ST. GEORGE’S Grenada: October 19, 1983 is a day Grenadians will never forget. It was then the Prime Minister of Grenada, Maurice Bishop, was shot dead by the armed forces at the Caribbean island's military headquarters in the capital St George's. According to one witness, before he died Mr Bishop said: "My God, my God. They have turned the guns against the people." Earlier, thousands of his supporters had marched to his residence in St George's where they managed to free the prime minister from house arrest. Today at the age of 90, Alimenta Bishop the mother of Maurice Bishop said she is still hoping that her son will get a proper burial. Mrs. Bishop said, if she passes on, then the son and daughter of Maurice Bishop will ensure that something is done to ensure a proper burial for their father. Alimenta says she cannot find a way to forgive when she cannot find answers as to what has happened to her son’s body. Mrs. Bishop said, even if she asked the question, no one can give answers. “When my husband was killed, I said as bad as it is I got his body to bury, I can go to the grave and say this is where my husband is but not my son,” she said. Mr Bishop has led the country since 1979, when a coup toppled the country's controversial Prime Minister, Sir Eric Gairy. His New Jewel Movement (NJM) was attempting what it called a People's Revolution based on Marxist-Leninist ideology. But within the NJM leadership factions and infighting developed. Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard and General Hudson Austin, commander of the Grenadian Armed Forces, objected to Mr Bishop's decision to try and forge closer ties with the United States. On 13 October the ruling party met and decided Mr Bishop should be put under house arrest. But in the last week there had been conflicting reports as to whether or not a military coup had taken place. On 14 October, official radio reported the resignation of Mr Coard because of rumours he had plotted to kill the prime minister. But in other reports the radical deputy prime minister is said to have taken power. And on 17 October, General Austin denied there had been a military coup but said Mr Bishop had been expelled from the NJM for refusing to share power and disgracing the revolution. Following the release of Mr Bishop from house arrest, he and his supporters had marched towards the military headquarters Fort Rupert where he believed loyal army officers were being detained. On his arrival in the early afternoon, troops, commanded by General Austin, fired on the crowd and it is reported that dozens of demonstrators were killed. General Austin has said that Mr Bishop was threatening to bring down the leadership of the armed forces and the NJM, and was killed as soldiers stormed the fort. But other accounts say that Mr Bishop was taken prisoner and shot dead at Fort Rupert along with three ministerial colleagues and two union leaders. Today a monument stands tall at Fort George, and it reads, “In everlasting memory of Prime Minister Maurice Bishop, Fitzroy Bain, Norris Bain, Evelyn Bullen, Jacqueline Creft, Keith Hayling, Evelyn Maitland, Unison Whiteman, Andy Sebastian Alexander, Simon Alexander, Gemma Belmar, Eric Dumont, Avis Ferguson, Vince Noel, Alleyne Romain, Nelson Steele. Killed at this Fort, Oct. 19th 1983. They have gone to join the stars and will be forever shine in glory.” Reprinted from Caribbean Net News caribbeannetnews.com