Day 22 of the 28 Days of Black Liberation 2023 series
The New Joint Endeavor for Welfare, Education, and Liberation, or New JEWEL Movement (NJM), was a Marxist-Leninst movement that successfully overthrew the neocolonial government in the Caribbean nation of Grenada in 1979.
Led by lawyer Maurice Bishop, the NJM took power in a bloodless revolution and established the People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG). This government was wildly popular in Grenada and lasted four and a half years.
Of their programs, the most successful was their education program, which promoted literacy for both children and adults, as well as curriculum that was relevant to Grenadian people and cultures, rather than being British-centric.
However, infighting within party leadership began to grow. This was due to a combination of personality clashes, ideological disagreements, and external (USA) influence. This schism culminated in the execution of Bishop and his closest allies by firing squad in 1983, many civilian deaths and the formation of a military government.
Some of those executed alongside Bishop include Jacqueline Creft (who was reportedly pregnant), Fitzroy Bain, Nelson Steele (George), Norris Bain, Evelyn Bullen, Keith Hayling, Evelyn Maitland, and Unison Whiteman.
The US government used this turmoil to launch an invasion of the island, overthrow the PRG, and re-establish the previous constitution, which had been imposed on the Grenadian peoples by the British government.
The 1973 Manifesto of the New JEWEL Movement outlined and shaped the ideas of the movement, and the People’s Revolutionary Government. This Manifesto was written in large part by intellectual Franklyn Harvey, and discusses issues of housing, agriculture, healthcare, education, and more. The Manifesto consistently reaffirms principles of self- and community-determination, labor power, and anti-colonialism.
Importantly, the Manifesto promotes the removal of the party system and the creation of “People’s Assemblies” that would facilitate democratic participation at a local level.
“Since politics deals with the making of decisions, and since politics is largely the process which decides who gets what, where, how and when, New Jewel does not consider it to be the function of an “exclusive club.” NJM stands solidly behind People’s Assemblies as the new form of government that will involve all the people all the time. Through this form, people will be assured of both their political and their economic rights. To us, People’s Assemblies will bring in true democracy.
… How will these Assemblies work? NJM has covered this subject at great length in previous publications. We shall only summarise it here.
But before we do this, let us state that we are rejecting the party system for many reasons. Firstly, parties divide the people into warring camps. Secondly, the system places power into the hands of a small ruling clique. That clique victimises and terrorises members of the other party. Thirdly, the ruling elite seizes control of all avenues of public information, for example, the radio station, and uses them for its own ends. Finally, and most importantly, it fails to involve the people except for a few seconds once in every five years when they make an “X” on a ballot paper.”
Learn more
38 Years After a Triple Assassination, Grenada’s New Jewel Movement Still Inspires
jacqueline-creft.info – This site includes an amazing archive of photos from this period in Grenadian history!