Dear Sisters and Brothers,

This Century is ending. We believe that for our country to progress, we must put all hatred behind us before we step into the new Millennium. For this reason, we appeal to the authorities to extend forgiveness and to release the seventeen Grenadian political prisoners from prison. We also sympathize with all those who lost their love ones and suffered as a result of the terrible tragedy of October 1983.

We are aware that many persons who once hated the seventeen are now beginning to believe that it is time to free them. Yet, they have concerns about doing this. They ask, what would happen if the seventeen were released? Would this lead to more confusion? Would they go back into politics? Would they stay in Grenada or go aboard? Do the seventeen hold ill will against those who contributed to their many years of imprisonment?

This letter is written to provide the Grenadian people with answers to these reasonable concerns. It is written by people who visit the seventeen often, who therefore know their attitudes, desires and plans, should they be released. We ask you only to read the questions and answers below with an open mind, then consider prayerfully what is best for our country, and what is the right thing to do in the eyes of God.

Signed:

Friends of Grenada

Why should we forgive the seventeen?

Because we are a Christian nation, and Christ commands us to forgive those who have hurt us. Our Lord’s says, "Forgive us our sins, for we forgive everyone who does us wrong". (Good News Bible, Luke 11.4). Hatred poisons the soul, whether of a person or of a nation. Only forgiveness can heal our nation’s pain. Moreover, a nation that is always looking backwards, to its painful past, cannot focus its full attention and energies on building its future. Grenada needs to settle down and focus all its energies on marching forward, into the next century, free from the burdens of the past

If freed, would the seventeen return to politics?

No. The seventeen have told many persons that they believe that politicians who make such serious errors that tragedy results, as it did in 1983, have no right to seek to represent the people ever again.

If freed, would the seventeen remain in Grenada?

Most of the seventeen, including Bernard and Phyllis Coard, wish to settle abroad permanently. This would not only allow them to get over the events of the past, but would allow the Grenadian people to move on.

Would the seventeen be willing to assist Grenada from abroad?

Yes. The seventeen have made it quite clear that they love their country and if asked to assist in any way, from abroad, in the areas of education or finance, for example, they would always be willing.

Does it harm Grenada that we have the seventeen locked up?

Yes. It hurts Grenada’s image as a democratic nation, to have former members of Government and others imprisoned after giving them a trial, which many people see as unfair. Also, some foreign investors and tourist will not invest in/visit a country, which holds political prisoners. They will choose another Caribbean country instead. And the longer we hold them in prison, the more the disapproval grows.

But isn’t it enough that their death sentences were commuted to life imprisonment?

No, it isn’t enough, because the seventeen have now been imprisoned for more than fifteen years, and in most countries fifteen years is considered a full life sentence. Almost all countries release lifetime prisoners at some point, once they are no danger to society, because it is recognized that while everyone must pay for their crime, everyone also deserves a second chance. Remember what Jesus said to the woman caught in adultery: "Go, and sin no more."

Shouldn’t the seventeen be made to return the remains of those killed on October 19, 1983, before being released?

There is nothing that the seventeen want more than to see the remains of those who died on October 19 returned to their families for proper burial. But the seventeen cannot return them because it is the Americans who have those remains. In November 1983 an American army officer, Captain Forde, stated to the Barbados Nation newspaper that they had found bodies which they though were those of Maurice Bishop and those who died with him. In the trial of the seventeen, the prosecution produced jewelry which had been found in the same grave as the bodies, and relative of some of the deceased gave evidence that those items of jewelry had been worn by their relatives on October 19. So those were the bodies. Maurice Bishop’s daughter, Nadia, who came to Grenada a few years ago, in search of her father’s remains, also said, on leaving, that her investigations revealed that the Americans last had possession of her father’s remains.

Have the seventeen ever apologized to the Grenadian public for the tragic events of October 1983?

Yes, they have. In 1997 the seventeen issued a long written apology to both the revolution’s political prisoners and to the Grenadian people as a whole. This apology was published in the Grenadian Voice newspaper on February 8, 1997. In it, the seventeen said: "We must profoundly apologize to all the victims and suffers and their families, to the families of all those who died, and to the entire Grenadian people."

Have the seventeen behaved while in prison?

They have been model prisoners, well-disciplined hardworking and encouraging other prisoners to be the same. They have spent most of their time teaching other prisoners, especially young prisoners. Many ex-prisoners testify to the good influence of the seventeen in helping them to change and live useful and law-abiding lives upon release.

Do the seventeen hold ill will against those who contributed to their many years of imprisonment?

Absolutely not. In their apology to the Grenadian people in 1997 they also said, "We bear no bitterness…towards anyone who wronged us in any way". They are deeply moved, that so many of the very people locked up during the revolution, like Teddy Victor, Lloyd Noel, Leslie Pierre, Kennedy Budhlall and Winston Whyte, among others, have shown them real kindness, instead of seeking revenge. And they recognize that since they ask for forgiveness, they too must be ready to forgive those who have hurt them.

It is time for us all to let go of the hatred and grief, let healing begin; time to move towards the next century free of hate, united and at peace as a nation. We ask Grenadians to support our call to free the Grenada Seventeen.