The final chapter surrounding the events of the bloody coup in Grenada in 1983 has been written, with today’s planned release of the mastermind, Bernard Coard, and the last nine prisoners.

The decision to free the Grenada ten came like a thief in the night in Grenada yesterday, with the announcement by the Government that Coard and his fellow prisoners would be set free from the Richmond Hill Prison, St George’s, at 9 am today. Coard’s Trinidadian attorney, Keith Scotland, was so elated with the news. He was heading to Grenada when the Guardian caught up with him late yesterday. Although surprised at the sudden decision, Scotland said he was happy for his client, who had ailing for a long time. Yesterday, the Minister responsible for the Advisory Committee on the Prerogative of Mercy advised the Governor General of Grenada to remit the remainder of the sentences of  the ten prison inmates and thereby effect their release from prison.

The prisoners named were: Bernard Coard, Callistus Bernard, Hudson Austin, Liam James, Leon Cornwall, John Anthony Ventour, Dave Bartholomew, Ewart Layne, Colville Mc Barnett and Selwyn Strachan. These inmates have been prison for periods ranging from five to approximately 26 years. The advice of the minister represented the final act in the review process provided for under Grenadian law, specifically the Prison Rules. In the case of the prisoners referred to as the Grenada 17, imprisoned since 1983, the review of their sentences was also in keeping with a court order, arising out of the re-sentencing decision dated June 28, 2007, for their sentences to be reviewed within two years. The review process commenced in January 2009 with the submission of reports by the prison authorities on the conduct, attitude, industry and other relevant matters, of all inmates who had served beyond four years of their sentences. The reports were considered by the Board of Review, which also carried out interviews with the prisoners and instituted its own background checks and investigations.

A total of 42 inmates had their sentences reviewed. At the completion of its work, as is required by law, the Board of Review presented its findings and recommendations to the minister of national security who, in the exercise of his discretion, forwarded the recommendations of the Board for action by the Minister Responsible for the Advisory Committee on the accordance with the law.

Flashback
On June 28, 2007, three members of the Grenada 13, were freed after more than 23 years at Her Majesty’s Prison in Richmond Hill, Grenada. Justice Francis Bell, presiding in the Grenada Supreme Court, ordered Lester Redhead, Christopher Stroude and Cecil Prime to serve 30 years’ hard labour from the time of their arrest in November 1983. That meant they had already served the 30 years. Hours later, they walked out of prison into the arms of waiting relatives. They were convicted for the murders of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and members of his Cabinet in a bloody coup on October 13, 1983. It was only after the intervention of American troops, that the situation was brought under calm, and that persons were arrested and charged.To this day, the remains of Maurice Bishop have not been recovered.