Large numbers of Grenadian ex-soldiers reflect on the bloody halt and implosion of the revolution each year around the usual remembrance/invasion period. Almost to a man (woman) wishing they had challenged and say no to the group charged with killing the Comrade Leader and the slaughtering of civilians back in 1983. Some former soldiers claimed they never knew of Orel Graduation to the Central Committee. A shadowy ideological hard line political “cell” within the NJM. The group promoted joint leadership – the house arrest of Maurice Bishop (Prime Minister) is well known. His great difficulty accepting joint leadership is equally well established. Most of the military hierarchy reflecting in “anger” – now regrets not challenging, not saying no – can’t explain why even the military training, treason or no treason took the path of Charlie Company 11th Brigade – My Lai – commanded by LT William Calley rather than Paul Kagme leader of the Rwandan patriotic front.
The Prime Minister – Comrade Leader refuse to follow the dictates of the Central Committee in their pursuit of joint leadership status. A shadow group of people perpetrated a murderous orgy in the name of joint leadership. The killing frenzy still haunts the nation casting a long shadow over Grenada politics and stability.
Peter David, Nazim Burke and others within the Government should be chastened by the events of 1983. The PRG experience should always act as a limiter to Grenadian politician’s excursion into the world of “The Prince” unbridled ambition/Machiaevllianism. In 1983 Peoples Power became “the decider” freeing the Comrade Leader from house arrest. In today’s Grenada politicians should submit to public opinion – an experience that is foreign to both David and Burke. Some have argued both men are wedded to a central command system.
Peter David runs a Government within a government. Recently he became the De facto leader of the NDC party. David is already the De facto Prime Minister. The former Foreign Affairs Minister is walking a political high wire without a safety net. Should Prime Minister Thomas choose to go to the nation for a fresh mandate – will Peter David come crashing down? It is well known Thomas can be reticent. Is the Prime Minister about to do a political Retiarius on Peter – the upstart? Peter your deceptive politicking has taken Grenada towards joint leadership déjà vu. What will you offer the politically cuckold Prime Minister? Why should Thomas reward your political stealth? Peter is it absolutely essential that Grenada’s foreign policy experience a paradigm shift and does that shift embraces SADAC and Ecowas.
David appears to be part of a group of contemporary politicians working to align the Caribbean to power centers some of whom are Emerging Bricks. We learn from our American friends “money” – oil money talks and old friends reluctant to give debt forgiveness with their double standards and bullshit walks.
Prime Minister Tillman Thomas is not the most sophisticated or articulate leader but he is the leader. Peter David should be contrite by his military history – provoking a US invasion – they got here “just in time.” Killings stop – escaping – arrest warrant suspended – David’s frustration with the Prime Minister is not without merit but as Wizard says “we can’t return …” like it or not Tillman Thomas is the Prime Minister. Despite public foreboding he brought You and Nazim in from the cold. Some will argue the Central Committee is back – is this suspicions well founded, is Tillman Thomas a hostage or a puppet to the former Captain?
David’s near despair with Prime Minister Thomas leadership cannot be overlooked but in a democracy they can only be one Prime Minister. It is not acceptable to allow Peter and the majority of elected Ministers disgust with Tillman Thomas leadership, not to mention political self-preservation, to descend into 1983 joint leadership revisited. There is something called public opinion. Take the issue to the public. Today’s Central Committee is not the answer.
Peter, put your energy into policies, job creation, economic growth and intelligent people, a new architecture for agriculture enabling agro processing seeing Grenada’s border as Senegal and Ghana giving our products a bridgehead to millions of consumers in Ecowas. The Fishing Industry governed not by ill informed hustlers but a robust business culture. Tourism is almost exclusively a private sector development with a term limit to state sweeteners. No one should have to die in Grenada because they can’t afford health care or shortfalls in the area of drugs and the quality of care provided at our hospitals while we pay millions of dollars to commercial airline companies for so-called air lift.
It goes without saying if you, Peter David learn to play “openly” by democratic rules when our oil and natural gas starts flowing the glittering prize yours – gain not be stealth but by political skill triumphant over dogma, reluctance to accept change in a political world driven not by aid and colonial ties but by enlightened self-interest and skillful pragmatism. Can you up
your game or as the Prime Minister says would you be transparent in your Machiaevllianism Enterprise, Peter.
