that opposition was the New Jewel Movement-whose leadership organized the revolution of March 13 and now constitutes the leadership of the PRG...

...If successful, these projects will increase employment, decrease the rate of inflation and increase foreign exchange reserves...

...With unemployment at 50%, an extraordinary increase in the rate of inflation and the imposition of new taxes on certain consumption goods and services, Gairyism experienced a tremendous surge of opposition in the past decade...

...The Movement was born in the merger of two groups similarly committed to grassroots organization for democratic ends...

...On the other hand, severe limitations on local food production make imperative the importation of processed foods at monopoly prices, signalling both an increased cost of living and a drain on foreign exchange reserves...

...in response to calls by various Caribbean leftists to "go beyond bourgeois democracy" to "socialism," Prime Minister Bishop has replied only that "We will feel our way...

...and Gairy's per40 sonal body guard, the Mongoose Gang, intimidated and terrorized the general populace...

...It was also argued that genuine independence requires the continuous involvement of all the people in the process of political decision-making, i.e., genuine democracy...

...A priority of the new government is the development of the tourist industry, which accounts for 35% of the country's revenues...

...GAIRYISM Although the coup itself was sudden and unexpected, Gairy's overthrow should come as no surprise...

...TOWARD ECONOMIC INDEPENDENCE Since assuming power, the PRG has shunned any ideological labels...

...So proclaimed the new Prime Minister of the People's Revolutionary Government (PRG) of Grenada on March 13, 1979, just hours after the People's Revolutionary Army (PRA) staged a successful coup against the tyrannical regime of Prime Minister Eric Gairy...

...This body will continue to function as the government until the new constitution is drafted (the Gairy Constitution was suspended) and approved by referendum, and subsequently, new elections are held...

...With that in mind, the government has begun to attack the most flagrant abuses of the neocolonial trade relationship...

...hostility to the regime-the new government has already been able to make a difference in the daily lives of working people...

...Similarly, foreign banks operating in Grenada-such as Barclay's, the Royal Bank of Canada and the Bank of Nova Scotia-have been notified that they are welcome to stay (contrary to the 1973 Manifesto which called for nationalization of the banks), but must make credit available for development projects...

...To stem the erosion in the standard of living, the PRG created an Import-Export Board which immediately effected a 15% and 30% price reduction on rice and sugar imports, respectively...

...ON TO VICTORY As a result of its continued and successful grassroots organization, the NJM incurred Gairy's wrath and its members were often victims of harassment, beatings and even murder...

...Also idle land, some of which was acquired by the state during the Gairy regime, has been brought into cultivation...

...For example, Grenada sold a half-pound of cocoa for $1.25 Eastern Carib41update update update * update bean Currency (ECC) for processing abroad...

...Beyond that, the government, following the 1973 NJM program, has undertaken the development of an agro-industrial sector based on local products-processing and canning fruits, fruit juices and nectars-and the modernization of the fishing industry...

...In contrast, the United States, "displeased" by the PRG's ties to Cuba, has offered the struggling nation a paltry $5,000 assistance for each of several small projects...

...Toward that end the Manifesto proposed as the future form of government, a system of People's Assemblies in which membership is required of and guaranteed to all...

...Along with the creation of new jobs, and the decrease in the cost of certain consumption items, the leadership has made important headway toward the creation of genuine democracy...

...the mafia was allowed a dominant financial interest in nightclubs and other businesses...

...But Gairy was unable to stop their activities, and, on March 13, 1979, even his Chilean-trained defense forces could not prevent their seizure and consolidation of state power in a period of less than 24 hours...

...And, in order to guarantee that the industry's income remains in Grenada-in the past, 90C of every tourist dollar spent inGrenada returned abroad-local and foreign hotel proprietors are being encouraged to utilize local foods, entertainment, handicrafts 42 and other goods and services...

...Grenada is an agricultural country where most of the land under cultivation is owned and operated by a small local elite and produces agricultural goods for export, especially cocoa, bananas and nutmeg...

...Venezuela has agreed to contribute $500,000 and an additional $230,000 export financing loan...

...On the one hand, the raw agricultural exports face a buyers' market, and the consequent low prices paid by transnational agribusiness corporations translate into limited foreign exchange reserves...

...It has also provided the new government a health team and other technicians, and has accepted Grenadian students for various courses of study...

...Bishop's father was assassinated at a 1974 mass demonstration...

...Grenada's imminent independence-to become effective in February 1974-provided the context and unifying theme for the program proposed by the NJM in its 1973 Manifesto...

...and opened village-level Centers for Popular Education...

...About that same time, Maurice Bishop and Kendrick Radix-now, respectively, Prime Minister and Ambassador to the Prime Minister Maurice Bishop United Nations-founded the Movement for Assemblies of the People (MAP...

...The general pattern that results is a decreased standard of living for working people, balance of payments crises and an explosion in the public debt...

...Their bid to oust Gairy in 1976 via an electoral alliance with the Grenada National Party (GNP)-the party of the urban middle class-and a smaller, right-wing party, only intensified the Prime Minister's repressive stance...

...welcomed the participation of women and set a national goal of "equal pay for equal work...

...In the two decades during which he ruled Grenada, Gairy--a mystic preoccupied with UFOs-became the most repressive leader in the English-speaking Caribbean...

...Enjoying broad popular support, the PRG has turned its energies to the tremendous challenge of naTHE -a-A-A' A WEST INDIES %ISL "AND NEIGHBOURING COL O#o 4DIA ('--" o - a. 8 6. n t i Janl-e 198 V rNEZ U E.LA JonlFab 1960 tional reconstruction...

...Private-including foreign-capital is considered necessary for economic development...

...In 1972 the Joint Endeavor for Welfare, Education and Liberation (JEWEL) was founded by Selwyn Strachan, and Unison Whiteman-now, respectively, Minister of Communications and Works and Labor and Minister of Agriculture, Tourism and Fisheries...

...Lettuce farms have already been planted, harvested and exported to Trinidad-Tobago -even before the PRG's first anniversary...

...When the two groups merged in 1973, Grenada had already completed negotiations with Britain regarding its colonial status...

...Arguing that political independence could only be meaningful if economic dependence and the resulting poverty were overcome, the Manifesto urged increased emphasis on domestic production of food, clothing and construction materials and even medicines (from local herbs), the expansion of the fishing and food processing industries and the organization of economic activity in cooperatives...

...upon return, a halfpound of processed cocoa cost Grenadians $9.25 ECC...

...The grave consequences of this form of agricultural organization have been experienced by underdeveloped countries around the world...

...It is now composed of 23 members-12 NJM members, 2 GNP members and 9 members of predominantly working-class origin who were rural supporters of the NJM...

...In the immediate aftermath of the coup, an interim governing body-the PRG-was established...

...Among its other accomplishments, it has established two-way communication channels with the population...

...The people have responded with enthusiasm, apparent confidence in the leadership and a new attitude about themselves...

...His transgressions of democratic principles are legion: legislation was enacted curtailing the right of assembly, freedom of speech and expression, and outlawing all trade unions other than the Grenada Manual Maritime and Intellectual Workers' Union (GMMIWU) whose President-GeneralFor-Life was Gairy himself...

...Moreover, while Gairy exploited his position to acquire extensive property holdings and amass a personal fortune, Grenada's working people suffered a very low and declining standard of living...

...Cuba, with whom the PRG established diplomatic relations soon after March 13, is providing $25 million and 250 workers for the construction of the International Airport and highway...