SUMMARY
Following a violent takeover on Grenada by a hard-line faction of the ruling NJM (New Jewel Movement), ´the USA on 25 October 1983 launched a military intervention aimed at removing the new government from power. Following three days of fighting, the resistance on Grenada was defeated and a Caribbean Peacekeeping Force took over control. In 1984, democratic elections were held, and the conflict has remained terminated as of 27 October 1983.
IN DEPTH
The Revolutionary Military Council and US intervention on Grenada
In 1979, the democratically elected government of Grenada was deposed by a left-wing group called NJM (New Jewel Movement). The NJM was founded in 1973, drawing together middle-class intellectuals inspired by the US Black Power movement and the Cuban revolution. As the government, led by Prime Minister Eric Gairy, became increasingly autocratic during the 1970s and popular dissatisfaction grew, the NJM’s ideology became increasingly focused on socialist revolution. Following the bloodless 1979 coup, the group established a People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) headed by Maurice Bishop, one of the NJM leaders. The NJM received support from Cuba, East European countries and North Korea; however, the PRG also retained Grenada’s ties to the UK. The British Queen was still the head of state, and a British Governor General, Sir Paul Schoon, remained on the island.
Initially, the PRG enjoyed widespread popular support as it took steps to increase social services and job opportunities. However, divisions within the NJM soon appeared over the group’s ideological orientation. Hardliners within the group believed that Bishop was too moderate and that the group needed to reinforce the focus on moving towards a Marxist-Leninist society. These tensions culminated in mid-October 1983, as the hard-line faction, led by Bernard Coard and General Hudson Austin, deposed Bishop and placed him under arrest. On 19 October, a large civilian crowd marched on the place where Bishop and a number of his ministers were being held, triggering shootings by security forces which left many civilians dead. During the disturbances, Bishop and his fellow captives were executed. The next day, the formation of a Revolutionary Military Council (RMC) was announced, and a curfew imposed.
US malcontent with the PRG had been growing even before the events of October 1983. The new government’s ties with Cuba and the Soviet bloc were the main cause for concern. The Soviet Union, Cuba and North Korea provided military equipment to Grenada; under Bishop’s rule, the Grenadan army had been heavily reinforced, mainly with the help of Cuban instructors. When the PRG in 1980 initiated the construction of a new airfield at Point Salines, with the help of Cuban workers, US leaders argued it was intended for military purposes. Under the Reagan administration, which assumed office in January 1981, the critique of the PRG government hardened and the US made efforts to isolate the island state economically. Following the events of mid-October 1983, concern also arose over the safety of the around 1000 US citizens, most of them students, present on Grenada.
Grenada’s neighbouring island states were also concerned by the developments. On 21 October, the Organisation of East Caribbean States (OECS, made up by the governments of Antigua, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts-Nevis, St Lucia and St Vincent) held an emergency meeting at which it was decided to appeal to “friendly countries” for military intervention in Grenada. Following this appeal, and bearing in mind its own security concerns, the US administration decided to launch an invasion and remove the RMC from power on Grenada.
On 25 October 1983, operation ‘Urgent Fury’ began and some 1900 US troops landed on Grenada. In total, some 8000 US troops took part in the invasion. Despite meeting surprisingly strong resistance from the Grenadan army, supported by some 600 Cuban construction workers stationed on the island, US troops managed to achieve a military victory in three days. On 27 October, US troops had secured the capital and fighting ended. On 30 and 31 October, the leaders of the coup, General Hudson Austin and Bernard Coard, were captured by US forces, and were held for a week before being transferred to prison on Grenada. During the fighting on 25-27 October, US aircraft bombed the capital, St George’s, and mistakenly destroyed a hospital for the mentally ill, killing dozens of civilians. Heavy fighting also took place at Point Salines airport, where the Cuban construction workers were stationed.
Following the end of fighting, a Caribbean Peacekeeping Force took over control, and on 9 November an interim government was announced under the leadership of the British Governor General, Sir Paul Schoon. By 15 December, all active US troops had been withdrawn from Grenada. In 1984, elections were held and the moderate politician Herbert Blaize was elected prime minister.
