Apology to families of the deceased by the Grenada 17

Two years ago the former (imprisoned) leaders of the NJM and the PRG issued a public apology to the political detainees of the Revolution, to the families of those who died in October 1983, and to the Grenadian people as a whole. Our apology, titled, "Reflections and Apologies by Bernard Coard and his Colleagues," was published in the Grenadian Voice of 8 February 1997.

It is our impression that most of the former political detainees did read that apology; but that many other Grenadians never saw it and therefore believe up to today that we have never apologized to those hurt by our actions in 1983.

We therefore wish to repeat, to the relatives of the victims of the October 1983 crisis, as well as to the entire Grenadian people, that we fully and unreservedly accept responsibility for the tragedy which occurred in October 1983.

In particular, we wish to extend our deepest apoologies to the families of those whose lives were lost. We fully appreciate the pain, suffering, and deep sense of loss you have experienced, and we express our profound sorrow and apologies for our part in causing your suffering.

We fully appreciate that no amount of words from us can heal your pain; only God's loving embrace can gradually bring you peace. Yet we hope that this unreserved public apology will bring you some small comfort.

We want to express to you too, our deep sorrow and apology for our failure to ensure that the bodies of your loved ones were handed over to you during the 5 and 1/2 day period after the October 19 tragedy and before the invasion. We want you to know that we do appreciate the tremendous additional grief and pain caused to you by this failure of ours. We also recognize your pain caused by the fact that to this day the remains of your loved ones have not been handed over to you for a proper Christian burial.

We want you all to know that we did cooperate fully in the effort to locate the remains, including by disclosing to the authorities, in 1983 and again in 1996, all the information ever in the possession of members of the Grenada 17 on this matter. We ask you to believe that if we had any knowledge at all, as to the present whereabouts of your relatives' remains, we would disclose it to you without a moment's hesitation. However, we simply do not know where their remains are, because, to our knowledge, the American military took possession of the bodies of your relatives shortly after the invasion.

You may remember that in early November 1983, a Captain Forde of the US Forces here, announced to the press that they had found the bodies of Maurice and others at Camp Fedon, Calivigny. Then, at the 1986 'Maurice Bishop Murder Trial', the prosecution presented evidence confirming the recovery of the bodies. In particular, they presented items of jewelry which foreign military and police witnesses testified were recovered with the bodies, and some members of the families of the deceased identified these in court as belonging to and worn by their loved ones on October 19, 1983. We are, therefore, as mystified as everyone else by the failure of those who took possession of the remains after the invasion to hand them over to their families at any time during the last fifteen and more years. It is our deepest and prayerful hope that these remains will finally be restored to you.

We also wish to take this opportunity to repeat our apology to all those who on account of our actions suffered in any way whatsoever during the period of the Grenada Revolution. And we once more apologize to all the Grenadian people for the pain and trauma caused them by the tragic events.

We wish to express our gratitude to all those who have found it in their hearts to forgive us for the wrongs they suffered. You have touched our lives in profound ways.

We thank those who have given us moral and spiritual support over the last fifteen and a half years, including under the most trying circumstances. We will never forget this.

We also thank those who have prayed and continue to pray for us. We feel blessed by your prayers.

We and our families have also suffered a great ordeal over the last 15 and 1/2 years: a fact which makes us more sensitive to the pain and suffering of others. But we wish to unequivocally declare that we hold no grudges, bitterness nor hatred whatsoever towards anyone.

Once more, to each and everyone who has suffered pain, hurt and trauma arising from our actions, we sincerely, profoundly and unreservedly express our sorrow and apologies.