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Island gears up to reflect 40 years after Bishop revolution

Published:Wednesday | February 20, 2019 | 12:00 AM
Maurice Bishop, former prime minister of Grenada.

ST GEORGE’S (CMC):

A group of professionals from various sectors who were youth when the People’s Revolutionary Government was in power have formed a committee for the purpose of celebrating the 40th anniversary of the March 13th, 1979 historic revolution – the first in the Eastern Caribbean.

“We have to begin somewhere, and not just institutional ad hoc activities,” said Ruggles Ferguson, interim chairman of the committee.

Over the years, several ad hoc committees have organised activities in observance of March 13 – the day of the Grenada Revolution.

Ferguson said that activities will focus on the internal and external challenges of the revolution, which collapsed on October 19, 1983, with the killing of Maurice Bishop, other cabinet colleagues, and members of the public because of internal conflicts among high-ranking ­officials of the revolution.

“We will also speak about the positive effects it provided for the island. There were many positives about the many people-oriented programmes, such as social programme. You had the Center for Popular Education that aimed to ensure that every single Grenadian, irrespective of age, could read and write,” said Ferguson, who, during the period of the revolution was a member of staff at the Government Information Service.

Sharing more of the social programmes which had a positive impact on the society, Ferguson said that the Housing Repair Programme, the setting up of the national transportation system, and the development in the agro-industries were initiatives that had positive impacts throughout the island.

Scheduled to start on March 1, the activities will conclude on May 29 – Maurice Bishop’s 75th birthdate.

During the celebration period, the committee also intends to organise public education sessions, health fairs, community work, and cultural activities.