|
Getting your Trinity Audio player ready...
|
Reading Time 3 mins
After my visit to Grenada earlier this year, I decided to title the 2nd Annual Symposium on the Grenadian Revolution, 1979: Freedom Hill. This idea came together because of a poem Joseph Ewart Layne shared with me called 1979. Freedom Hill is the title of another one of his poems but also the name given to a chapter in his autobiography, We Move Tonight: The Making of the Grenada Revolution. (It is also the shortest chapter in the book.)
This year’s symposium featured an honoured guest (Basil “Akii” Gahagan) and four panelists (Michael D. Roberts, Laurie Lambert, and Martin Felix—unfortunately Paul C. Clement had to cancel). To kick-off the evening, I read a passage from Bernard Coard’s newly released book Forward Ever: Journey to a New Grenada (volume II of a five-part memoir). The passage can be found in chapter 40, entitled “Under Siege” which documents “The De Raviniere Plot”—this specific section traces the role Basil “Akii” Gahagan played in ensuring the security of the leadership and the revolution at large, it was the perfect way to introduce the honoured guest.
Basil, given his role and rank within the People’s Revolutionary Army (PRA), delivered a one-of-a-kind narrative of the embryonic stages of the revolution—including the morning the 46 men raided Eric Gairy’s police barracks and how the “Green Beast” ran for their lives through the torn-filled bushes behind the compound. As he jokingly said “I am a militarist.” His presentation was hypnotic and historically rich! (In addition, he just returned from Cuba, 35 years after his last visit!) Akii—as he is lovingly called by friends and former comrades—began his presentation by asking for a moment of silence for those who died on 19th October and the subsequent battles once the US invaded the island. He then went about explaining to the audience, the reasons why the revolution was successful. But what was most striking for me was this: on Bloody Sunday, Hudson Austin held Maurice’s head as he was on the ground bleeding from the severe beating he endured from Innocent Belmar and his goons in Grenville.
Michael delivered a passionate and informative presentation. In many ways, it was illuminating. He spoke about his interactions with Maurice Bishop on the 18th of October, while he was under house arrest at Mt. Wheldale. Also intriguing was his whereabouts on 19th October, both on and off Fort Rupert—which garnered emotional reactions/questions from the audience, as expected. Michael listed his reasons for the collapse of the revolution and he also reminded the audience of the close bond between Bernard Coard and Maurice Bishop. (For more on the friendship between Bernard and Maurice, see volume I of Coard’s memoirs.)
Laurie’s presentation was a plea for the archival recognition of gender and sexuality during the revolution and the role of women’s labour in the making and sustenance of the revolution—and broader, the Grenadian people. Her presentation was thought-provoking and future-directed. She attempted to give voice to the many voiceless “others” within our heteronormative society; a daring and challenging task. I applaud her valor to speak against patriarchal norms.
Martin’s presentation closed the evening. It was bountiful with facts about regional players during and after the revolution. Martin focused on the role of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and so-called democratic institutions, such as the International Democrat Union (IDU) and the Caribbean Democrat Union (CDU). His conclusion states that Eugenia Charles was one of the facilitator. His controlling idea was that the demise of the Grenada Revolution was a combination of local (NJM/RMC), regional (OECS/IDU/CDU) and international (Reagan/IDU) factors.
As I begin to plan next year’s symposium, I am left inspired by the energy of the room and the dynamic presentations that were delivered. One thing is certain: everyone left feeling proud to be Grenadian.
Faithfully,
-A.L. Rougier, Founder
