What we have first of all, it’s not 50 years of independence, It’s 50 years of the reclamation of Independence because when the British came here, Grenadians were independent. The indigenous people were here running their country. So, what happened in 1974 was a reclamation of that Independence.
Those were the words of Prime Minister Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, as he emphasised the significance of Grenada’s Independence Day celebrations, highlighting the historical context of colonialism, and the struggles faced by small Caribbean nations, when approached by reporters during last week Wednesday’s golden jubilee event at the Grenada National Cricket Stadium.
He reflected on the dark era of colonialism, describing it as a “terrible period” that “must be understood” by today’s youth.
PM Gonsalves was among regional heads of government joining Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and Grenadians to commemorate the country’s 50th Anniversary of Independence at the Grenada National Cricket Stadium in St. George’s last week Wednesday.
He said the Golden Jubilee milestone is not only significant for the people of Grenada but the wider Caribbean, particularly the Eastern Caribbean region.
The Vincentian leader, who led a delegation comprising four (4) of his cabinet ministers to the historic celebration said that Grenada’s bold move towards independence in 1974 had set the stage for other Caribbean nations to reclaim their sovereignty.
“This (Grenada attaining Independence) is something that people in 1974 didn’t think can happen to small countries like Grenada, or, St. Vincent and the Grenadines…but Trinidad has been independent, and Jamaica in 1962, Guyana, and Barbados in 1966, and then they were saying, all we had to have was a Federation of the others (other countries) but Grenada broke out of the (colonial) pack, and that affirmation that we must have our independence…set the stage for the reclamation of independence to be had for Dominica, St. Lucia, St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Antigua and Barbuda, and St. Kitts and Nevis,” PM Gonsalves remarked.
“So, you see why I had to be here with four (4) other cabinet ministers? That is essentially what we’re celebrating the reclamation of independence,” the Vincentian leader added.
The celebration also featured a symbolic gesture of solidarity as the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF) band became the first non-national band to perform at Grenada’s independence celebration.
Their performance, alongside the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) band, and the Cadet Corp band, added to the spectacle of the event.
The official parade started with a march off from Melville Street in St George’s with all the uniform groups, including the Police, Coast Guard, Cadets, Prisons and Guides in a procession to the national stadium, which was almost filled to its capacity with spectators clad in a picturesque sea of the national colors, red, gold and green.
The stadium, almost filled to its capacity with spectators donning the national colors of red, gold, and green, witnessed captivating performances including the trooping of the police band and impressive mace-spinning skills of Corporal Lyndon Langdon of the RGPF Band, and Sergeant Omaro Thomas of the RSVGPF Band.
Invited to be part of the Golden Jubilee parade, the RSVGPF Band came bearing gifts, two (2) pieces of musical instruments, a french horn and a flugelhorn, which were handed over to the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF) Band.
Other Caribbean leaders who attended the historic event included Prime Minister of Commonwealth of Dominica Roosevelt Skerrit, Prime Minister of St. Lucia Phillip J. Pierre, along with the Prime Minister Mitchell’s guest of honour, President Nana Akufo-Addo of Ghana.
The Ghanaian President made history as the first African leader to address the country’s parliament.
At a joint sitting the day before the 50th Anniversary of Independence, President Akufo-Addo pledged unrelenting support for the Caribbean Community’s (CARICOM’s) fight for reparative justice, acknowledging being “told that 18,000 slaves representing 19% of all slaves brought into Grenada during the height of the barbaric, and inhumane transatlantic slave trade were frontiers from the central region of Ghana.”
Thanking him for gracing the Grenadian populace with his presence on this historic occasion, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell presented President Addo with a plaque of appreciation for accepting his invitation.
The Congress leader is the ninth Political Leader to be elected into office since the island broke free from colonial rule in 1974, under the leadership of Sir Eric Matthew Gairy.
The Grenadian leader, who took office in June 2022 had previously announced plans to support Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Shirley Ayorkor Botchwey in her bid to become the next Secretary General of the Commonwealth of Nations, when elections are held in October.