by Donella Hosten
The Government of Grenada has officially declared 1 May as Indian Arrival Day, when Grenadians of Indian descent will officially celebrate the arrival of their ancestors to the island.
This will be celebrated in conjunction with Labour Day and added to Grenada’s list of Bank Holidays. This year marks 160 years since the first East Indians arrived from Calcutta, India aboard the Maidstone, which anchored at Irwin Bay in Saint Patrick on 1 May, 1857.
The centenary celebration took place in 1957. In 2009 government declared 1 May as Indian Arrival Day in conjunction with Labour Day. The Indo Grenada Heritage Foundation was instrumental in getting official recognition for Indian Arrival Day and installed a plaque at Irwin Bay in St Patrick to commemorate the day.
During last week’s Senate sitting, Senator Brenda Hood revealed Government’s decision to officially declare 1 May as Indian Arrival Day. Senator Ray Roberts, representative of the Trade Unions Council (TUC) applauded the contributions of the Indian and Indo-Grenadian communities to Grenadian society. Roberts, on behalf of the TUC, said that they welcome the joint celebrations, fully accepted this decision and commended the Government for this move.
According to the Indo Grenadian Heritage Foundation’s Facebook page, Indian Arrival Day celebrations have become an annual event and have been gathering a larger participation from among Indo-Grenadians and other communities every year. https://www.facebook.com/IndoGrenadians/
