CATEGORY:MAJOR DEVELOPMENT
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By Wallace J.A
Inside Grenada correspondent
Friday December 01,2006


ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada: According to a news release from the Ministry of National Security, three prisoners, who were incarcerated at the Richmond Hill Prison - for their role in the October 19, 1983 slayings of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and others - will be released from the local penitentiary tomorrow (Saturday December 2,2006).

The three prisoners – Andy Mitchell, Cosmos Richardson and Vincent Joseph – were convicted on 11 counts of manslaughter and were sentenced to thirty (30) years in prison. They have so far served about twenty (20) years at the Richmond Hill penal institution.

Under the law governing sentence regulations, inmates’ sentences can be reduced by one-third if they have proven to be industrious and well-behaved. The three inmates have qualified for the reduction of their sentences hence the reason for their freedom sometime tomorrow.

The release from the Ministry of National Security stated unequivocally that the planned release of the three inmates is not based on any court action but is as a direct result of the sentences being completed.

It is the hope of the Government of Grenada that Mr. Joseph, Mr. Richardson and Mr. Mitchell learn from their experience, re-join society as productive members of their communities and live peacefully.

There has been mixed reactions from Grenadians on this new development. Some persons share the view that the time for the release of the three men was long overdue while others harbor the sentiments that they should have been left in prison. It is quite apparent that the emotional wounds that were inflicted on the Grenadian people on October 19, 1983 run deep and even now – twenty-two years later – many Grenadians are still hurting and their hearts still remain unforgiving.