Finance Minister denies involvement in the RMC

FINANCE Minister Nazim Burke said he was never a member of the Revolutionary Military Council (RMC) – the five-day government that administered Grenada in the aftermath of the October 19, 1983 civil unrest that resulted in the death of former Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and other Cabinet colleagues.

The issue came up during an appearance last week Wednesday night on the local television show ‘You Decide’ on Channel 6, where he was presenting an overview of the country’s financial affairs and, at the same time, presenting reasons why the Tillman Thomas administration should return to office. General Elections are due no later than October 2013.

When a caller said on the show that Burke could not be trusted because of his involvement with the RMC in the days following the execution of Maurice Bishop in 1983, the Grenada Deputy leader made the stunning denial.

“Your accusation that I was a member of the RMC was false,” Burke said as he interrupted the caller. “You know that I was never a member of a military council,” said the visibly angry Minister, who lifted his voice as if he was shouting.

When host Byron Campbell sought a follow-up, asking him about his role as the Minister of Finance following the killing of Bishop, Burke said: “It is false. I was never the Junior Minister of Finance under the Revolution.”

When the formation of the RMC was announced following the death of Bishop in 1983, Burke was named as part of the council and identified as the Minister of Finance. Every historical record from the time listed him as such.

There has also been no record of a public denial by Burke of his involvement until that night.