A gnat-size island profits by taking potshots at the U.S.
For President Reagan, the tiny Caribbean island (pop. 110,000) represents a threat to the national security of the U.S. The President lashed out at Marxist-led Grenada last month before releasing classified satellite photos of a new international airport being built with Cuban aid. The island's government has been headed by Prime Minister Maurice Bishop since the repressive regime of Sir Eric Gairy was overthrown in 1979. To assess the threat, TIME Caribbean Bureau Chief William McWhirter traveled to the 133-sq.-mi. island. His report:
The Marxist revolution stopped for Easter weekend, then Easter Monday, then went back to work just long enough for another national one-day holiday to watch a cricket test match before taking the weekend off. That was after Grenada declared a "national alert," announcing that a U.S. invasion was imminent. But while U.S. ships were supposed to be unloading counterrevolutionaries onto the beaches, the People's Revolutionary Government was still encouraging neighboring Trinidad's yachtsmen to hold their annual regatta there. When the Trinidadians asked, naturally enough, if their boats might not run into the U.S. Marines, they were told to come ahead "since the invasion only affects Grenadians."
The Soviets, however, have definitely landed, looking as happy as a charter flight full of sunburned, white-bellied tourists. They do not seem to have changed many of the habits that once spurred reports of unhappy Egyptians, Ethiopians and Mozambicans. The Soviets can usually be found at the beach, in snorkeling gear and Baltic bathing costumes. The island's favorite Russian so far is a chauffeur with steel teeth. He has been nicknamed "Jaws," of course. The Soviets have given the people of Grenada a one-engine crop sprayer and imported two cream-colored Mercedes sedans for themselves. But they are a bit slow on the draw when it comes to parting with nickels on the beach. They have not won the hearts and minds of the straw-doll and coconut vendors, who complain that the visitors bring their own thermos bottles and never buy native coral jewelry.
The East Germans have offered to kick in with a new telephone system, which will be an improvement over the present three long rings and a short, and then dead silence most of the day. The Libyans are present too in one of their "people's bureaus," but they tend to scowl, never remove their hats and announce the same $4 million loan so often that some Grenadians believe that the figure has now risen to $8 million or $12 million. The Cubans seem to be doing the work for everybody else: they have 400 men driving steamrollers and laying down asphalt at the new airport. They also have teachers, doctors and dentists all over the countryside. Most Grenadians tend to salute such revolutionary zeal and dedication, but usually from the shade.