Grenadians told to accept reality and closure will come – with regards to the death of slain Prime Minister

A prominent African-American leader, who visited Grenada, told a public forum last Saturday night that the 1983 assassination of former Prime Minister Maurice Bishop is a reality that cannot change and the acceptance of that as a fact will assist in bringing closure to the position taken by many over the years.

“Closure comes when you accept a reality that you cannot change,” said Louis Farrakhan, as he comforted those who have continuously asked about the location of the body, which is yet to be identified after 29 years. “When you accept that this is a reality you cannot change, the will of God will prevail,” he said.

The fact that the body of Bishop and others who died in the 1983 massacre are yet to be located and receive a proper burial in accordance with Christian traditions, has been the subject of many discussions and research over the years.

Calling for those who are affected to forgive, Farrakhan said that forgiveness is a healing process that involves all affected.

“If you cannot forgive those who have forgiven you, how can you ask God to forgive you?” he asked the audience, who gave him a standing ovation on arrival.

He also called for deeper political unity among countries of the Caribbean Community.

 “Grenada cannot exist independent of other Caribbean islands. So, the future of the West Indies must not just stop with CARICOM, but there must be a political union of the whole of the Caribbean,” said Farrakhan, who was born in the United States to Caribbean parents.

Farrakhan, 79, said there is a need for all countries – including the US and Grenada – to end the practice of partisan party politics, which is hampering national development.

“We need to think more of Grenada and the Caribbean rather than our party,” he said. “Our party is important, but our party is not more important than the nation that these parties are to serve.” (LS)