The Committee of Families and Friends of the Grenada 17 notes with interest a very misleading article carried on the front page of last week’s issue of the Grenada Today newspaper (Friday, December 3rd, 1999) under the banner headline, "New Plot to Free Coardites".

The article seeks to give the false impression of some sinister and subversive plot to free the Grenada 17, and uses a letter allegedly written by one of the 17 as evidence of such a plot. On reading the letter the first question that inevitably comes to mind is ‘Where is the plot?"

All the alleged letter does is to again raise serious questions regarding the innocence of one of the 17 persons, Tan Bartholomew, whom another of the 17 says was all the way in St. Patrick’s - and not at Fort Frederick in St.George’s where the main Prosecution witness claimed he was - at the material time on that fateful day, October 19^th, 1983. The letter simply makes a request of two friends to help Tan - a friend in need - by assisting in the publication of posters highlighting the truth and proclaiming his innocence.

The Committee of Families and Friends of the Grenada 17 wishes to make it abundantly clear, for the avoidance of any doubt, that it has intensified its campaign for the freedom of the 17 persons who have spent the last 16 years in prison. That campaign involves pamphlets, posters, radio programmes and the general lobbying of public opinion to support the release of the 17.

We are not involved in any underhand plot or scheme, or in anything sinister or subversive. Just as the anti-release campaigners have a right to print and distribute their posters and pamphlets, and to participate in radio and television programmes, we too have a similar right. Some may disagree bitterly with our views, but we still have a right to express those views.

The events of October 19^th, 1983 and immediately thereafter were traumatic not only for those who lost loved ones, but also for the entire nation. Regrettably, we cannot restore the lives of those killed in the tragic events. We can however learn the relevant lessons of those events. Let us not allow the bitterness, division and hatred of the past be carried into the new millennium. Let us give real meaning to the concepts of reconciliation, love and forgiveness.

The Committee of Families and Friends wishes to once again appeal to Grenadians to support the release of the Grenada 17. They have publicly apologised for mistakes made, not only in October 1983, but also during the entire Revolution. Remember too that for several years they all worked tirelessly and selflessly to build Grenada, and have all been exemplary prisoners at the Richmond Hill Prison

You may express your support for the release of the Grenada 17 by making your views known to members of the Government and the media through letters and participation in radio and television programmes; by assisting in the distribution of posters, pamphlets and other materials highlighting important information concerning October 1983; and by making contributions in cash or kind towards the campaign.

Let us once and for all end the constantly recurring pain, division and confrontation over October 1983 and sincerely contribute to the healing of wounds as we move forward into the new millennium

Respectfully yours,

Ian St Bernard
6th December 1999