Consul LaRoche Accompanies Ambassador Ortiz in Meeting with Finance Minister Coard

U.S. delivers warning against Cuban ties to Grenada’s new ideological leader.

Date: April 10, 1979

Consul LaRoche Accompanies Ambassador in Meeting with Finance Minister Bernard Coard

Details: Consul LaRoche accompanied Ambassador Frank V. Ortiz to a half-hour meeting with Bernard Coard, the new Minister of Finance, who was widely believed to be the "hardcore ideologue and evil genius of the Bishop government".

The Ambassador raised the issue of the "invasion scare" and how it was damaging Grenada's vital tourism industry, but Coard maintained that fears of a Gairy-led counter-coup were justified, though he could not offer corroborative evidence. LaRoche was present as the Ambassador explained the U.S. Neutrality Act and again asked for evidence of Gairy's illegal activities. Coard deferred discussing specific U.S. aid programs until the new government could draw up its own economic plans, but suggested that U.S. $3.7 million "would start the new government's programs nicely".

The meeting concluded with Ambassador Ortiz formally stating that the U.S. "would view with displeasure any tendency by Grenada to develop closer ties with Cuba," a statement to which Coard made "no comment whatever".

Key Members & Participants:

  • U.S. Officials:
    • Ambassador Frank V. Ortiz.
    • Consul Richard LaRoche.
  • Grenadian Officials:
    • Bernard Coard (Minister of Finance).
    • Lauriston Wilson (Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Finance).

Significance: LaRoche's presence at this meeting gave him, and by extension the U.S. government, direct exposure to Bernard Coard, the man considered the revolution's chief ideologue. The meeting provided a clear insight into Coard's perspective: he was unwilling or unable to provide evidence to substantiate the invasion fears that were harming the economy, he was deferring engagement on U.S. aid while simultaneously floating a specific dollar amount, and he remained silent in the face of a direct U.S. warning about Cuba. This painted a picture of a leader more focused on ideology and political consolidation than on immediate economic practicalities. LaRoche was a witness to the U.S. formally delivering its warning against Cuban ties to the second most powerful man in the new government, reinforcing the centrality of this issue in the developing bilateral relationship.

Source:

U.S. Embassy Bridgetown Cable 01363, "GRENADA MEETING WITH MINISTER OF FINANCE BERNARD COARD," April 11, 1979, Declassified. (Document ID C17671232.pdf).

Link:

https://wikileaks.org/plusd/cables/1979BRIDGE01363_a.html

Internal Link:

Date:
April 10, 1979
Categories:
Diplomacy, Economy, Greneda Invasion, Log, Matthew Smith, Military & Intel, The Suriname Archive
Tags:
Ambassador Frank V. Ortiz, Cable, Consul Richard LaRoche, Coup, Diplomacy, Grenadian Officials, Intelligence Assessment, Lauriston Wilson, U.S. Officials
Boxes:
MW Zotero
Years:
1979
Persons:
Bernard Coard, Frank Ortiz, Richard Laroche
META DATA
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