PM Thomas commemorates US invasion amidst controversy

ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada-THE 25th anniversary of the controversial United States invasion of Grenada on October 25, 1983 was recently commemorated by Prime Minister Hon. Tillman Thomas and other dignitaries by listening to the reading of a letter by former US first lady Nancy Reagan.

At a ceremony to commemorate the nineteen US Marines who died in the invasion of Grenada to drive out the communist supported forces of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop’s People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) forces, US Ambassador to Barbados and the Eastern Caribbean Mary Ourisman read Reagan’s letter.

“I can hardly believe 25 years have passed since my husband [former US President Ronald Reagan] received that early morning call for help from the Governor (General) of Grenada. Authorising military force is an extremely difficult decision for a president to make, but my husband didn’t hesitate,” the letter read.

The US invasion had been approved by the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Jamaica and Barbados, and came at a time when the US, the former Soviet Union and Cuba had reached a peak in Cold War tension over Caribbean interests.

“[President Reagan] knew that the freedom of the citizens of Grenada, the security of the democracies of the Eastern Caribbean, and the safety of American citizens in Grenada were at stake,” the letter continued.

While the invasion was hailed by a majority of Americans as a success, some international bodies, including the United Nations Security Council, opposed the action.   ~~Adz:Right~~

In addition to the loss of American soldiers, some estimates state that as many as ninety-three Cuban and Grenadian soldiers and civilians lost their lives on that day.

A report by the Caribbean Media Corporation (CMC) stated that the loss of life by those who supported Bishop and the PRG has led to some controversy over the Grenadian government commemorating the US losses. One such PRG supporter is Dr. Terrance Marryshow, who is the president of the Maurice Bishop and October Martyrs Foundation.

“On October 25th we commemorate the lives of those who invaded us but our soldiers who died giving their lives in defence of the country for whatever reason [were not honoured]…what they did was patriotic…they died defending Grenada’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Marryshow told CMC.

Also fueling the controversy is the recent announcement that a monument will be constructed by Thomas’ government to remember the Cuban lives lost in the battle.

“We cannot forget the Cubans who died in the invasion. They were making a contribution towards the development of this country and it's time we recognise their contribution with an appropriate monument,” Foreign Affairs Minister, Hon. Peter David, said in an October 14 report by CMC.