ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The Grenada government Wednesday announced a change in the launch of activities marking the country’s 50th anniversary of the country’s political independence from Britain next year.
Last month, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and Dr Wendy Crawford, chairman of the National Organising Committee for the Independence celebrations, told a news conference that the launch would take place on October 19, designated a public holiday, to launch the activities.
The island celebrates the milestone on February 7 next year. Still, the launch coincides with the 40th anniversary of the murder of the island’s first left-wing prime minister, Maurice Bishop, during a palace coup orchestrated by his deputy, Bernard Coard, on October 19, 1983.
Speaking at a news conference this week, Opposition Leader Dr Keith Mitchell described as “controversial ” the decision of the government to launch the celebrations on October 19.
“I think it is a very controversial decision. I think some people may be happy and others will not. I don’t think it should be twinned with the Independence celebrations. It should be two separate events,” Dr Mitchell said.
Now, Crawford has announced that the launch will take place on October 31, noting that since the October 19 date had been told, “we have received from Grenadians both within the homeland and those residing abroad heartfelt appreciation for the government’s pivotal decision to establish October 19 as a national holiday, recognizing it as a remarkable milestone in our Nation’s history.
“However, notwithstanding this positive feedback, we also carefully considered the concerns raised by members of our community concerning the decision to merge the Independence Launch with the events of October 19,” she told reporters.
“Some have voiced reservations with this twinning and respectfully requested a reconsideration of this approach. In response to these concerns, the NOC convened with various members of the public to listen to their perspectives; we took their recommendations to the Prime Minister and the cabinet, who, in a demonstration of leadership, wisdom, and a commitment to fostering national unity, have agreed to separate the two events,” Crawford said.
“Consequently, they have directed the NOC to reschedule the launch of the Independence Day activities to October 31, allowing the event planned for October 19 to get the national attention it rightly deserves,” said Crawford, who explained that a meeting with some of the families affected by the events of October 19 contributed to the change in date. The
The Opposition Leader told reporters that Grenadians should have played a more pivotal role before the day was declared a public holiday.
“I do not necessarily think that this initiative is a smart one, but I think it is something the people should be much more involved in,” he said.
“October 19 is a tough day for many people in this country. Some people will be happy to have to revisit it. Some will have to go through another set of traumas and difficulties. I think the government is not assessing the situation as well as they should,” Mitchell said.
In a post on her Facebook page, political Scientist and social commentator Dr Wendy Grenade also questioned the October 19 date.
“Why would we want to begin re-imagining the next 50 years on the day representing the most gruesome historical moment since Grenada’s independence on February 7, 1974? Why would we continue to pour fuel on the ambers of history to rekindle pain and trauma and further polarize a divided society?”.
Crawford said that October 19 will now be called National Heroes Day, and Orlando Romain, a member of the NOC, said that the first batch of heroes and the location for a national heroes park will be named on October 19 next year.
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