Visiting minister impressed with Grenada Day celebrations

By LINCOLN DEPRADINE
The recent Grenada Day Celebration in Toronto was a “very, very good occasion” that augurs well for tourism in the Caribbean nation, which is marking its 50th anniversary of independence, according to that country’s minister of tourism.
Senator Adrian Thomas, Minister of Tourism, Culture and the Creative Economy, told Share that he was “impressed” with both the event’s attendance – which included Grenadians and non-nationals – as well with the exhibition of culture, including the music and food.
“It’s a good opportunity for the ministry of tourism to sell Grenada and encourage people to come and visit our country,” Thomas said.
This was the 17th edition of Grenada Day in Toronto. It’s an event, according to organizers, designed to celebrate the “rich cultural heritage of Grenada”, which includes the Grenadine islands of Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
Grenada Day 2024, organized by the Grenada Day Cultural Association (GDCA) in collaboration with the consulate general of Grenada in Toronto, was also intended as a “fitting celebration” of Grenada’s independence anniversary, said association officials, who pointed to this year’s features such as the cast of entertainers that included four veteran former Calypso Monarchs of Grenada: Black Wizard, King Ajamu, Flying Turkey and Inspector. The performers were accompanied by the renowned Ossie Gurley Band.
The GDCA/Consulate activities began on the Friday evening, August 23, with a special forum at the Jamaican Canadian Association, with representatives of commercial sponsors of the Toronto event.
“Overall, Grenada Day went fabulous and I thought my volunteer team did excellent in executing all areas,” GDCA president Maria Meyers, said in an interview with Share.
“The idea of bringing veteran artistes, who have contributed to the music industry and awarding them, was perfect and a reminder to everybody in attendance that they are the ones that paved the way for the younger artistes in the industry,” she said.
“The presentation of each parish, which we brought back, gave everybody – not only Grenadians but also non-Grenadians – a history lesson of the parishes of Grenada. We have already started planning for next year with an ‘Oildown Fest’ and football and cricket matches on September 14 at Caledonia Park.”
It was the first Grenada Day experience for Senator Thomas, who was appointed to the Upper House of Parliament by Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell after the National Democratic Congress (NDC) won Grenada’s general election in June 2022.
“I was very much impressed with the amount of people that turned out on the occasion and, secondly, the types of products on exhibition at Grenada Day,” said Thomas, a former NDC interim leader. “I saw people there that I haven’t seen in many, many years.”
The minister reflected on the importance of the Diaspora community to Grenada, and welcomed the interaction with Grenadian Canadians.
“The assistance that we get from the people in the Diaspora must be recognized. They have been doing that for years and when they organize activities like this, I think it is crucial that somebody from our end show our presence,” said Thomas. “Hence the reason why, although the prime minister was supposed to come and he couldn’t make it, he asked me to represent him and the government and to offer his regards.”
Some Grenadians he met, Thomas said, expressed interest in returning to their Caribbean homeland.
“They congratulated the government for the work we’re doing in Grenada, in terms of developing the country,” he said. “They feel a little bit more confident now in coming back home and residing, and we have to embrace them and we have to encourage them because some of them want to come and open businesses. So, that is a plus, because the 10-12 per cent unemployment is something that we have to deal with.”
Consul General for Grenada, Gerry Hopkin, was happy with the event, calling it a “success” and promising to “build on what we have and make it better next year”.
“Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique Day Toronto 2024 was indeed a grand success, not just in terms of the massive turnout but also in many other telling aspects,” said Hopkin.
“This event was a celebratory promotion of all things Grenadian – our people, our icons, our achievements, 50 years of independence, our culture, our foods, our beverages, music, mas’, handicrafts and vibes!”
Hopkin expressed appreciation to the event’s volunteers, as well as to special guests from across sectors including politics, the diplomatic corps, law enforcement, music and entertainment, to community leaders and to Grenada Day sponsors that included major contributors such as Grenada’s Ariza Credit Union and the Grenada Tourism Authority.
“May we collaborate with each other more than we compete among ourselves because we are strongest when we work together as one people, on one journey, towards a brighter future for all of us,” said Hopkin.
Events such as Grenada Day, which is also celebrated by Grenadians in other cities such as New York, are an avenue to “preserve, showcase, develop, market and transfer much of what’s Grenadian about us to Grenadians that are born in the Diaspora, and to potential visitors who get to sample our culture on display”, Hopkin said.
He added that the cumulative effect of the events, “along with our combined efforts to harness the resources of the Diaspora – through hard work, increased trade, export expansion and investing in our productive sectors back home – results in the forward movement of Grenada’s economy and in the upliftment of the quality of life of Grenadians at home and in the Diaspora”.