by Linda Straker
- National Heroes Day proclamation published in Government Gazette of 7 October
- Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and several others killed at Fort George on 19 October 1983
- St Vincent PM Ralph Gonsalves will be featured speaker at National Heroes Day celebrations
The proclamation declaring 19 October a national public holiday and to be commemorated at National Heroes Day has been published in the 7 October 2024 edition of the Government Gazette.
Dated 4 October, the proclamation said that National Heroes Day is in remembrance of, reflection on and recognition of the strides of the nation and people of Grenada in recovery and growth and to promote unity and our advancement as one people.
19 October is a significant day in Grenada’s history because on that date in 1983, Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and several others were killed at Fort George due to internal conflict within factions of the People’s Revolutionary Government.
Before 2023, the day was commemorated with a church service in the area of the Fort where the killing occurred and the laying of wreaths by family members, friends and supporters of those who were killed.
Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves will be the featured speaker at the 2024 National Heroes Day celebrations which will be commemorated under the theme “Unity in commemorating our heroes: past, present and future.” The celebrations will take the form of a rally at Progressive Park, St Andrew. Several people are expected to be awarded during the rally but they will not be recognised in accordance with the 2007 National Honours And Awards Act.
Jacqueline Alexis, Chairperson of the National Celebrations Committee, said that the 2024 National Heroes Day awardees will be recognised at the wishes of the organising committee. Though this is the second year of the National Heroes Day celebration, Government has yet to announce any citizen, dead or alive, as a national hero.
Culture Minister Adrian Thomas told reporters in a news conference last week that the first hero(es) will be announced in 2025. 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 functions of the commission are to make such investigations as they think fit to determine individuals, living or dead, upon whom may be conferred the Prestige Order of National Hero, and issue a report to the Prime Minister on the result of those investigations.
The legislation states that the national hero title can be awarded to any individual who was born in Grenada or who, at the time of his or her death, was a citizen of Grenada. That individual 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.
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