CATEGORY:POLITICS --------------------- Inside Grenada Saturday January 27,2007 EDITOR'S NOTE: This article represents the views, policies and vision of the New National Party (NNP) headed by Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell. The NNP has been in office since 1995 - for three consecutive terms. In the last general election, the NNP won 8 of the 15 seats that were contested. THE NATION had the privilege to receive further information on the debacle that took place on Fort George (then called Ft. Rupert) and its aftermath. Former Governor General, Sir Paul Scoon’ interview on the “Community Focus Special” rehashed the details of the gruesome, savage undertakings by the Revolutionary Military Council (RMC). The G.G made the point of the prevailing circumstances to answer the question as to why he was not able to play a more active role. The Government has spent thousands of dollars on the Truth and Reconciliation Commission Report and to this day there is no closure. The NNP is asking those who know about what transpired on this terrible occasion in our nation’s history to come forward and tell the nation. Let us complete the healing process…we owe this to the grieving families and affected persons. The heartless killing of those who were in the sights of the big guns is sill etched in many of our minds. The members of the RMC, the senior members in particular, must tell the nation what really happened with the bodies or remains of the former Prime Minister, Maurice Bishop and his Cabinet. Some of the pertinent things that came out the interview are: The Prime Minister, Maurice Bishop and his Cabinet suspended Parliament – a major arm in our Democracy – reducing the impact/involvement of the Governor General. The Constitution was subsequently suspended further reducing the G.G’S ability to act. The Governor General could not be expected to be effective under such conditions. As a matter of fact he recanted that his plea for help locally fell on deaf-ears. He also made it clear that it was not in his purview to say if someone should be freed or imprisoned. It is also important to note that most foreign countries had no problem with the State of Grenada. The problem was with the Communist Government of that period. In the transitional period immediately following the fall of the Revolution we had General Hudson Austin, former PM, Mr. H.A Blaize, former PM, Mr. Brathwaite, and the Interim Government act in leadership of the country. In relation with the arrest of innocent people, the confiscation of poor and helpless people’s lands, the lawless imprisonment, torture and killing of persons, the G.G expressed he could do nothing because all of the law enforcement body was controlled by the RMC. In answering a direct question on what happened at Ft. George and what happened with the bodies, the G.G pointed out that he initially heard the claim that the Prime Minister was caught in a cross-fire. He viewed this claim as far-fetched. He said that General Austin and Bishop Charles had agreed with his request for a decent funeral for the Prime Minister and his Cabinet members. He spoke of the forced death certificates ordered by General Austin. The G.G noted that he thought the regional/Caribbean forces would not be a formidable challenge to the Revolutionary forces who amassed a significant arsenal and army. He thought that we would need help from the US. The Governor General gave graphic details (helicopter episode) of the letter that had to be sent to request such help. The G.G stated that the Queen never dictates what should happen in the respective countries. Her Majesty would normally offer comforting words. To say do this or do that is not the role of the Queen. In summary, the Governor General appealed that it has been twenty-three plus years since the atrocious act against the wishes of the nation and conscience of mankind, and we need to bring proper closure to this torture. The Government and People of Grenada join him in a national appeal for the perpetrator(s) to step forward and if not an open apology to the masses, tell us where we can find the remains, if there is any to be found, of our loved ones. The grieving families and affected persons can accept no less. The wounds can only be healed with proper closure. The absence of this information remains a major criminal offence against the People of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.