by Tim Slinger in St George's, Grenada


THE THREE MEN who squeezed the triggers that killed former Grenada Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and a number of his Cabinet colleagues 23 years ago, were released from the Richmond Hill Prison early Saturday morning.

Just after 9:30 a.m., Vincent Joseph, Andy Mitchell and Cosmos Richardson walked through the gates of the lone jail facility to a handful of family members and die-hard supporters of the former leftist People's Revolutionary Government.

They each refused to comment about their lengthy incaceration, but their return to society was a far cry from when they were jeered and threatened with their lives by hundreds of Grenadians in the first court appearance over two decades ago. Our lawyer will speak on our behalf, said Richardson and Mitchell in apparent rehearsal comment.

Joseph and Mitchell sported suits, while Richardson wore a simple jeans and sports shirt. Trinidad-based lawyer Keith Scotland, who earlier this year filed a constitutional motion demanding the release of the three former soldiers, told the media outside the prison gate that release of the men was justification of justice served.

From as early as 7.00 a.m., about a dozen media personnel and a few relatives braved morning showers and gathered outside the prison anticipating their release. That's my uncle and I'm waiting to take him home, a teenage girl who said she was Joseph's niece, told the SUNDAY SUN.

There has been mixed emotions among Grenadians regarding the release of the three who formed the major part of a firing squad which gunned down Bishop and his faithfuls on October 19, 1983. I really don't think they should have been released until they spent the full 30 years, a taxi-driver said.

Others described by on-lookers as hardline Coardites, referring to former Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard, were in jubilation as they embraced the three. However, it was widely accepted that any attempt to free Coard and his Central Committee cohorts who ordered the execution of Bishop and others could be met with disapproval and hostility.

These three (Joseph, Richardson and Mitchell) were only the foot soldiers like puppets awaiting the pull of their strings, but Coard and them . . . no way . . . it is life and they should remain there for the rest of their lives, an elderly man said.

Government made an announcement last Thursday about the release of the three men, noting they were getting their freedom because of good behaviour, well short of the 30-year jail term imposed on them for manslaughter.

However, lawyer Scotland argued the men had been illegally held at the prison after spending 30 prison years, interpreted as nine months yearly.

(Reproduced from the Barbados Nation newspapers)