[Congressional Record Volume 152, Number 23 (Tuesday, February 28, 2006)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E220-E221]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




                 CELEBRATION OF GRENADA'S INDEPENDENCE

                                 ______
                                 

                         HON. CHARLES B. RANGEL

                              of new york

                    in the house of representatives

                       Tuesday, February 28, 2006

  Mr. RANGEL. Mr. Speaker, today I rise to pay tribute to the tri-
island state of Grenada which celebrated its 32nd anniversary of 
independence Tuesday, February 7 and to enter

[[Page E221]]

into the Record a Caribnews editorial celebrating how the country has 
overcome obstacles to persevere during its young existence.
  Grenadians are resilient people who are dealing with trying times. As 
the editorial reads, ``Like many of its neighbors in and out of the 
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States, OECS, Grenada is facing some 
serious economic and social challenges. Crime has reared its ugly head 
and the galloping economic expectations of its young people are adding 
to the list of worries which need urgent attention.'' The editorial 
continues, ``As if those weren't enough, it has a pile of debt on its 
books to manage and reduce it.''
  Despite these social issues and a violent political uprising in 1983 
that subsequently led to a U.S. military presence and later the 
disastrous results of Hurricane Ivan, the people of Greneda have never 
faltered in showing the will to advance their country. Today, 
Grenadians continue to embrace their current stable parliamentarian, 
democratic government and highly respect the civil liberties afforded 
to them. As the editorial explains, ``Grenada, a nation, which has had 
more than its fair share of difficulties, has shown an amazing ability 
to see the glass as being half full when others looking on consider it 
half empty.''
  It is this glowing optimism and resolve that makes the island of 
``spice'' such a treasured nation in our global community. Mr. Speaker, 
please join me again in congratulating Grenadians in the United States, 
abroad and in their native homeland on their thirty-second anniversary 
of their glorious independence.

            Much To Celebrate On Anniversary Of Independence

       One of the most heart-warming scenes is that of a small 
     country, rising from the ashes left behind by natural and 
     national disasters, picking up the pieces, if you will, and 
     showing neighbors, even the wider world the stuff of which 
     resilience and legends are made.
       Grenadians are one such people. After Hurricane Ivan struck 
     in 2004 and devastated the land of ``spice,'' killing 39 
     persons, leaving thousands homeless and wiping out almost all 
     of its infrastructure while coming close to tearing out the 
     soul of its inhabitants, a collective will emerge once again, 
     determined to rebuild and make the country of 90,000 people 
     even better than before.
       Although Grenada, Carriacou and Petit Martinique, the tri-
     island state, is far from reaching its goal of a complete 
     recovery, it is well on the way, so much so that Standard & 
     Poor's, Wall Street's premiere credit rating firm, recently 
     hailed the efforts to return the country's finances to a 
     manageable and sound foundation.
       That's quite an achievement in less than two years.
       Aided by Caribbean help, international assistance and led 
     by Dr. Keith Mitchell, Prime Minister, the government reached 
     out to civil society, the trade unions, the church and other 
     limbs of society. In the process, the administration 
     marshaled the energy of the young and the middle-aged and the 
     wisdom of the senior folk to chart a new course and write a 
     new chapter in the nation's colorful history.
       So, when it observed the 32nd anniversary of independence 
     on February 7 with church services, military parades, special 
     games and other activities, it was clear that Grenada had 
     much to thank God for and to celebrate.
       Grenada, the most southerly of the chain of Windward 
     Islands, has traveled this road of disaster and 
     rehabilitation before. Almost a quarter of a century ago, 
     October 1983 to be precise, the People's Revolutionary 
     Government turned on itself, killing its leader, Maurice 
     Bishop and several of his ministers and senior government 
     officials. The resulting turmoil, including a dust-to-dawn 
     curfew imposed by the military triggered an invasion or a 
     U.S. ``rescue mission,'' depending on your point of view. The 
     country then set out to rebuild itself and by any measure, it 
     had succeeded. Its housing stock improved by leaps and 
     bounds; the infrastructure expanded and upgraded; the health 
     and education profiles brightened; and the economy was on a 
     growth path.
       Then along came Ivan.
       Like many of its neighbors in and out of the Organization 
     of Eastern Caribbean States, OECS, Grenada is facing some 
     serious economic and social challenges. Crime has reared its 
     ugly head and the galloping economic expectations of its 
     young people are adding to the list of worries, which need 
     urgent attention. As if those weren't enough, it has a pile 
     of debt on its books to manage and reduce.
       But it has many things going for it as well. The nation has 
     a stable political environment that's based on the rule of 
     law and parliamentary democracy. Its respect for people's 
     civil liberties hasn't been tarnished by any abusive 
     practices and the main opposition forces led by the National 
     Democratic Congress are keeping Dr. Mitchell and his 
     government on their toes.
       As in the case of its OECS neighbors Grenada must make good 
     on its pledge to join the Caribbean Single Market later this 
     year. It should have come home to Grenadians by now that they 
     can't afford to remain outside of the CSM and survive in a 
     globalized world. It must also move to recognize the 
     Caribbean Court of Justice, CCJ, as the judicial body of last 
     resort, a move that would end its long-standing relationship 
     with the Privy Council in London. Just as important, it must 
     continue to place education high on its agenda. The 
     investment in education, which got a major boost during the 
     days of the People's Revolutionary Government, is paying off 
     in the form of a strong human resource base.
       Grenada, a nation, which has had more than its fair share 
     of difficulties, has shown an amazing ability to see the 
     glass as being half full when others looking on consider it 
     half empty. That positive approach to life has worked well 
     for its people in the past and we are confident that with 
     more international and regional help it would do so again.
       Grenadians abroad, whether in New York, Miami, London, 
     Toronto, Birmingham or Port of Spain have been a well of 
     support from which the country has drawn some of its succor. 
     They too deserve praise at this time of celebrations.
       Happy Independence anniversary.

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