ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – Grenada marked the fiftieth anniversary of political independence from Britain on Wednesday with the normal navy parade, cultural actions, and a name from Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell for a united inhabitants going into the following 50 years.
Below the theme “One Folks, One Journey, One Future,” Grenadians had been joined within the celebrations by the prime ministers of St. Lucia, St. Kitts-Nevis, Dominica, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines in addition to the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo and President Sandra Mason of Barbados and the Vice President of Venezuela, Delcy Rodríguez.
In a message expressing his disappointment at not being current for the event, Britain’s King Charles described Grenada as an exemplar of democracy, human rights, and the rule of regulation.
Within the message that was learn by his consultant, Governor Normal Dame Cecile La Grenade, the British monarch stated that over the previous 5 many years, he has watched with essentially the most profound admiration as residents have constructed the island and cast a definite place on the planet in addition to grow to be an important member of the Commonwealth household.
“Collectively, you will have established Grenada as an exemplar of democracy, human rights, and the rule of regulation. Collectively, you will have risen to essentially the most important challenges of local weather change and biodiversity loss by providing the world an instance of management, resilience, and innovation. “Collectively, you will have given life to the phrases of your nationwide anthem: “Aspire, construct, advance!” he stated, including, “My spouse and I maintain such particular recollections of our go to to your lovely ‘Spice Island’ 5 years in the past, and of the nice and cozy and touching welcome you prolonged to us.
“Then, at any time when I’ve met Grenadians wherever on the planet, your resilience struck me, the power of your neighborhood, and your shared willpower to make a optimistic distinction,” stated the King lately identified with most cancers.
“I can solely say how sorry I’m that I can’t be with you in individual to mark this momentous milestone and to take pleasure in a little bit Oil Down with you all,” he stated, including, “My household joins me in sending our heartfelt congratulations to you all.”
Throughout his handle on the ceremony held on the Grenada Nationwide Stadium, Prime Minister Mitchell paid homage to those that contributed to creating the tri-island state, particularly after it gained political independence from Britain on February 7, 1974.
He praised the island’s first prime minister, Sir Eric Gairy, for having the braveness to take the island into independence and insisting that “measurement was not future, and that however our measurement, with a mandate from the individuals of Grenada, he took us to the promised land of nationwide independence.
“We’re right here in the present day, 50 years later, due to the braveness, his imaginative and prescient, and his willpower to chart a brand new course for Grenada,” Mitchell stated, including that accompanied by Sir Eric’s daughter, Marcel, a small group laid a wreath on the tomb of the previous prime minister.
“And So Sir Eric Mathew Gairy, with the baton handed to him, shook the material of our society by social and political revolution of the Nineteen Fifties, and armed with a mandate from the inhabitants, attained this nation’s independence 50 years in the past… In doing so, he turned on its head the feeble and restricted view that small international locations like Grenada weren’t viable.
“So it’s clear in the present day that fifty years later, we are able to say Sir Eric was proper. We are able to say that Sir Eric was right,” Mitchell stated, telling the rally that the event additionally supplied the chance to have fun the Grenadian girls who would have considerably contributed to the island’s socio-economic improvement.
Whereas he didn’t point out by identify the 1979 coup by the then left-wing Folks’s Revolutionary Authorities (PRG) of Maurice Bishop that toppled the Gairy administration, Prime Minister Mitchell advised Grenadians that the independence journey had been considered one of resilience and progress and nice aspiration.
“We all know that social unity and cohesion are the bedrock of a profitable nation. We now have at all times cared for one another,” he stated, including, “so in the present day, as we’re collectively to have fun this golden jubilee, we have to be stronger and extra decided and extra united in our need to make Grenada a greater place as a result of on the finish of the day. All of us need what’s greatest for our kids and grandchildren.
He urged Grenadians to proceed that journey fuelled by willpower and unity to create higher alternatives for the upcoming technology.
“Allow us to make it our obligation to form a Grenada the place all Grenadians can share within the goals of our nation. A future the place all Grenadians can take pleasure in equal alternatives and be pleased with who we’re as a result of we all know from whence we have now come.
However he stated that for this vibrant future to be realized, it could require a shared dedication from everybody, including, “We have to foster an surroundings the place alternatives are acceptable to all no matter background, gender or socio-economic standing.
“In order we take a second to replicate on our final 50 years….allow us to keep in mind the teachings of the earlier 50 years, allow us to not overlook that our darkest moments have been once we had been disunited, once we had been illiberal, and once we weren’t ready to share.
“So allow us to be certain that as we go ahead for the following 50 years that we go ahead united collectively stronger as we aspire to construct and advance as one individuals in order that we are able to ascend…,” he added.
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