by Susan Mains
The past weeks have been a whirlwind of opportunity to experience the authentically real in Grenada.
The Sailing Festival and Bill Fish Tournament welcomed visitors, but was a little out of sight for most of us; out of sight meaning that the participants were in boats out on the Caribbean Sea. We gladly read the results on social media and applauded those who held the biggest catch.
For me, it was the Workboat Regatta on Grand Anse beach during Sailing Week. Lots of photos taken, lots of smiles. I sat in the organisers’ tent and chatted with 2 veterans of the 25 years of the festival, who have been sailing and passing on knowledge about the making of the boats.
Mr Lennox, or Leonard Julien of Woburn, shared his disappointment that he did not have a boat in the water this year; no funds available for repairs. At 82, he has seen it all and is deeply committed to passing the torch to the young. Joseph Paris of Grand Mal shared how he built the boat “Swift” and used bamboo for the mast and boom, and recycled sails. Both of them opined that the regatta needed more support to continue. “We used to have boats from Grenville, Petite Martinique and Carriacou. This year, only Woburn and Gouyave are here. The culture is dying.” New young organisers Kevin Banfield and Raisa Pierre are 100% committed to getting support for boat repair and building. Corporate sponsors are welcome.
Many visitors strolled by from the cruise ship and the hotels. The vendors provided the best of local cuisine from their tents. Steelband played in the afternoon. Sweetness, greatness. Independence celebrations were characterised by the red, green and gold in costumes from pre-school children on up. Marching in the streets of St George’s, smiles for miles. Many pots bubbled with oil down all over the island. Anyone who has the patience to grate coconut for this iconic dish is my hero.
A friend from away was visiting, and her last day was the 7th. We took a morning drive to St David to visit the Spice Garden at Laura. This venue has been named as “minor spices” by the Ministry of Agriculture, but I would say that it is anything but minor. The lovely Hazel-Ann Mitchell gave a very knowledgeable tour, explaining the medicinal value of each herb or spice growing there. Again, we saw many dressed in their colours, waiting for buses to go to the stadium for the celebrations.
Unfortunately, I missed the Grenada Arts Council display at Merveille, at Port Louis. I was on the way when a small accident took my vehicle off the road, and had me hanging and praying that the car wouldn’t tip over the steep slope into a house. In no minutes flat, other vehicles stopped, and people gathered round. The police brought a rope, and a Waggy T truck pulled the car back on the road, and it was able to be driven away. Greatness is people ever willing to help. The art exhibit is still up, and can be visited — 23 artists with work leaning into culture.
And close to home, the St Paul’s Extravaganza continued their legacy of music, dance, food, craft and art at the community centre. Particularly enchanting were the dancers from Conception Dance Company, giving a reinterpretation of a traditional dance. Young women in white dresses and a broad-brimmed hat glided across the stage, and if you were very observant, you would see it: one good foot and one cow foot. If you know, you know.
Many vendors offered locally made, unique jewellery, notably Tambran with upcycled natural materials. Upstairs in the big hall, artists spread an array of their paintings, each artist an independent entrepreneur. Several local people went home with art for their Grenadian homes. This is a significant step forward in appreciation for the visual arts. Kudos to Mr Pivot and his team and his St Paul’s team.
Perhaps the biggest was a smile smiled around the world by Grenadians at home and abroad, when we saw the Grenada flag waving at the half-time show of the Super Bowl with Bad Bunny. That display of all of the countries of the Americas was ingenious (just super great)!
To those with open eyes and hearts, we can see a supreme example of how great our people are. Now back to work with renewed energy to build the greatness. And sometimes, with greatness, you need to go the extra smile.
