Bio Of Bernard Coard a Grenada Revolutionary

Bernard Coard is a Grenadian politician and academic who played a significant role in the Grenadian Revolution of 1979. He was born on August 10, 1944, in Carriacou, Grenada, which was then a British colony. Coard obtained his education at the London School of Economics, where he received a Bachelor of Science degree in Economics in 1964. He later pursued postgraduate studies at the University of Sussex, earning a master’s degree in development economics.

Coard returned to Grenada in the late 1960s and became involved in politics. He joined the New Jewel Movement (NJM), a left-wing political party led by Maurice Bishop. The NJM sought to establish a socialist government in Grenada, advocating for social justice, economic equality, and the removal of foreign influence from the country.

In 1979, the NJM successfully staged a coup d’état against the government of Prime Minister Eric Gairy, and Coard played a crucial role in the revolution. Following the coup, Coard served as the Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Finance and Planning in the People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) led by Maurice Bishop. He was also a member of the Central Committee of the NJM.

During his time in power, Coard focused on implementing socialist policies and agrarian reform, aiming to redistribute wealth and resources to benefit the working class and rural population. The PRG established various social programs, and sought to reduce unemployment and improve living conditions for the Grenadian people.

However, internal divisions within the NJM and the PRG eventually led to a power struggle between Coard and Bishop in October 1983. Coard and his faction staged a coup against Bishop, resulting in the house arrest of Bishop. This event sparked public outrage, and a wave of protests erupted across the island leading to the murder of Bishop and several of his cabinet and supporters on October 19.

On October 25, 1983, a military intervention by the United States, known as Operation Urgent Fury, was launched to restore order and remove the Coard-led regime from power. The intervention resulted in the arrest and imprisonment of Coard and other leaders of the coup. Coard was subsequently convicted of the murder of Maurice Bishop and sentenced to life in prison.

In 2009, Coard was released from prison and joined his wife Phyllis in Jamaica who was earlier released on humanitarian grounds due to health concerns. On September 6, 2020 Phyllis died leaving a lonely Bernard in his adopted Jamaica. Since his release, he has kept a relatively low profile and has not been actively involved in politics. The Grenadian Revolution and its aftermath continue to be subjects of debate and analysis, with differing perspectives on Coard’s role and motivations.

By T.L. Neckles

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