The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop

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Grenada’s revolutionary leader, Maurice Bishop, was executed in a coup in 1983. Seven other people, members of his cabinet and friends, were killed alongside him. The whereabouts of their remains are unknown. Now, in a series two years in the making, The Washington Post’s Martine Powers discovers new information about the 40-year-old mystery, including the role the U.S. played in shaping the fate of this Caribbean nation.

The Washington Post


    • Jul 24, 2024 LATEST EPISODE
    • infrequent NEW EPISODES
    • 41m AVG DURATION
    • 9 EPISODES

    Ivy Insights

    The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop is an incredibly captivating podcast that delves into the forgotten chapter of Cold War history in Grenada. The reporters behind this podcast have done a masterful job of telling this story, and as a person with roots in Grenada, I found it to be an eye-opening experience. The podcast brings to light many stories and secrets surrounding the events that took place in Grenada 40 years ago, which have been difficult to understand due to the unwillingness of some individuals to share their experiences. Overall, this podcast has provided great insight into a significant period in history.

    One of the best aspects of The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop is the incredible reporting. The journalists involved have left no stone unturned in uncovering the truth about what happened in Grenada during this time. Their dedication and thoroughness are evident through their deep research, insightful interviews, and compelling storytelling. The narration, editing, and overall assembly are of top-notch quality, making for an engaging listening experience.

    Another strong aspect of this podcast is its ability to shed light on a forgotten chapter in history. Not only does it provide historical context and background information about Grenada's revolution and the Cold War era, but it also delves into personal stories that add depth and humanity to the narrative. By giving voice to those who were directly affected by these events, the podcast creates a connection between listeners and the people who lived through this tumultuous time.

    However, one potential downside of The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop is its focus on specific individuals involved in the story. While their stories are undoubtedly important for understanding what happened, there may be moments where listeners may feel disconnected if they do not resonate with those particular individuals or their experiences. Additionally, some listeners may prefer a more objective approach to storytelling rather than one that centers around personal narratives.

    In conclusion, The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop is an outstanding podcast that offers an in-depth exploration of a forgotten chapter of Cold War history. The reporting is beyond reproach, the storytelling is riveting, and the overall quality of the podcast is top-notch. It provides valuable insights into the events that took place in Grenada 40 years ago and highlights the essential role journalists play in uncovering hidden truths. Whether you have a personal connection to Grenada or are simply interested in learning more about this period in history, this podcast is definitely worth a listen.



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    Latest episodes from The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop

    Introducing, "The Sports Moment"

    Play Episode Listen Later Jul 24, 2024 0:59


    Ava Wallace, sports reporter at The Washington Post, is in France to report on the Summer Games — and eat a lot of croissants. Join her through the entire run of the games, for several episodes a week as she captures the highs, the lows and the Paris of it all, along with other Post colleagues.Follow The Sports Moment podcast on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music or YouTube.Sign up for The Sports Moment: Olympics Edition newsletter here.

    Episode 7: ‘A stain on our country'

    Play Episode Listen Later Dec 6, 2023 47:07


    What does the United States owe to Grenada about the mystery of the missing remains of Maurice Bishop, his cabinet members and supporters? In the final installment of the series for now, Martine Powers takes on that question as she assesses the conclusions of the team's current reporting. She speaks with a member of the U.S. House of Representatives who has made another formal request of the U.S. military to turn over records related to the case. The Post's reporting indicates that there are several records that exist and have not been released despite multiple Freedom of Information Act requests. The episode opens with a trip to an old cemetery in Grenada's capital, where it is possible that the remains could be located. Martine learns why, despite excavations by experts over the years, confirming this has been so difficult. You can find photos and documents from the investigation in our special episode guide here. Subscribers to The Washington Post can get early access to the rest of the series on Mondays on Apple Podcasts, as well as ad-free listening. Link your Post subscription now or sign up to become a new Post subscriber here.

    Episode 6: ‘I know what I saw'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 22, 2023 63:50


    When Martine Powers began looking into the mystery of the missing remains of Maurice Bishop, his cabinet members and supporters, one of the most noted explorations of the case turned out to be done by a group of high school boys in Grenada more than two decades ago. She was able to locate some of the now-adult investigators and the old principal of the school to learn what compelled them to do this as a class project, and how they found their sources. One of the people they interviewed, a former Jamaican soldier, witnessed the exhumation at Calivigny. What he told them more than 20 years ago is central to why many Grenadians think the U.S. government has not told the entire story of what happened to the remains after they were discovered. But he eventually stopped responding to students. Martine and her colleagues searched for the witness for more than a year. They also amassed hours of other tape from interviews with other people who were at the exhumation. What they were left with were incomplete memories of exactly what transpired the day the remains at Calivigny were recovered. Then, there was a breakthrough – with new questions about where all of this leads.You can find photos and documents from the investigation in our special episode guide here. Subscribers to The Washington Post can get early access to the rest of the series on Mondays on Apple Podcasts, as well as ad-free listening. Link your Post subscription now or sign up to become a new Post subscriber here.

    Episode 5: ‘An ugly, dirty job'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 15, 2023 54:32


    Why would the U.S. government have an interest in hiding the remains of an assassinated revolutionary leader? In this episode of “The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop,” Martine Powers puts this question to Americans who served in Grenada after the invasion 40 years ago, including alumni of the U.S. State Department and a former CIA analyst.“I don't follow the logic of Maurice Bishop as a symbol for communism or anti-Americanism,” said Lino Gutierrez, a former ambassador who worked as a foreign service officer in Grenada. According to Guy Farmer, a spokesperson for the U.S. Embassy in Grenada, “It would have been good for us if we had found Maurice Bishop's body, showing how violent and terrible the Bernard Coard-Hudson Austin faction was. That would have been good for us.”But when The Post's reporting turns to the role of the U.S. military – and in particular, a battalion of Army rangers who conducted an attack on a Grenadian military training camp – the picture gets more complicated, raising new theories about when and how the United States might have discovered a critical piece of evidence.You can find photos and documents from the investigation in our special episode guide here. Subscribers to The Washington Post can get early access to the rest of the series on Mondays on Apple Podcasts, as well as ad-free listening. Link your Post subscription now or sign up to become a new Post subscriber here.

    Episode 4: ‘The Army wants to look at some bodies'

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 8, 2023 42:45


    Professor Robert Jordan was among the few people still on the campus of St. George's University in November of 1983, in the days after the U.S. invasion of Grenada. One day a strange request came in: The U.S. military wanted to use his anatomy lab at the university for a forensic exam.Martine Powers visits what is left of the old lab and hears the professor's story about what he saw that day. What transpired in that examination 40 years ago has raised serious questions about the identity and condition of the remains recovered from the pit at Calivigny.Later in the episode, Martine puts some of those questions to the “Grenada 17,” the individuals held responsible for the murder of Maurice Bishop and the others killed with him. She asks: What did they do with the bodies? And could they be omitting information that could explain the mystery?You can find photos and documents from the investigation in our special episode guide here. Subscribers to The Washington Post can get early access to the rest of the series on Mondays on Apple Podcasts, as well as ad-free listening. Link your Post subscription now or sign up to become a new Post subscriber here.

    Episode 3: “We brought them to Calivigny”

    Play Episode Listen Later Nov 1, 2023 48:05


    Annie Bain saw something 40 years ago that she's been contemplating since: her husband's ring, which was brought to her in the weeks after he died — and which she believes is proof that there are people who know what happened to his remains and those of the seven others killed with him on Oct. 19, 1983. This clue and Annie's other recollections bring The Washington Post's Martine Powers to the doorsteps of two men: a soldier who witnessed where the bodies were first taken, and a detective who tried to get answers about the remains in the aftermath of the U.S. invasion of Grenada. Martine gets one step closer to the empty grave and to new questions about the actions of the U.S. military.You can find photos and documents from the investigation in our special episode guide here. Subscribers to The Washington Post can get early access to the rest of the series on Mondays on Apple Podcasts, as well as ad-free listening. Link your Post subscription now or sign up to become a new Post subscriber here.

    Episode 2: “We all had great expectations”

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2023 63:44


    Maurice Bishop was a charismatic leader who captured the imagination of many Grenadians. But the revolution he helped spark began to buckle under pressure within his own party. Martine Powers tries to understand the life of Bishop and what propelled him into the position of prime minister, the promise of the beginning of the revolution and the events that led to his brutal death. That history reveals why the mystery of the missing remains haunts Grenada to this day. Martine speaks with Bishop's sister, his fellow revolutionaries and the family members of some of the other victims killed on Oct. 19, 1983. They tell harrowing stories of having their own lives endangered, the last moments they saw their loved ones alive and what it's been like to not be able to give them a proper funeral. You can find photos and documents from the investigation in our special episode guide here [http://washingtonpost.com/emptygrave?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-empty-grave-of-comrade-bishop].Subscribers to The Washington Post can get early access to the rest of the series, on Mondays, on Apple Podcasts, as well as ad-free listening. Link your Post subscription now or sign up to become a new Post subscriber here.

    Episode 1: “Somebody knows”

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 23, 2023 50:37


    Every 19th of October, Grenadians mark a somber anniversary: the 1983 execution of the country's former prime minister and revolutionary leader, Maurice Bishop, and others who died alongside him. The people of this Caribbean nation still have no closure 40 years later. The remains of Bishop and his supporters were never returned to their family members and are missing to this day. In the first episode of “The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop,” The Washington Post's Martine Powers takes us on the personal journey that led her to learn about Grenada's history. Martine delves into why Bishop was such an influential figure, what made the United States nervous about him and why the mystery of his missing remains continues to haunt so many on the island. You can find photos and documents from the investigation in our special episode guide here [http://washingtonpost.com/emptygrave?utm_source=podcasts&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=the-empty-grave-of-comrade-bishop].Subscribers to The Washington Post can get early access to episodes 3-6 of the series on Apple Podcasts, as well as ad-free listening. Link your Post subscription now or sign up to become a new Post subscriber here.

    Introducing “The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop”

    Play Episode Listen Later Oct 11, 2023 2:56


    Grenada's Black revolutionary leader, Maurice Bishop, was executed in a coup in 1983, along with seven others. The whereabouts of their remains are unknown. Now, The Washington Post's Martine Powers uncovers new answers about how the U.S. fits into this 40-year-old Caribbean mystery.“The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop” is an investigative podcast that delves into the revolutionary history of Grenada, why the missing remains still matter and the role the U.S. government played in shaping the fate of the island nation.

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