Phyllis Coard
For 18 years Phyllis Coard was a dedicated social worker, social work lecturer at University of the West Indies, and then Deputy-Minister for Women's Affairs in Grenada, and was of unblemished character prior to her murder conviction following the 1983 US invasion of Grenada. The US accused a number of persons, including virtually all the remaining members of the former Grenada Govt, of ordering the murder of the former Prime Minister of Grenada. Phyllis Coard has always strongly maintained and still maintains her innocence of these charges.
She was convicted of murder along with 17 others, following a highly political trial which international attorneys and other observers have described as 'a travesty of justice'. There were gross violations of jury selection, the jury was empanelled in the absence of the defendants, and patently unsafe evidence was accepted. To this day, the Grenada Appeal Court has refused to give in writing its reasons for orally upholding these convictions. A special law was passed in 1991to prevent the 17 political prisoners from appealing their convictions to the UK Priviy Council - a right enjoyed by all other Grenadians. The group originally was sentenced to death, but this was revoked after a strong international campaign on their behalf, in which social workers internationally played a major role.
As the only female political prisoner and a non-citizen of Grenada, Phyllis Coard was subjected to special abuses. She was held in isolation for 7 of the first 8 years of her imprisonment, twice physically assaulted and injured; victimized, terrorized and subjected to sexual harassment by the Commissioner of Prisons from 1983-91; and suffered constant verbal harassment, persecution and cruelties by the female warders for the entire period.
In 1991 she developed severe post traumatic stress disorder and severe clinical depression. Despite recommendations from two different psychiatrists in 1992, 1994 and 1997 that she be released, the various Grenadian governments of the day refused to do this.
She was convicted of murder along with 17 others, following a highly political trial which international attorneys and other observers have described as 'a travesty of justice'. There were gross violations of jury selection, the jury was empanelled in the absence of the defendants, and patently unsafe evidence was accepted. To this day, the Grenada Appeal Court has refused to give in writing its reasons for orally upholding these convictions. A special law was passed in 1991to prevent the 17 political prisoners from appealing their convictions to the UK Priviy Council - a right enjoyed by all other Grenadians. The group originally was sentenced to death, but this was revoked after a strong international campaign on their behalf, in which social workers internationally played a major role.
As the only female political prisoner and a non-citizen of Grenada, Phyllis Coard was subjected to special abuses. She was held in isolation for 7 of the first 8 years of her imprisonment, twice physically assaulted and injured; victimized, terrorized and subjected to sexual harassment by the Commissioner of Prisons from 1983-91; and suffered constant verbal harassment, persecution and cruelties by the female warders for the entire period.
In 1991 she developed severe post traumatic stress disorder and severe clinical depression. Despite recommendations from two different psychiatrists in 1992, 1994 and 1997 that she be released, the various Grenadian governments of the day refused to do this.
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In February 2000, following emergency surgery, she was diagnosed with colon cancer which had already spread to nearby lymph nodes. Chemotherapy, which was recommended, is not available in Grenada. She was then given a 6-month respite from prison for medical treatment for the cancer. This has been extended for a further two six month periods, because of complications with her chemotherapy, which she received in her home country, Jamaica, and because she needed further medical investigations.
She was only able to have about one-fifth of the chemotherapy treatment recommended, because of severe reactions to the drugs used. There is therefore a substantial risk of a recurrence of the cancer. It is essential therefore that she be closely monitored for cancer spread. Grenada, a tiny island with a population of 100,000, has no facilities for such close monitoring; and it has virtually no cancer treatment facilities. Moreover, to return to such a stressful situation would greatly increase the chances of a recurrence. She also requires medication and long-term psychotherapy for her post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Her only chance of survival, therefore, lies in being released from prison, so that she can obtain early detection and treatment for any recurrence. This would be possible in Jamaica or elsewhere, but not in Grenada.
She has served 16 years in jail (1983-2000) - more than a life sentence in most countries. During the latter part of this period, despite health difficulties she was able to obtain permission for the setting up of an education programme for women prisoners. She coordinated that programme, and taught in it. She also unofficially provided counselling to many young prisoners, and participated actively in the work of the religious movement within the prison and in the prison's drug rehabilitation programme.
The law of Grenada allows for the complete release of prisoners with life-threatening illnesses, by means of a pardon from the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Mercy Committee or the Prime Minister, and this is the normal practice. Several prisoners suffering from cancer or AIDS have been pardoned and released in recent years, including one serving a life sentence for murder. No other such prisoner has ever been released temporarily, just for medical treatment, and required to return afterwards. For humanitarian reasons, and from the point of view of fairness, She should receive the same consideration.
IFSW and member organisations continued making appeals until the later part of 2003 for Phyllis Coard to be pardoned mainly as her medical condition requires continued, specialized, and consistent medical care. Appeals were then halted on the request of Phyllis Coard.
She was only able to have about one-fifth of the chemotherapy treatment recommended, because of severe reactions to the drugs used. There is therefore a substantial risk of a recurrence of the cancer. It is essential therefore that she be closely monitored for cancer spread. Grenada, a tiny island with a population of 100,000, has no facilities for such close monitoring; and it has virtually no cancer treatment facilities. Moreover, to return to such a stressful situation would greatly increase the chances of a recurrence. She also requires medication and long-term psychotherapy for her post-traumatic stress disorder and depression. Her only chance of survival, therefore, lies in being released from prison, so that she can obtain early detection and treatment for any recurrence. This would be possible in Jamaica or elsewhere, but not in Grenada.
She has served 16 years in jail (1983-2000) - more than a life sentence in most countries. During the latter part of this period, despite health difficulties she was able to obtain permission for the setting up of an education programme for women prisoners. She coordinated that programme, and taught in it. She also unofficially provided counselling to many young prisoners, and participated actively in the work of the religious movement within the prison and in the prison's drug rehabilitation programme.
The law of Grenada allows for the complete release of prisoners with life-threatening illnesses, by means of a pardon from the Governor-General on the recommendation of the Mercy Committee or the Prime Minister, and this is the normal practice. Several prisoners suffering from cancer or AIDS have been pardoned and released in recent years, including one serving a life sentence for murder. No other such prisoner has ever been released temporarily, just for medical treatment, and required to return afterwards. For humanitarian reasons, and from the point of view of fairness, She should receive the same consideration.
IFSW and member organisations continued making appeals until the later part of 2003 for Phyllis Coard to be pardoned mainly as her medical condition requires continued, specialized, and consistent medical care. Appeals were then halted on the request of Phyllis Coard.
page last updated on 19.10.2005