A Review of Development Strategies and Programmes of the People's Revolutionary Government in Grenada, 1979-83

Abstract

In 1979 a People's Revolutionary Government (PRG) under Prime Minister Maurice Bishop assumed power in Grenada and undertook the first experiment with socialism in the Commonwealth Caribbean. A key component of this experiment was its strategy for development, to which end bold initiatives were employed to address a range of social issues and to revitalize and reform a stagnant economy. During its tenure of four and a half years the PRG had achievements on a variety of fronts, such that in 1982 the World Bank endorsed its policies and forecast further advancement. However, with the tragic demise of Bishop's government in October 1983, came the termination of the experiment prior to its completion and before the results could be fully analysed. Nevertheless, there is sufficient evidence to suggest that other small and poor Third World nations might benefit from the lessons provided by the PRG's dedicated experiment in development.