by Hudson George
It is not a big surprise why some of my critics are very quick to make personal [attacks] at me, for saying boldly in my last article, “Eric Gairy led Grenada’s only successful revolution.” However, I am challenging them to prove me wrong with historical constructive written scholarly proof and facts.
Basically, while my critics are wasting their time attacking me for my opinion, pertaining to the former PRG regime, the political “sore foot” burst again between Maurice Bishop supporters and RMC/OREL political faction during March month 2019 celebration activities. The two groups are quarrelling for ownership of the 40-year anniversary celebration of [the] Grenada March 13 revolution.
Their attitude of showing some kind of entitlement behavioural pattern, looks as though they really think the Grenadian people will believe that God sent a telephone message from heaven saying Grenada belongs to them. On the other hand, some of the less diplomatic and ill-discipline[d] arrogant ones within their fold, are roaming the internet (Facebook) trying to pick fights with opponents of the celebrations.
While they [are] wasting their time making negative comments about my opinion, they are not making an effort to write a paragraph on the topic to support their political values, but they foolishly keep on exposing how ignorant they are about Grenada’s history. They prefer to act like “bad-johns” and “lawah” citizens who are always living with anger and arrogance. However, I have a good message/advice for them.
I am advising them to purchase some scholarly books written about Grenada by Grenadian scholars, with information from the period of slavery during the French and British colonial era unto the Eric Gairy GULP political era, so that they will be able to get a better understanding about our present political culture.
In addition, if their intention is to educate younger generations of Grenadians about our history, they [are] supposed make it their duty, to explain the Julian Fedon rebellion as a conflict, whereby two European colonial powers fought against each other to exploit free labour from captive African slaves. They [are] supposed to explain the role and status of mulattoes, who were fighting to gain superiority status over the African slaves within the slave society system.
They [are] supposed go into details and explain what were the causes that led to the Fedon Rebellion and why the vast majority of African slaves support[ed] Fedon’s Rebellion, while another French Creole mulatto named Louis La Grenade joined [the] alliance with the British to crushed the rebellion. Unfortunately, they are using our history as political tools to achieve their political goals.
Therefore, I am advising them to read these 3 historical scholarly books written by Grenadian intellectuals. The books are as follows: The role of the Free Coloreds in the Slave Societies of St Kitts and Grenada, 1763-1833 by Edward L Cox; The Gairy Movement, A History of Grenada 1947-1997, by George Griffith; Belvidere Estate Fedon House, by Herman G Hall.
I hope that after they read these books, they will be inspired to search for more historical knowledge about Grenada’s political conflicts and stop relying on political propaganda from educated folks who have personal interest and ambition to create another recycle revolution, with people who have strong family ties to the old oppressive class.
Additionally, as a black person myself, I think it is unfair, when black and brown Grenadian scholars keep on trying to paint Eric Gairy as Grenada’s worst political ruler, by trying to highlight the mongoose gang as the only vigilante group in our political history. I think it is time that young Grenadians should know that the free coloureds in St George parish had their own vigilante militia groups to protect their mulatto status over black slaves and to track down runaway slaves and punish them.
I think it is time for young Grenadians to know that Louis La Grenade Sr and his son Louis La Grenade Jr were compensated by the British for their role in suppressing slave rebellions and by so doing, they were compensated with money and honours/titles by the British. They were able to purchase large acreage of agriculture estates. However, up to this present era of our time, their offspring are enjoying the fruits of our ancestors’ labour. Therefore, I think it is my right as a Grenadian to give my opinion on the issue and negative comments cannot scare me.
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Was there a revolution in 1979? or was it a coup ?in 1990 Abu Baker and his men stage a coup in Trinidad and Tobago one that failed , had abu Baka succeed would that be called a revolution ? Did Coard and his gang stage a coup in 1983 or was it a revolution? there is no comparison between 1951 and 1979 . sir Eric Gairy is the only revolutionary leader Grenada ever had bishop was the leader of a gang that over threw an elected government , from when an overthrow becomes a revolution
Visit the non-political bias ‘Grenada 1979 Revolution Exhibition’, at the Grenada National Museum. The exhibition was launched on March 17 with a pictorial Gallery depicting pictorial works of a Swedish Photographer who was here during the life of the Revolution.
The exhibition highlights key features our island of Conflict and Revolutions – looking at the Fedon Rebellion, Gairy 1950 Social Revolution and the impact/influence on the Rise of the NEW JEWEL MOVEMENT, to the 1979 Revolution and the collapse of the revolution in 1983 –
It aims are to; inform, enlighten and allow citizens to come to their own conclusion on the matter.
The exhibition ends in October 2019
‘KEY’ aspects of the Revolution from its inception – tracing elements of
Your article constantly whines about lack of historical knowledge from those who rightfully, if not viscerally, oppose your point, but it seems you ignore some points on the success of the PRG. Within four years the PRG’s policy of marrying “idle lands with idle hands” reduced unemployment by 35% while raising fruit and vegetables exports 300%. The PRG was not satisfied to simply be a cash crop producer for the major imperial powers of the world (as Gairy’s government was) and instead desired to be self-sufficient. Of course this was a threat to the capitalist markets and the capitalists’ pockets, so Reagan (the bastion of human rights that he was – I must specify that I say this with all sarcasm as I know some people impossibly have a positive view of this devil) led the illegal invasion of the nation. Please see Brierly, John S. “A Review of Development Strategies and Programmes of the People’s Revolutionary Government, 1979-83” to see the positive social impact of the PRG that never would have existed under Gairy’s government and in fact surely was not allowed to exist by the United States and other enemies of African liberty.
In this new century every body is equal , l hope all Grandian will celebrate their revolution success together , the school system should teach the youngsters more about Grandian
History .
I am a Chinese Canadian
Hmm.
The old slaves were killed for reading,the new slaves won’t read even if not reading will kill them.
Who was the mongoose gang, wasn’t little Tom and Harold Strachan involved in the mongoose gang also? The mongoose gang got their name because of the job they did trapping mongoose, don’t be fooled, both GULP and NJM supporters were part of the gang which had more supporters of Gairy.