by Linda Straker
- In 2023 Government declared 19 October as National Heroes Day
- Government seeking to amending Bank Holiday Act
- Once approved, permanent holiday will be published in Government Gazette
From 2025, the Governor-General will not be required to publish a proclamation declaring 19 October a bank holiday because Government has submitted a Bill to Parliament seeking to make the date a permanent holiday by amending the Bank Holiday Act.
The schedule to the principal act is amended by inserting after the following — “The second Monday in August and the day following which shall be known and referred to as the Carnival August Celebrations.”, the following — “The nineteenth day of October, which shall be known and referred to as National Heroes Day,” states the bill which is on the order paper for the 18 November sitting of the 15 member Lower House or House of Representatives.
The debate and approval in the House of Representatives is the first step. Once approved by Members in the House of Representatives the Bill will then be submitted to the Upper House or Senate for approval by the 13 members of that House. After the Houses of Parliament, and receiving approval from the Office of the Governor-General, the bill will be published in the Government Gazette.
19 October 1983 is the day on which former Prime Minister Maurice Bishop died during a bloody massacre on Fort Rupert (Fort George). Bishop’s life, and the lives of several cabinet ministers of the People’s Revolutionary Government (PRG) and civilians were lost on that day when members of the Armed Forces clashed on the fort as a result of internal conflict within the revolutionary government.
For years, people closely aligned with the revolution called for 19 October to be declared a national holiday. This became a reality in 2023 when for the first time, Government declared 19 October as National Heroes Day. No hero has yet been named but in 2023, Bishop was revered and in 2024 his life and contribution to Grenada were once again in the spotlight.
Section 16 of Grenada’s 2007 National Honours and Awards Act provides for establishing a commission to be known as the Prestige Order of National Hero Commission. The commission’s function is to make such investigations as it thinks fit to determine persons living or dead, upon whom may be conferred the Prestige Order of National Hero; and issue a report to the Prime Minister the result of those investigations.
The legislation states that the national hero title can be awarded to any person who was born in Grenada or who at the time of his or her death was a citizen of Grenada. That person must have given outstanding service to Grenada where that service has altered the course of the history of Grenada; given service to Grenada which has been exemplified by visionary and pioneering leadership, extraordinary achievements or attainment of the highest excellence, and which has redounded to the honour of Grenada; or through his or her heroic exploits or sacrifices contributed to the improvement of the economic and social conditions of Grenada.
For me, March 13th is a day that should be a bank holiday to celebrate the revolution which led to better development in Grenada and eventually led to October 19. Revolution Memorial Day (March 13), please and thank you.