paul@phs.UUCP (Paul C. Dolber) (09/25/84)
A recent short article in this forum quoted the following from another
submission (by I know not whom): "Since Grenada is British property..."
I think not.
From: Charles, K. . The Castroization of Grenada. National Review,
September 17, 1982, pp. 1144-1150.
"The history of Grenada prior to the Cuban takeover is contained
in an admirable book (originally a Yale sociology dissertation)
called "The Hero and the Crowd," by a Trinidad Indian named
A.W. Singham. What emerges is that the British, wishing to rid
themselves of these costly and undesirable colonies, sought some
means of handing them over democratically. They could not do so
to vacuums. Their best answer was to unload them on union leaders
who commanded visible popular support or elective backing. So in
1967 Eric Matthew Gairy, head of the Grenada United Labor Party,
saw out the last British Governor-General of Grenada, Sir Ian
Turbott, and continued the inherited Whitehall-style constitution,
with its bicameral government."
From: Wagner, G. What it was like in Grenada. National Review,
November 25, 1983, pp. 1472-1474.
"There was, however, a British presence, in the person of Governor
General Sir Paul Scoon, a politically colorless figure... who was
a necessity for Commonwealth status. It was probably this that
brought Mrs. Thatcher out against us; she was early summoned by
the Queen, who does not like her turf invaded by Yanks. There was
also a High Commisioner. He may have contributed to the British
stance. A High Commisioner is responsible for visas, scholarships,
and suchlike, as well as disseminating cultural mater."
It would thus appear inaccurate to say that "Grenada is British property"
for any time since 1967.
Regards, Paul Dolber @ DUMC (...duke!phs!paul).