Gairy arrests opponent

Press, Volume CXIV, Issue 33455, 9 February 1974, Page 13

Gairy arrests opponent

(N.Z.P.A. Reuter—Copyright) ST GEORGE’S (Grenada). February 8. Grenada's Opposition New Jewel Party has moved to obtain the release of its imprisoned leader. Mr Maurice Bishop, arrested hours before the island gained its independence from Britain al midnight last night.

Police detained 29-year-old Mr Bishop at his home after weeks of Opposition demonstrations against the handover of power to the Government of the Prime Minister (Mr Eric Gairy). Mr Bishop, whose party has been the most militant of Mr Gairy’s adversaries, was charged with illegal possession of arms, after a search of his home.

Yesterday, executive members of the New Jewel — iwhich adopted its name from Grenada’s ‘‘jewel of the Caribbean” tourist publicity — :contacted lawyers and a mag-

listrate in an effort to obtain| his release on bail. He was held overnight ini the Fort George police bar-1 racks where his wife, Angela,) |was allowed to visit him to-) I day. i Mrs Bishop told reporters; [afterwards that her husband) had been kept in a bare cell! [and was stripped to his underclothes. But she said he I had not complained about his treatment apart from saving)’ ■that the security police had ( twice threatened to beat him. N Asked about the Newh Jewel movement’s future 1 plans, Mrs Bishop said that) J ‘violence was not contem- 1 plated. But she added: “You can’t just Jet these people iget at you all the time.” 1 The New Jewel and other [I Opposition groups have op-|l posed the handing over ofp Grenada’s independence top 51-year-old Mr Gairy because 11 they say they fear that the)l island will be run dictator!-11 ally with the aid of his i strong-arm corps, known as 11 the “Mongoose Men.” 11 Soon after Mr Bishop’s de-(< tention last night Grenada Radio put out a call for the 3 “Mongoose Men” to report)! for duty. I