ST. GEORGE’S, Grenada, CMC – The Grenada authorities Wednesday introduced a change within the launch of actions marking the nation’s fiftieth anniversary of the nation’s political independence from Britain subsequent yr.
Final month, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell and Dr Wendy Crawford, chairman of the Nationwide Organising Committee for the Independence celebrations, instructed a information convention that the launch would happen on October 19, designated a public vacation, to launch the actions.
The island celebrates the milestone on February 7 subsequent yr. Nonetheless, the launch coincides with the fortieth anniversary of the homicide of the island’s first left-wing prime minister, Maurice Bishop, throughout a palace coup orchestrated by his deputy, Bernard Coard, on October 19, 1983.
Talking at a information convention this week, Opposition Chief Dr Keith Mitchell described as “controversial ” the choice of the federal government to launch the celebrations on October 19.
“I believe it’s a very controversial choice. I believe some individuals could also be completely satisfied and others is not going to. I don’t suppose it ought to be twinned with the Independence celebrations. It ought to be two separate occasions,” Dr Mitchell mentioned.
Now, Crawford has introduced that the launch will happen on October 31, noting that because the October 19 date had been instructed, “we’ve acquired from Grenadians each inside the homeland and people residing overseas heartfelt appreciation for the federal government’s pivotal choice to ascertain October 19 as a nationwide vacation, recognizing it as a exceptional milestone in our Nation’s historical past.
“Nonetheless, however this optimistic suggestions, we additionally rigorously thought of the issues raised by members of our neighborhood regarding the choice to merge the Independence Launch with the occasions of October 19,” she instructed reporters.
“Some have voiced reservations with this twinning and respectfully requested a reconsideration of this strategy. In response to those issues, the NOC convened with numerous members of the general public to hearken to their views; we took their suggestions to the Prime Minister and the cupboard, who, in an indication of management, knowledge, and a dedication to fostering nationwide unity, have agreed to separate the 2 occasions,” Crawford mentioned.
“Consequently, they’ve directed the NOC to reschedule the launch of the Independence Day actions to October 31, permitting the occasion deliberate for October 19 to get the nationwide consideration it rightly deserves,” mentioned Crawford, who defined {that a} assembly with among the households affected by the occasions of October 19 contributed to the change in date. The
The Opposition Chief instructed reporters that Grenadians ought to have performed a extra pivotal function earlier than the day was declared a public vacation.
“I don’t essentially suppose that this initiative is a brilliant one, however I believe it’s one thing the individuals ought to be far more concerned in,” he mentioned.
“October 19 is a tricky day for many individuals on this nation. Some individuals will probably be completely satisfied to should revisit it. Some must undergo one other set of traumas and difficulties. I believe the federal government shouldn’t be assessing the scenario in addition to they need to,” Mitchell mentioned.
In a publish on her Fb web page, political Scientist and social commentator Dr Wendy Grenade additionally questioned the October 19 date.
“Why would we wish to start re-imagining the subsequent 50 years on the day representing probably the most grotesque historic second since Grenada’s independence on February 7, 1974? Why would we proceed to pour gasoline on the ambers of historical past to rekindle ache and trauma and additional polarize a divided society?”.
Crawford mentioned that October 19 will now be known as Nationwide Heroes Day, and Orlando Romain, a member of the NOC, mentioned that the primary batch of heroes and the situation for a nationwide heroes park will probably be named on October 19 subsequent yr.
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