CATEGORY:MAJOR DEVELOPMENT --------------------------------- INSIDE GRENADA FRIDAY June 29,2007 by Claudia Whiteman I am Claudia Whiteman, wife of Unison Whiteman of Confer, Calivigny, and St.George’s. I was 38 years at the time of Unison’s death. Nsona Whiteman our first daughter was 11 years old. Nkechi Whiteman, our second daughter was 6 years old. I am a retired nurse. Since October 19th 1983 I have not seen my husband Unison Whiteman, nor heard anything about his body. No body really cares about the families or relatives of the victims of October 19th. Those who committed the crime are the ones whose interest is being looked after. It was always very painful and continues to be even more so, since without any satisfaction to us we continue to hear about the freeing of the people who made our lives a living hell. The atrocious act was a nightmare. It has set me back years; it was very difficult for me to participate in any activity related to that disastrous event. It has affected my mental, physical as well as financial status very much. My children who were at the time, ages 6 and 11 healths were badly affected. We live in fear and hell, being harassed for a long time even until the present. I live in a settling where I don’t even know who if friend or foe, because I don’t know who to trust. “What a situation”. I remember my second daughter penned me a letter a year ago and in that letter she wrote” If I could see my father just one more time.” Wasn’t that painful? Just writing these words bring tears to my eyes. So, one can only imagine how devastating it is for me to be reliving this horrifying event all over again. There were the sleepless nights, the nervous periods, the nights when to bed and felt that when I wake I will see Unison, but he was never there. So where is he? Where are his bones? Can somebody tell us something? Yes, there is forgiveness, which in my opinion does not mean release or freedom. People should be made to pay the maximum penalty for crimes committed, whether they are forgiven or not, especially crimes of this magnitude. When one takes into consideration the magnitude of the crimes committed, it’s about time that this chapter be closed for those responsible, let them continue to pay for what they did, and let people get on with their lives and not be reminded of this atrocity over and over and over. I will like to add that I am totally against the release or lesser sentencing of those remaining 13, since it will cause more distress for a lot of people. Claudia Whiteman Wife of Unison Whiteman “If they’re brave enough to do the crime, they should be brave enough to do the time.” These are the sentiments expressed by my sister and me, as we reflect on the events of October 19th 1983, which resulted in the murder of our dearly beloved dad, Unison Whiteman. We are very saddened by the fact that after twenty four years of being incarcerated, Bernard Coard and his gang continue to think that they are still so entitled and we can all go to hell. The last twenty four years have not been easy for our family. We have suffered tremendously both emotionally and psychologically. We are forced to live each day without truthful answers and explanations regarding why Unison Whiteman, husband, father and a man who genuinely loved Grenada and Grenadians, was so viciously murdered, and his body disposed of like he was not worthy of a proper Christian burial. The Grenada 17 has been able to maintain relationships with their families over the years, through visits and letters; this is a luxury that was robbed from us as a result of the need for power by these self-centered fanatical maniacs. The fact that the Coard gang feels they are entitled to be released without even confessing truthfully and honestly about the events of October 19th 1983 continues to show that they still posses the level of egotistic arrogance that led them to commit the crimes in the first place. This means that the time spent incarcerated has not resulted in the level of character building that they claimed to have experienced. It has always been about their freedom and it will always be about their freedom. This is a clear indication that the lives of Maurice Bishop, Unison Whiteman, Jacqueline Creft, Vincent Noel, Norris Bain, Fitzroy Bain and others were of no value to the Grenada 17. Therefore, they can be murdered and burnt with no account given, while those responsible or the crimes are set free. Political Prisoners… What a joke! It is our clear conviction that the Grenada 17 should continue to serve the rest of their natural lives in prison, and the issue of their release should not raise its ugly head again. WE’VE HAD ENOUGH! By the way, where is Phyllis…? Nsona and Nkechi Whiteman Daughters of Unison Whiteman.