This Day in History: 3 January 1978

On this day in 1978 “the most feared Gairyite in the State,” controversial police officer and political figure Innocent Belmar was shot at the Bamboo Bar, Birchgrove. He died the following day, a casualty of the political violence that had engulfed Grenada and in which he was a participant.

Belmar joined the Police Force in 1956, and in 17 years had worked through its ranks. Nicknamed the “Sheriff,” Belmar was implicated in several violent acts against Premier Gairy’s opposition in the 1970s. The most celebrated of these was the beating and arrest of the “NJM 6” on Bloody Sunday, and the wounding by gunshot of 2 known NJM supporters.

Belmar’s power was curtailed when in 1975 the Duffus Commission report on police brutality in Grenada, recommended his dismissal from the police force. PM Gairy insisted that Belmar was “the best policeman Grenada has seen and known for a long time,” and refused to take any action against him.

Screenshot showing Innocent Belmar’s election to the House of Representatives in 1976. Image: caribbeanelections.com

In the 1976 elections, he was elected to the House of Representatives as a GULP candidate and was a special advisor to the Prime Minister. He was appointed Minister of Agriculture on 3 January 1978, the same day he was shot. The shooting incident remains unsolved.

From A-Z of Grenada Heritage by John Angus Martin (Gully Press, Brooklyn, 2022)
Available in Grenada at Art & Soul Books, and online at Amazon.com

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Comments 1

Debbie Mereigh says:

3 years ago

Now Grenada a correction.
Innocent Belmar was shot and killed on Wednesday January 4th, 1978, he died a few hours later.

Although he was a “controversial” police officer and political figure,
we thank God today that his body was available to be buried decently.
and he also had a time to repent before he took his last breath.
His assassins and plotters still have a chance to repent.

I ask the question is Grenada in a better place politically after 46 years?
From all that was said Belmar was the biggest hindrance of progress and I would think Grenada would be far advanced.

Grenadians have shallow memory an are hypocrites.

But as it is the old people always say:
“the same whip that beat the white horse is the same one beating the black horse”

Time will tell