From Pat Kane in St. Vincent 1979, has designated Economic Reconstruction'. economy is suffering mismanagement and San Diego, California.
tions for debt default. Twelve years later, tune had grown dollars.
The new revolutionary government estates bilal it saved 2.5 million dollars during the first year of the revolution by eliminating waste and corruption.
The announced a whole series of economic measures increase the island's productivity. the government has made considerable progress break the island's economic dependence on the international capitalist But the collapse in cocoa, nutmeg and banana prices has severely affected the country's struggle for self1982 as the 'Year of The Grenadian years of exploitation under the sufficiency.
Last year the government developed an asphalt plant to construct the runof the new internaway tional airport and carry vul road repairs. The island's roads Have Decli neglected for thirt years making them very difficul to repair.
Last year it also opened the first ever agroindustries Wall Callul fruit and fruit drinks.
and nousing bruel allie free primary health care all established 1981.
This is on top of the benefits in education, new agriculture co-operatives and a reduction of 25 per the island's unemployment since revolution.
the international BUL. economic crisis has had its ettects here. Cocoa prices have collapsed to less than half the price of two years Nutmeg prices have fallen, but through creased technical aid to farmers there was bumper crop last year.
Grenadian farmers get only 0.023 brusn bence per pound for bananas from the British company Geest. Geest also insist on special packaging which costs nearly much.
While export prices fall, imports oil other goods spiral through inflation. TOUTSH been badly affected by the propaganda campaign against the Grenadian revolution. in a ranaom study by the Grenadian mission in New York. articles in one month were A found attacking Grenada Despite these other difficulties. in economy has shown considerable growth since the revolution. According to the Monetary Fund, WINCISIO the a friend of the revolution, in and 1981 there was a five and a half per cent increase in agricult cent increase in per cent increase quarrying, 14.5 per increase construction and overal tiona. Product. in a tiny island of only 113 square miles and a populaand tion of just 110,000. the This growth has been achieved because of political government. Mass ticipation and control are
CSC banners on demonstrations despite opposition of CSC leaders
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Socialist Challenge 18 February 1982, page 19 THE government of Grenada, the tiny Carib- bean island in which there was a revolution in
former dictator Eric Gairy, now a resident of Gairy returned to power in 1967, after hav- ing been removed from office in 1962 following a corruption scandal. Earlier that year he was declared bankrupt as a result of 17 prosecu- the time of the 1979 revolution his personal for- to an estimated 8 million