The Grenadian Revolution, Part 2: The Rise of Gairyism

Lest We Forget

After years of societal tension in Grenada, everything would come to a head in 1951 at an event now known as the 1951 Revolution. The person who propelled this event was a former primary school teacher name Eric Matthew Gairy. Due to the success of this 1951 event, Gairy would become Grenada’s leading trade unionist through his organisation, Grenada Manual and Mental Workers Union (GMMWU). Gairy capitalise on this new fame among the locals and register a political party, Grenada People’s Party (GPP) which would ultimately become the Grenada’s United Labour Party (GULP). Soon after, at the age of 29, Gairy would Grenada’s most powerful political leader. Over the next decade and through the 1960’s, Grenada became the setting for Gairyism. Gairyism is defined as the “pride and rebellion Gairy inspired; the self-seeking excesses of the man himself”. Popularism, reports of vast government corruption and lack of policies geared towards the working class, could not deter Grenadians from voting for Gairy. As such by the time Grenada achieved self governance in 1967, Gairy would be ushered in as Premier and Grenadians, unknowlingly, would have to brace themselves for the full force of Gairyism.

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