Grenada: the Path to Revolution

Abstract

At dawn on 13 March 1979, people living near the army barracks in the valley of True Blue near St. George's, capital of the young state of Grenada, were awakened by gunfire. A detachment of 47 rebels was attacking the barracks where approximately 300 soldiers were housed, and, taking advantage of the panic, seized the guns and ammunition stored there. The soldiers fled. It was 4 a.m., and an hour later the rebels took over the radio station. They appealed over the radio to the populace to take up arms and support the revolution that was beginning. The police were advised to surrender without resistance. In the hours that followed, the detachments of rebels, now joined by workers and student youth, seized the prime minister's residence, telegraph installations, and other strategic objectives. In the course of the day, all police stations hung out white flags. The sagging regime collapsed. Fidel Castro called the anti-imperialist democratic revolution that had been victorious in Grenada "a big revolution in a small country."¹