By Lincoln DePradine

Grenada MP Andy Williams, two years ago, accompanied the country’s Prime Minister to Toronto, where PM Dickon Mitchell delivered an independence anniversary keynote address imploring nationals against putting “factional interests over national interests’’, saying “Grenada belongs to all of us’’.

It will be Williams’s opportunity to deliver this year’s featured address as Grenadian nationals commemorate the 52nd anniversary of the nation’s independence from Britain.

“Grenada at 52: Anchored in Faith, Guided by Purpose,” is the theme under which a series of events now is taking place across the city.

The events are organized by the Grenada Independence Planning Committee and Grenada Association (Toronto), and endorsed and supported by Grenada’s High Commission to Canada and the Consulate General of Grenada in Toronto.

A February 1 Interfaith Thanksgiving Service is being followed by a February 5 ceremony of the raising of Grenada’s gold, green and red national flag at Toronto City Hall, starting 12 noon, and hosted by Gerry Hopkin, consul general for Grenada.

On Saturday, February 7, which is Grenada’s independence day, the Tower Clock at Brampton City Hall will be illuminated at sunset also in gold, green and red in tribute to Grenada.

A February 7 tribute, using the colours of the national flag, also will occur in Niagara. At 10 pm, an illumination of Niagara Falls will occur.

At both locations, “Grenadian community members, and friends of Grenada, are invited to gather’’ to “symbolically celebrate the beauty and the achievements of their nation,’’ urged Hopkin.

Williams, Grenada’s Minister of Mobilization, Implementation and Transformation, will deliver the keynote speech at the 2026 independence anniversary gala on Saturday, February 14, at Parkview Manor, 55 Barber Green Road, North York.

As well, and also visiting from Grenada, will be multiple-times Calypso Monarch Finley Jeffrey, who will provide live entertainment; and Terry Forrester, Grenada’s Ambassador for Diaspora Affairs.

Forrester also is scheduled to participate and speak at a “Grenada Homecoming Launch’’, 5 pm, February 16, at Tropicana Community Services, 1385 Huntingwood Drive, Scarborough.

The launch is an initiative of Grenada’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Trade and Export Development, in collaboration with the Office of Diaspora Affairs, the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and the Creative Economy, and the Grenada Tourism Authority.

It will be preceded at the same venue, beginning 12 noon, by a “Bring Back the Ole Time Days’’, the sampling and sale of a variety of traditional Grenadian cuisine.

“This is organized by a Toronto-based group of Grenadian community leaders and calypsonian and educator, Finley “Scholar” Jeffrey, will be hosting this event,’’ Hopkin said.

The program in Toronto marking 52 years of Grenada’s independence culminates with “Showcase Grenada’’ in April.

It’s an exposition of what organizers call “all things Grenadian’’ – culture, food, dance, music, traditional mas’, tourism, trade and investment.

Showcase Grenada is April 12 at the Jamaican Canadian Association Centre, 995 Arrow Road.

LJI reporter

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