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| 1944 births | |
| 1983 deaths | |
| grenadian politicians | |
| executed politicians | |
| leaders who took power by coup | |
| alumni of the london school of economics | |
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Maurice Rupert Bishop ( May 29 , 1944 – October 19 , 1983 ) was a Grenadian Politician . Bishop was educated at the London School Of Economics and had an extensive background in studies of the Black Power movement. Returning to Grenada he became active in politics. In 1973 he became head of the Marxist New JEWEL Movement politicial party. He was elected to parliament, and for several years he held the position of Leader Of The Opposition in the Grenadian House of Represenatives, opposing the government of Prime Minister Eric Gairy and his United Labour Party . In 1979 Bishop's party staged a revolutionary Coup and deposed Gairy, who was out of the country addressing the United Nations at the time. Bishop subsequently declared himself Prime Minister Of Grenada . Initially, Bishop's coup was popular, applauded by many within Grenada and abroad. Gairy's rule had faced increasing charges of corruption and authoritarianism, so expectations were high for the new "People's Revolutionary Government" (PNG). Shortly after taking power, Bishop dissolved the parliament, and no new elections were held during his rule. In its place, the PNG sought to persue certain Grassroots Democracy intiatives and Workers' Councils . Governance itself was concentrated in the hands of the Politburo and the New JEWEL party hiearchy. The intent was to transform Grenada into a Socialist state in the mold of other Communist Bloc nations. To this effect Bishop sought ever closer relationships with Fidel Castro 's Cuba , the Soviet Union and other Communist Bloc nations. Bishop's government presided over a worsening economic situation in the country. Many members of the PNG and the party were divided as to how to best address the situation, with one faction proposing radical Marxist reforms while others, including Bishop himself favoring a more moderate path. Collective Farm s were introduced, as were the nationalization of various sectors of industry, but growth remained stagnant. A "People's National Army" was also formed during his administration. Critics accused the army as being a waste of money and resources, and there were mainly complaints that the PNA was used as a tool to commit human rights abuses, such as torture and detention of political dissidents without trial. Eventually ideological factionalism brought the PNG to the point of being unable to govern. In 1983 Bishop was placed under house arrest by the military, which had turned its loyalty to Bishop's erstwhile friend and Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard . In October of the year Bishop was eventually freed from his house by protesting students, but was then shot and killed later that day during a confrontation at St. George's , along with a number of his supporters including several cabinet ministers. After a brief period of military rule, a hardline Stalinist government was established under Conrad. This event prompted a U.S. -led Invasion of the Island , " Operation Urgent Fury ," to depose the pro-Soviet Coard. Bishop had planned to build a large, controversial international Airport on Grenada with Cuban assistance, which was eventually completed with U.S. assistance several years later. The airport is now Grenada's main international airport, named simply Point Saline International Airport. Many Grenadians would like to see the airport renamed after Bishop. Bishop had a son Vladimir Kreft, whose mother, Jacqueline Kreft, was one of Bishop's ministers. Like his parents, Vladimir was himself killed in violent circumstances in Canada while still a young man. SEE ALSO EXTERNAL LINKS |
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