Badgered by a political system that in 2018 is still emerging, under-developed, backward and weak, Grenada still suffer from periods of tepid progress, pronounced retrogression, and limited improvements of the quality of life for all Grenadians (here I include Carriacouians and Petite Martiniquians in this characterization).

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Celebrating Grenada's 44^th Anniversary Of Independence

On February 7 Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique celebrated 44 years of independence from Great Britain. And yet many of the old vestiges of British colonialism still remain as the tri-island nation struggles with socio-economic and developmental issues that plague and bedevil all small mini-states of the world. An economy still warped and deformed by years, if not centuries, of lopsided development dictated by the colonial master, Grenada has lurched from one socio-political and economic experiment to the other with mixed results.

Badgered by a political system that in 2018 is still emerging, under-developed, backward and weak, Grenada still suffer from periods of tepid progress, pronounced retrogression, and limited improvements of the quality of life for all Grenadians (here I include Carriacouians and Petite Martiniquians in this characterization). Forty-four years after the country achieved so-called nationhood, the productive forces remain in pre-capitalist mode with successive governments -- since 1983 -- opting for a service based industry economy that has spawned a bag of mixed blessings.

There is much blame to go around, but I'll not go down that road today. Instead, I believe that one of the first things to do in rebuilding the confidence of Granadians at home and abroad is to embrace ALL of our history (I'm a very proud Grenadian) and a good place to start is to set aside a day to honor and recognize our own NATIONAL PANTHEON OF GRENADA HEROES. Before I make suggestions for how that can be done, I want to take this opportunity to resoundingly condemn as grossly insensitive and cavalier the present government's decision to hold national elections on March 13, the 39^th anniversary of the Grenada Revolution -- a seminal and important historical event in Grenadian history, the English-speaking Caribbean, and indeed, the western hemisphere.

The Keith Mitchell Administration fails to understand the pride of Grenadians in the Revolution, the high esteem and political sacredness in which it's held today. In defecating on the memory of the Grenada Revolution the present government has demonstrated its ultra-backward and reactionary nature. Further, absolute arrogance and political immaturity runs through an administration whose politics is rooted in myopia and barely concealed contempt for the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

That said, lets talk Pantheon of Grenadian Heroes. I want to recommend that we establish three (3) tiers of recognition to acknowledge the contributions of Grenadians to the growth and development of the country.

1. The Grenada Gold Medal of Honor (Highest Civilian Award)

2. The Grenada Silver Medal (second highest civilian award)

3. The Grenada Bronze Medal (third highest civilian award)

The Grenada National Recognition Awards:

First Class (for outstanding work in politics/people/organizational development)

Second Class (for outstanding work in medicine and education)

Third Class (for outstanding work in sports, youth and women's affairs)

That said into the Grenadian Hall Of Heroes I suggest that we induct the following:

JULIEN FEDON -- He was the leader of the Fe'don Rebellion , a slave revolt that took place in Grenada between March 2, 1795, and June 19, 1796. The Fe'don Rebellion broke out in the same year as several other rebellions in the Caribbean, including in Cuba , Jamaica , and Coro, Venezuela . During the 19th and 20th centuries, Fe'don was considered a folk hero in Grenada and influenced the nationalist leaders and revolutionaries of the island.

THEOPHILUS ALBERT "TA" MARRYSHOW -The Father of the West Indies Federation. After over fifty years unrelenting political agitation, Marryshow saw his dream come true with the forming of the short-lived West Indies Federation in 1958. He was appointed a Senator of Federation. Due to his untiring efforts for West Indian unity, his colleagues gave him the title 'Father of Federation'. Marryshow died shortly after the forming of the Federation.

SIR ERIC MATTHEW GAIRY -(18 February 1922 -- 23 August 1997) was the first Prime Minister of Grenada, serving from the country's independence in 1974 until his overthrow by the Grenada Revolution and Maurice Bishopon March 13,1979. Gairy also served as head of government in pre-independence Grenada as Chief Minister from 1961 to 1962, and as Premier from 1967 to 1974.

MAURICE RUPERT BISHOP- (29 May 1944 -- 19 October 1983) was the charismatic Grenadian politicianand the leader of New Jewel Movement. He led the Grenada Revolution that pioneered popular efforts in the areas of socio-economic development, education, and Black liberation. Bishop came to power in 13 March 1979 Revolution that removed Eric Gairyfrom office. Bishop headed the People's Revolutionary Government of Grenadafrom 1979 to 1983, when he was dismissed from his post and assassinated during and internal coup led by a militaristic element in the government.

DAME HILDA BYNOE -(ne'e Gibbs; 18 November 1921 -- 6 April 2013) was governor of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique between 1967 and 1972. A doctor and Hospital Administrator, Bynoe was during her time the only woman to have been governor of one of the British Dependencies. She was the first woman Governor of a Commonwealth of Nationscountry.

Born in Crochu, Grenada, Bynoe was educated at the village school, where her father, Thomas Joseph Gibbs, was headmaster and where her mother, sister and aunts had at one time or the other been teachers, and at St. Joseph's Convent, the island's only Roman Catholic Secondary School for girls.

The first few years of adulthood were spent as a teacher at the Convent of St. Joseph in San Fernando, Trinidad, and later at Bishop Anstey High School in Port of Spain, Trinidad, as a science student. In 1944 she left for Europe to study Medicine and graduated from the University of London 's Royal Free Hospital , then the London School of Medicine for Women , in 1951.

SIR ALISTER MERIDITH MCINTYRE - He is a distinguished international statesman and academic. He studied at LSE and Oxford University and taught at the University of the West Indies, where he was latterly Vice Chancellor. He has served in a variety of high-profile roles in UN agencies and in Caribbean regional government. Sir Meredith Alister McIntyre, is a venerable Caribbean integrationist.

A highly celebrated Caribbean academic and intellectual, and considered one of the great social thinkers of his time, he piloted the movement for integration as Secretary-General of CARICOM from 1974-1977, and as Vice Chairman of the West Indian Commission.

He was highly acclaimed as a developmental economist and his foremost contribution as a scholar was to the University of the West Indies as Lecturer and Vice-Chancellor from 1988 and as Director of the Institute of Social and Economic Research (ISER) between 1967 and 1974.

His academic career extended to the reputable Princeton University and Colombia University where he was Assistant Professor and Fulbright Fellow, respectively. Sir Alister McIntyre served his community with distinction as a renowned scholar with many publications pertinent to Caribbean developmental issues.

He was able to position the Caribbean region on the world scene and made a significant impact on the international arena through the many high level posts he held in various UN organizations and in a consultative capacity to Regional and International Financial Institutions, such as the IDB and the World Bank.

OTHER NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED HEROES:

1. Dr. Keith Claudius Mitchell -- Present Prime Minister of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique

2. Herbert Augustus Blaize -- Former Prime Minister and elder statesman

3. Jean Augustine former Canadian politician

4. Johnson Beharry army soldier, awarded Victoria Cross

5. Neisha Bernard-Thomas distance runner

6. Nicholas Brathwaite former prime minister

7. George Brizan former prime minister

8. Tobias Buckell science fiction author

9. Henri Christophe King Henri I of Haiti

10. Merle Collins educator, poet, writer

11.Sir Leo Victor de Gale first governor-general

12. Jennifer Hosten Miss World 1970

13. Kirani James sprinter

14. Mighty Sparrow calypso singer/songwriter

15. David Pitt (Baron Pitt of Hampstead) doctor, former WINP president

16. Jacob Ross poet, playwright, journalist, novelist

17. Sir Paul Scoon former governor-general

18. Tillman Thomas prime minister

Authors Website: http://www.CSG2017.com

Authors Bio:

MICHAEL DERK ROBERTS
Small Business Consultant, Editor, and Social Media & Communications Expert, New York

Over the past 20 years I've been a top SMALL BUSINESS CONSULTANT and POLITICAL CAMPAIGN STRATEGIST in Brooklyn, New York, running successful campaigns at the City, State and Federal levels. I'm a published author and award-winning journalist. I've been honored and recognized for my deep, hard-hitting analytical work on socio-economic and political issues confronting the United States in general and New York City in particular. I'm he Senior Consultant, COMMONSENSE STRATEGIES (www.commonsensestrategies.biz ), a Marketing, Social Media & Communications company based in Brooklyn. I also host two weekly podcasts at www.blogtalkradio.com/shangoking .The first, aired on Saturday mornings is called BTS -- Business, Technology and Social Media and the second, The Roberts Report, is aired on Sundays. You can also follow me on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mdvroberts. (347) 279-6668.