five month Grenada.
Three years ago, on 13 March 1979, region, and every dirty trick of destabilisation.
winter. First as a volunteer tal Press, sister Challenge published in New York.
periences.
have been the maid SOCC and economic gains of the revolution?
The most important difference since the revolution has been the transformation of the people of Grenada. You can't measure this in statistics. Everywhere went, dinary working people were running the economy and ministries, and all aspects of life.
The people are very active and enthusiastic about ane develooments sunce unt revolution.
and economic advances in a developing are very closely linked. Free milk, education, health care, subsidised school uniforms, sports facilities and the expansion of culture all products of the revolution - have to be paid for.
Youth and women who have been among main beneficiaries can see June niccu lo 11lcrease economic efficiency — not to make more profit for multinational company but to extend the services that have been provided by the revolution already.
was that benefited Grenadians. azallist ally development Under Gairy, they had a negative growth rate. took the revolution to even develop a fishing fleet to exploit rich HS THEY round off Grenada.
Previousy. a laurily u fish eaten was imported from Canada!
There still capitalists. The Grenaalans describe Inis sillation as 'a mixed economy, where the state sector is dominant'.
do they mean wnen tney talk mixed economy?
Well it's not the same thing when Denis Healey or Tories like Ted Heath talk about a mixed economy in Britain.
There's nothing 'mixed' about our conomy The nationalised sector is capilalists to provide cheap services for Cav lalso. Grenadian capitalists are not like ly aculally coll fined to the service sector hotels, shops, food estate owners.
SLUTCO Their importance In the economy is decreasing.
similar to their revolution. Once the expropriated Icelatel Gairy's holdings, they automatically controlled a Socialist Challenge 29 April 1982 page 6 PAT KANE, a leading member of the International Marxist Group, has just returned from a visit to the Caribbean island of the Grenadian people overthrew the dictator Eric tion has sent shock waves throughout the presidents and the Thatcher government to ay forced Pat Kane made two trips to Grenada last electrician, and secondly as a staff reporter for Intercontinenpublication of Socialist Brian Grogan spoke to him about his exmajority of the arable land and hotels, plus they gained of Gairy's snares mmer SeCLor The state takes all the in the development of the economy. Last vear state investment accounted for 95 per cent of all investment, which goes mainly into capital projects like and agricultural developfilcalls. The overall aim is to rapidly disengage the Grenadian economy from through development of markets and the funding Oi lICW O11Cs At the same time it is important not to disrupt the economy, and thereby the welfare Grenadian working peothis ted The 0 2S110 field. The US and governments looking for any excuse to attack Grenada.
Does InIs imply that Grenadians are accommodating capitalism?
trol it, ared ise it to and develos une sector The last budget introduced range 0 axes which will force the private sector to move in the same direction as the government. Bernard Coard, the Finance Minister called this the carrot and stick approach.
Within the economy there is a massive movement towards planning and accountability. Literally thousands of Grenadians participated in the preparations ovover ane unev nave lust introduced their first one ycal plan.
The whole process of economics is de-mvstitied. and this attacks one of the pillars of Lunualicilla capital, business secrecy. Every WOLKCIS discusses 'opening the books' of state and private Lucils The major difference in Grenada is the governThe Grenadian workers and small tarmers. and each time there is a conflict of inthey back the workers.
The government has introduced a whole series of laws to protect workers rights, introduce maternity leave and equal pay for women. nas legalised trade unions and the right LO SuRKe.
How have the masses been involved Lne economy?
During December, all the Parish Council and workolace meetings received preliminary reports on the nans tor the economy. The government declared 1982 the 'year oi Economic Construction' All the mass organisations elected delegates to a conterence discuss the economy. 1000 attended, from a population of only 110,000. There were masses Maurice Bishop, Prime Minister are a crystallisation of the most and peace propertv ot ourse ves alone.
Just people regionally and internationally.
Grenada. Novembe estimated that 30,000 Darticipated, and read the very detailed report. Every surested wato the final integrated into the speech. And the process will continue. Two more huge conferences are being organised this year. The whole island is now full of lay-economists!
One result of the conference was the establishment of a whole series of committees in state workplaces to monitor and con. trol production, and they report to the weekly, and sometimes daily, mass meetings.
Line trade unions are involved The Government called on the trade unions to strug gle in the private sector to implement the same types measures Mass participation and control are cornerstones the government's strategy.
Grenada is a tiny coun try. Whv are the US anc British governments so the poor and exploited masses of the Caribbean. The aims, objectives and achievements of this revolution profound human aspirations of Caribbean people towards a better Grenada, this struggle is at last beginning to bea fruit. And this fruit is not for us alone. It is not the broader struggles of the working people of the Caribbean and the world so now, our Revolution is an integral part of the forward movement of the working English speaking Caribbeans inen aCOcolonialism or reformism.
That's spend millions of dollars military and naval cises which are aimed at all Revolutionaries scious of these threats, and imperialist In the US, they have close links the black organisations, and encourage Grenadians abroad politically active.
They have a militia and army. The militia is up of volunteers from all walks of life, and they will fight to defend their country. The youth are particularly active every aspect of the revolution, and they are in the front ranks of the militia and are New Jewel Movement talk about revolution having inter-related but separate pillars: mass participation, and democracy, defence They take all three very, very. SCHIOUSIV The imperialist press talk about Grenada developing into totalitarian state political life like in Grenada?
Hectic, that's the only way describe Everyday there are and radio constanti providing formation and educational material. The about Grenada, just they lie about Thatcher be ing defender democracy. In Grenada, there are more elections in week than there are Britain lifetime. Because there is no Parliament. wee uc cabilaliss can dominate the country, the press claims there is no democracy.
You should go there and see for yourselves. You'll see the involvement on in Billboard in town of Sauteurs of the Grenadian people trom the minute you in off the plane. It's a different type of democracy Sovies democracy, like of early revolutionary Russia, which has grown out of a generation the of struggle by the Grenadian people the Bernard Coard, dary education to NISTEP, every cooperative, every new hotel.
problems and sit down together, CONSUL SUBCUIC and in- people are active within youth organisations, of In village with a total popula tion of only 900, 200 will regularly attend the Coun cil meetings. Every aspect of running the country discussed by ferent organisations.
How accurate do think the comparison is the early Soviet state in Lenin's time There huge dif the context. the two revolutions the Grenac leadership share Lenin and Trotsky is t orientation to solving I blems through Deputy Prime Minister Minister of Finance, Trade and Planning Our Agro-industrial plant is a brick, our fish school is a brick. everv new teeder road is a b every move forward in education from free se every housing est These are our bricks comrades, the sand anc ment is our unity, our commitment, our work collective strength and determination to solve our huge en If we all together there is nothing that can stop us ..' (Extract from Report on the National Economy for 1981)
mobilisation and invo the This is fundamental. ment of working and and Because based Grenadians have walever they might make, Have a urenchuous car and mor their proposals accordi is ly. For example, on the dit- cond anniversarv of revolution, they were satisfied with the 10 you people that attended celebration rally. it wa
yard
----- pull-quotes -----
Gairy. For the first time in the English-speaking Caribbean, a revolution had swept away a cor- rupt neo-colonial ruler. The Grenadian revolu-
KANE PAT Photo:
aspects of the economy. Prime Minister Maurice Bishop (leaning over) together with other Grenadian leaders
hostile? revolution is increasingly a light, a beacon of hope to
For 400 years the exploited masses of the region have struggled with dignity for bread, jobs, justice
Grenada, let fer 1981/national conference in Solidarity with L44284
they are actively engaged in getting solidarity within
NEVER TOD OLD TO LEARN