Ortiz Aborts Consul’s Grenada Trip After Bishop Warns of Closed Airport

New revolutionary government controls access to island on day of New Jewel Movement coup.

Date: March 13, 1979

U.S. Consul's Initial Trip to Grenada Aborted on Day of Coup

Details: On the day of the New Jewel Movement's coup in Grenada, Ambassador Frank V. Ortiz dispatched Consul LaRoche and Peace Corps Director Chromy to travel to the island. The stated purpose of their mission was to assure the safety of American citizens in the wake of the government's overthrow.

The trip was aborted before the officers could depart from the airport in Barbados. The new Grenadian leader, Maurice Bishop, in a direct telephone call with Ambassador Ortiz, advised that it would be "unwise" for the U.S. officials to come by air, as the airport would be closed for at least two days. Bishop suggested that the officers should instead travel by sea into St. George's harbor. Based on this advice, Ambassador Ortiz recalled the two men from the airport and noted his intention to try sending them by ship.

Key Members & Participants:

  • U.S. Officials:
    • Consul LaRoche: U.S. Embassy officer dispatched to assess the safety of American citizens.
    • Ambassador Frank V. Ortiz: U.S. Ambassador in Bridgetown who dispatched LaRoche and communicated directly with the new Grenadian government.
    • Director Chromy: Peace Corps Director, dispatched with LaRoche.
  • Grenadian Officials:
    • Maurice Bishop: Head of the new revolutionary government who advised against air travel and spoke directly with the U.S. Ambassador.
    • Bernard Coard: Senior member of the new government who was also on the telephone call with Ambassador Ortiz.

Significance: This event marks the first official U.S. attempt at direct, on-the-ground contact with the new revolutionary government in Grenada on the very day of the coup. The new government's willingness to communicate directly with the U.S. ambassador, while also controlling access to the island, demonstrates its immediate effort to manage foreign relations and consolidate power. The concern for American citizens is established from the outset as the primary justification for U.S. engagement, and the U.S. Embassy's immediate dispatch of consular officials highlights the priority placed on their safety.

Source:

U.S. Embassy Bridgetown Cable 00869, "GRENADA SITREP TWELVE FORTY-FIVE LOCAL," March 13, 1979, Declassified. (Document ID C17670999.pdf).

Link:

https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979BRIDGE00869_a.html

Internal Link:

Date:
March 13, 1979
Categories:
Greneda Invasion, Log, Matthew Smith, The Suriname Archive
Tags:
Ambassador Frank V. Ortiz, Cable, Consul LaRoche, Consular Affairs, Coup, Director Chromy, Grenadian Officials, U.S. Officials
Boxes:
MW Zotero
Years:
1979
Persons:
Bernard Coard, Frank Ortiz, Maurice Bishop, Richard Laroche
META DATA
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