1 August holiday legislation for approval in upcoming Lower House session

by Linda Straker

• In 2024, Prime Minister said 1 August as Emancipation Day more important than Independence Day
• List of holidays for 2025 showed first Monday in August will no longer be observed as Emancipation Holiday
• Legislation will be debated and approved when Lower House members meet on 17 June

The legislation to resume the observance of 1 August of any year as of 2025 as a holiday in commemoration of Emancipation Day, will be debated and approved when Members of the Lower House of Parliament meet on 17 June.

Currently, Grenada observes the first Monday in August as a holiday to commemorate Emancipation Day. The amendment to the Bank Holidays (Amendment) Act, 2025, will remove a sentence and replace it with another. “The first Monday in August which shall be known and referred to as Emancipation Holiday” and substituting therefor the following — The first day in August which shall be known and referred to as Emancipation Day.”

In January 2025, the Cabinet Office issued the list of holidays for 2025, which showed that the first Monday in August will no longer be observed as Emancipation Holiday. That holiday will now be observed on 1 August.

The list was signed by Secretary to the Cabinet Carvel Lett and dated October 2024. “The first Monday in August, which shall be known and referred to as Emancipation Holiday,” said the schedule for the Bank Holiday Act, which is normally published the last week of the year or the first week of the following year.

Since becoming Prime Minister of Grenada, Dickon Mitchell has expressed his desire for Emancipation Day to be observed on 1 August, the day on which slavery was abolished in British colonies like Grenada.

Speaking at the 2024 Emancipation Day celebration, which was organised by the Grenada Cultural Foundation and held at the Spice Basket on 6 August, the Prime Minister in his remarks, said 1 August as Emancipation Day, is more important than Independence Day.