CATEGORY:JUSTICE/ INJUSTICE
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By Trevor Thwaites (Inside Grenada correspondent)


ST.GEORGE, Grenada - The retrial of the 17 sentenced to life imprisonment for the death of former Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and others on October 19, 1983 is one of the recommendations forwarded by the Truth and Reconciliation Committee (TRC) that is generating plenty of debate. Most view the recommendation as absurd, given the fact that the 17, who were first sentenced to death by hanging had their sentence commuted to life imprisonment on the ground of mercy.

However Manager and owner of the Grenadian Voice Newspaper is one of those strongly favoring the idea of a retrial. Pierre said last week Wednesday at a press conference in St George’s, that the trial was unfair. “I want to testify. I attended 90% of original trial and about 60% of the appeal. It was the most unfair trial in history”, the veteran journalist remarked at the press conference focusing on the Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Committee.

“You tell me if it is a fair trail when the written judgement is not handed down to your client. Is that fair? Pierre said that the Chief Justice at the time castigated the junior judges for taking as long as four years to hand down the written judgement. “None of the governments that have come into power has found it necessary to make sure that this is made available to these people.” Attorney General and Legal Affairs Minister, the Hon Elvin Nimrod, said that he is not sure there is a consensus that the 17 did not get a fair trial.

He admitted that trying to reverse the decision by the court would pose a huge problem because it is totally unconstitutional for the executive to interfere with the decision of the judiciary. However the Legal Affairs Minister said that they are looking at the recommendations and are willing to implement those that are feasible at this time. “We will go to the public a get a sense of whether the public feels that a fair trial was given. I will hope the public opinion will count.”

Nimrod said that he is happy to know that Pierre wants to testify and called on the public, who has information to share to come forward in an attempt to bring truth and reconciliation to the process. “We are looking for directions from the public’s involvement. If the people and government are convinced that that trail was unfair, the government will pursue this recommendation by the commission.” However most are of the opinion that a retrial of the 17 should not be entertained. “Let them serve their time”, “they are lucky to be alive”, “a retrial will be chaos,” were among the sentiments of nationals