Hudson Austin

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Hudson Austin
Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of Grenada
In office
19 October 1983 – 25 October 1983
Preceded byBernard Coard (as Prime Minister)
Succeeded byNicholas Brathwaite (as Chairman of the Interim Advisory Council)
Personal details
Born(1938-04-26)26 April 1938
British Windward Islands
Died24 September 2022(2022-09-24) (aged 84)
St. Georges, Grenada
NationalityGrenadian
Political partyNew Jewel Movement

Hudson Austin (26 April 1938 – 24 September 2022)[1] was a general in the People's Revolutionary Army of Grenada. After the killing of Maurice Bishop, he formed a military government with himself as chairman to rule Grenada.

History

Early life and political career

Hudson Austin was a member of the

People's Revolutionary Government with Maurice Bishop
at its head. After the revolution, Austin was in charge of the military forces of Grenada.

1983 coup d'état

In October 1983, factional political issues intensified within the government, most notably Bishop's alleged favoring of rapprochement clashing with Austin's wish for affiliation with the Soviet Union.[3] These conflicts led deputy prime minister Bernard Coard to place Maurice Bishop under house arrest and to take control of the government. Austin supported the action. Conflicts between Austin and Bishop were established early on in the 1979 coup with Austin's wanting to eliminate as many members of the opposition as possible conflicting with Bishop's wish for a bloodless coup.[4] Popular demonstrations afterwards broke out against the detention of Bishop. In the course of one demonstration, Bishop was freed from house arrest. Bishop was eventually executed by army soldiers.[5] Throughout the conflict, Yuri Andropov continued to provide arms to Grenada and did nothing to aid Bishop throughout this ordeal. It has been suggested that Austin and Coard were at least passively supported by the Soviet Union in their ousting of Bishop.[6]

As Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council

After the execution of Bishop, Austin disbanded the existing government and formed a military council with himself as chairman that would rule "until normality is restored." He made a radio announcement in which he claimed Bishop had led a mob to seize Fort Rupert, headquarters of the armed forces, with the intention of eliminating the NJM leadership and the army. As a result, Austin said, "the Revolutionary Armed Forces were forced to storm the fort, and in the process, the following persons were killed: Maurice Bishop, Unison Whiteman, Keith Hayling, Vincent Noel, Jacqueline Creft, Norris Bain and Fitzroy Bain among others." He then announced a four-day total curfew, warning the people, "No one is to leave their house. Anyone violating this curfew will be shot on sight."[7]

Invasion of Grenada

The

life in prison
.

After 1991

In mitigation pleas made in 2007, while he sought to be released from prison he made no attempt to deny his responsibility for what happened in 1983. In the plea it was said that he "understand(s) the need to satisfy action for loss and suffering and the trauma of the Grenadian people."[8]

Austin was released from prison on 18 December 2008, together with Colville McBarnett and John Ventour.[9] Austin died in 2022.

References

  1. ^ "Hudson Austin the Former leader of Grenada's People's Revolutionary Army Forces is dead". Caribbean National Weekly. 24 September 2022. Retrieved 24 September 2022.
  2. ^ "Hudson Austin Biography austin.html". www.thegrenadarevolutiononline.com. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  3. .
  4. ^ "Hudson Austin Biography austin.html". www.thegrenadarevolutiononline.com. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  5. ^ "Grenada trying to find remains of slain Marxist PM". Associated Press. 26 March 2015. Retrieved 9 May 2021.
  6. .
  7. ^ "RMC 19 October 1983 Radio Announcement austinradio.html". thegrenadarevolutiononline.com. Retrieved 13 May 2015.
  8. ^ "Archived copy". Archived from the original on 7 February 2012. Retrieved 25 October 2011.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: archived copy as title (link)
  9. ^ "Grenada releases 3 coup prisoners", The Victoria Advocate, 19 December 2008.
Military offices
Preceded by
Chairman of the Revolutionary Military Council of Grenada

19–25 October 1983
Succeeded by