Eric Gairy
Forced the United Nations to discuss UFOs formally in 1978.
Sir Eric Gairy was the Prime Minister of Grenada from 1974 to 1979. He played a significant role in the history of UFO research and advocacy, earning a reputation for his efforts to promote international cooperation and investigation into the UFO phenomenon.
Gairy's interest in UFOs began in the 1950s, and he became a firm believer in the existence of extraterrestrial life. It's claimed that he also witnessed a UFO sighting. As Prime Minister, he used his political influence to bring the topic to the international stage. In 1977, Gairy approached the United Nations General Assembly with a proposal for the establishment of a UN agency dedicated to researching and investigating UFO sightings and encounters.
The proposal, titled "Establishment of an Agency or a Department of the United Nations for Undertaking, Co-ordinating and Disseminating the Results of Research into Unidentified Flying Objects and Related Phenomena," led to the convening of a panel discussion on UFOs at the UN in 1978. The panel included notable ufologists, scientists, and experts, such as Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Dr. Jacques Vallée, and astronaut Gordon Cooper, who presented evidence and testimonies supporting the existence of UFOs.
Although Gairy's proposal did not result in the creation of a dedicated UN agency, it did contribute to increased awareness and dialogue about the UFO phenomenon among the international community. The event marked the first and only time that the topic of UFOs was formally discussed at the United Nations.
Sir Eric Gairy's efforts to promote UFO research and his advocacy for international cooperation in the field continue to be remembered and celebrated by UFO enthusiasts and researchers around the world.On March 12, 1979, Gairy departed Grenada to engage in discussions about UFOs at the United Nations. The following day, Maurice Bishop, a leader of the rival New Jewel Movement, seized power and toppled Gairy's administration. Although Gairy was granted asylum by the United States, the US swiftly acknowledged the newly established People's Revolutionary Government.
