by Linda Straker
- Angela Bishop addressed ecumenical service to commemorate 19 October as National Heroes Day
- Maurice Bishop described as man who put country over family and legal profession
- Bishop preferred minimalist lifestyle while representing Grenadians, many of whom lived in very modest circumstances
Angela Bishop, wife of deceased Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, described her husband as a man who put country over his own family and his legal profession when he returned from England as a lawyer in the early 1970s.
“My fellow Grenadians I was not happy with that decision. You see, Maurice Bishop was not Maurice Bishop back then; he was just Maurice my husband, a young father making idealistic choices as he always did, but choices that had an impact on our family,” she said at an ecumenical service to commemorate 19 October as National Heroes Day.
“Maurice never made choices to see how much he could get; he made choices to see how much he could give, how much he could serve — very important words and that sounds lovely, but it was, but it had an impact. Maurice often chose service over outings with our family, and I will see the disappointment on our children’s faces; I share that only to convey the deep and abiding love Maurice had for Grenada and for you the Grenadian people,” said Bishop.
“This love and commitment to our people was paramount for him and it never waived…he had a keen sense of right and wrong when it came to advocating for justice and the desire to be of service to those who did not have,” she told the dozens in attendance at the service attended by Head of State Governor General Dame Cecile La Grenade, Head of Government Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, several Cabinet ministers, former Prime Minister Tillman Thomas and other members of Parliament.
“The desire to be a driving force was powerful…as he continued with his idealism and service, I was the wife of 2 young children trying to make sure that they had what they needed, so I continued to encourage Maurice to take cases from people who actually had the ability to pay legal fees and not just from people who will pay his legal fees from backing up a truck in the yard on a Sunday afternoon and offloading plantain, dasheen, breadfruit, callaloo and bananas,” she added.
“Of course, Maurice will receive this payment as if it were pure gold and as if his deepest wish was to receive payment like breadfruit for his work. My fellow Grenadians, the one and only time that Maurice did not answer a question was when I asked him which bank was taking breadfruit and callaloo as payment for our loan. There was complete silence,” said Bishop, a nurse by profession.
Informing the audience that Bishop was a man who preferred a minimalist lifestyle, she shared his reason for adopting a humbler regime for his family and home. Bishop said the family went looking for a new house after the revolution because of safety and security issues. The existing family home was close to the main road. They had to give up the dream of residing in a home with winding stairs because it did not reflect the average Grenadian at the time.
After the viewing, she had to tell the children that they would not be living there. “Sure enough, he later explained to the kids that he could not be living there while representing Grenadians, many of whom lived in very modest circumstances, while he lived in such a modern upper class. It did not seem right to him,” she said.
Maurice Bishop is one of the few people that I would call a hero. He had a strong clear vision for Grenada and saw all of the potential that existed in this extraordinarily unspoiled country empowerment, education and self determination were central. Good doctors and health care for its citizens and utilizing the resources of the country’s natural resources. His wife and children suffered greatly because he was their father and her husband and in the end he lost his life and with it their father and husband. So often people gifted with apolitical vision ecena s positive as it may be require their families to suffer and his did. I hope his children and grandchildren know that thousands of people are grateful for their father’s leadership and commitment but we are even more grateful for the sacrifices of his wife, children and parents. Many people close to him have died. Grenadians should honor his children for the personal sacrifice they have made towards the furthering of Grenadian’s potential.
Cousin’s I’m here and I appreciate all that you’ve done, i remember the Wednesday evening in October 1983 playing outside the old post office and having the knowledge that you’ve theirs executed you and observing Leon Cornwell show off his accomplished to me that evening their didn’t have the knowledge that you’ve given me all the knowledge before you pass Stephen
As a child I grew up as part of the Bishop administration, where education was agender 1, social justice was agenda 1, equality was agenda 1. Grenadians was proud of their country. Lets get to some of those times. Bishop was a great leader, never deserved what happened to him. Will always be remembered for setting Grenada free from Dictator.
Gone too soon. Had the opportunity to meet him in June 1983 when he was the keynote speaker at TransAfrica annual meeting dinner.
Continue to Rest in Peace. Gone too soon. Will forever live on in the people’s hearts. You touched the world around you with the difference you were trying to create for your people to enjoy and lead lives, making them the best version of themselves.
Your brilliance and humble way of living was admirable and your quest for treating everyone equally admirable. Your work and scrafice you made were not in vein. You have left a legacy no one can erase. You will forever live on in our hearts.
R.i.p sir. I am so sorry you did good for your country and it’s people and some of them did that to you in the end now look at your country I am so sorry r.i p
Grenadian didn’t do anything to Maurice, the Americans invade the country and he lost his life and up till this day his body was never recovered, stop blaming Grenadians .
I remember when my late Father Ridley Prince went to Grenada while he was teaching Food Preservation and Renewable Energy through Meals For Million through out the Caribbean
Maurice Bishop is Grenada only hero. Maurice gave up everything for Grenada.
Even if you don’t like his politics, you must recognize how devoted he was to the Grenadian people.