by STAFF WRITER
Celebrating 42 yrs independence
ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenada is observing its 42ndanniversary of political independence from Britain with a public holiday on Monday with Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell reminding citizens that the island’s “footprint in the world is larger than our 133 square miles”.
He said that Grenadians had established their marks in politics, finance, education and sports throughout the world with the “well-accomplished research consultant and entrepreneur, Mrs. Celina Caesar-Chavannes, appointed as Parliamentary Secretary to Canada’s new Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau.
“Only a few days ago, the Peel District School Board in Canada announced that Grenadian, the Honourable Jean Augustine, a former longstanding Parliamentarian in the Canadian Government, will have a Secondary School in Canada named after her—the Jean Augustine Secondary School,” Mitchell said.
“To use the lingo of our times: Take a bow, Grenada,” Mitchell said, adding that the while island had over the past 42 years has succeeded in building a respected democracy, ”we must always remember the most important commodity in our continued march toward consolidating our successes and reaching for more – that is unity of purpose.
“As we move forward, that unity becomes even more apparent and necessary. It is telling that our first plea to the nation three years ago upon assuming office, was the need for us to unite as a country if we were to successfully tackle the economic and human despondency which we faced.
“That our people have answered the call for unity and to put country first is an achievement we should all appreciate and continue to consolidate. We have indeed witnessed in the last couple years, a change in our patriotic responsibility.”
Grenada attained independence from Britain on February 7, 1974 and on Sunday staged its traditional military parade to mark the occasion.
Mitchell said the anniversary of Independence provides an opportune occasion to challenge all citizens to recommit themselves to working for the national good, by tapping into that spirit of “grenadianness; that spirit of resilience, hard work, genuine love for each other and for homeland.
“We need to celebrate this together and no patriotic Grenadian should ask us to do otherwise; for calculated political or other reasons. Sisters and brothers, our beloved country is making considerable progress in its development trajectory.
“The remarkable thing is that we have realized this together, because we understood that we could not go it alone—not as a government and definitely not as individuals,” Mitchell said, adding “our country is differentiating itself in the Caribbean in a number of areas: our economy is growing at a faster pace than originally predicted; our safety and security are unquestionable; our Islands are pristine and attractive; and our productive sectors are demonstrating serious
