Fort Rupert under attack from People’s Revolutionary Army attempting to retake from PM Maurice Bishop and supporters on 19 October 1983. Photo: GNM
On the morning of 19 October 1983, the mood in the country was tense, but no one could have foreseen the bloody conclusion to the day.
The Central Committee had placed Prime Minister Maurice Bishop under house arrest for refusing to comply with its decision that he share power with his deputy Bernard Coard. Attempts to resolve this volatile issue, both domestically and internationally, produced a “proposal” that would have reinstated Bishop as prime minister pending his approval, but the inevitable events of Bloody Wednesday annulled the possibility of a peaceful resolution. In a massive demonstration led by Unison Whiteman and Norris Bain, with thousands of Bishop’s supporters marching to his residence at Mt Wheldale and releasing him from house arrest.
The armed forces stationed there did not confront the demonstrators and these moved on to Fort Rupert (Fort George) where the army headquarters was “taken over” by the large crowd.
The situation in the country was very tense as Bishop tried desperately to regain control of the government by calling on his opposition to surrender. In a reckless move to regain control of its headquarters and bring about the surrender of Bishop, the leaders ordered the People’s Revolutionary Army (PRA) to retake the fort by force. In the ensuing battle several people were killed, and scores injured. The captured prime minister, 3 cabinet members and 4 key supporters were subsequently executed in the fort’s central courtyard, though the PRA initially claimed they were killed during the exchange of gunfire.
At least 16 people were killed, including those executed, and over 100 injured in the panic that followed the attack. Recurring reports of hundred(s) missing/dead remain unsubstantiated.
The PRA immediately imposed martial law, with a 24-hour shoot-on-sight curfew. General Hudson Austin announced that a 16-member Revolutionary Military Council (RMC) now ruled the country. The events of that day resulted in the US-led military invasion 6 days later, on 25 October.
A plaque was erected in 1993 on the hallowed site in memory of those killed on Fort Rupert that infamous October day, but supporters have been lobbying to have 19 October declared a national holiday (instead of 25 October, the day the US began its invasion, which is celebrated as Thanksgiving Day, a national holiday).
In 2023, Grenada marked its first National Heroes Day on 19 October.
Excerpted from John Angus Martin, A-Z of Grenada Heritage
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