Grenada: Three Years of Revolution
Three years ago, on 13 March 1979, the people of the Caribbean island of Grenada ended the brutal dictatorship of Eric Gairy and began the construction of a free Grenada.
Under the leadership of the New Jewel Movement (NJM) the people of Grenada for the first time in 400 years finally took their destiny into their own hands.
Grenada is a small country with a population of only 110,000. It faces many difficulties--both economic backwardness and the hostility of US imperialism. But the achievements of the revolution have already been formidable.
Since the revolution the self-organisation of the masses has developed apace. Among the mass organisations that have been established are the National Youth Organisation and the National Womens Organisation.
Foremost has been the establishment of the system of 'people's democracy' which allows the vast majority of Grenadians to participate in the running of their country.
One of the first actions of the revolufionary government was the passing of the Trade Union Recognition Act. Now, about 80 percent of the workforce has joined the trade unions.
Immediate measures have been taken to raise the living standards of the people. The cost of basic food items has been kept down. Cheap fertilisers have been provided for farmers. Housing materials are provided either free or at low interest rates to workers and farmers. The condition of women has been rapidly improved: they receive equal pay for equal work and paid maternity leave.
Like the Sandinista government in Nicaragua the New Jewel Movement recognised that education is a vital part of the political mobilisation of the people. The newlyestablished Centre for Popular Education mobilised thousands of volunteer teachers to wipe out the remaining illiteracy. A new nationwide scheme of adult education is well under way.
Despite these advances, the economic difficulties of the island remain very grave. When Gairy was overthrown unemployment was about 50 per cent. As a first attempt to tackle this, Grenada has developed the
'idle lands for idle hands scheme' to cultivate previously unused land, using newly-formed agricultural cooperatives.
Last year the first fruit canning plant and a fish processing plant were opened. One of the most ambitious projects is the building of the island's first international airport. Much of the aid for this project, like the aid for the free health care and other projects, has been provided by the Cuban government.
As the people of Grenada celebrate three years of progress of their revolution, they have designated 1982 as the 'Year of Economic Reconstruction'. Each workplace will be setting up production committees to set up and monitor production targets.
Hand-in-hand with the struggle for production is the need to defend the revolution. Grenada has been the target for numerous threats from the United States. Imperialism regards the example of the revolution as a threat to its hold over the Caribbean.
That's why the people of Grenada are spending the weeks before the anniversary celebrations engaging in training manoeuvres to ensure that any invasion will be met with the united resistance of the Grenadian people.
(Socialist Challenge
March II, 1982)
issue no. 237)
by Pat Kane