The Grenada Cultural & Civic Association – a South Florida based Grenadian organization – held its 20th Anniversary Dinner and Dance celebrating 34 years of Grenada’s Independence on Saturday last. It would appear that the upscale Diamente Banquet and Convention Hall in Tamarac, Fort Lauderdale was a perfect match for the occasion which was graced by local elected officials, regional Consular Generals based in South Florida, other diplomats and dignitaries.
The Master of Ceremonies for the formal occasion was none other than our very own – Eddie Frederick. In his usually organized style, Frederick managed the event with the usual professionalism he is known for interspersed with appropriate humour which kept the gathering wanting more. Many people did not know that side of Eddie Frederick, the radio personality who is known for his controversial overtones as he seeks to give our nation a mirrored reflection of themselves which many so often do not like.
The main objective of the Grenada Cultural & Civic Association is based on bringing the Grenadian community together in South Florida to promote Grenada while helping in as many areas as health, education and culture.
The highlight of the association’s formal activities was the presentation of awards. Among the several persons awarded on Saturday evening were Dr. Kester Nedd – son of Mrs. Waple Nedd (now deceased), Elizabeth Allick – long standing and foundation member of the Grenada Association and sister of Francis Urias Peters, and Eddie Frederick – Image Management Consultant.
Frederick described his award as a surprise as he has never received any formal recognition for his efforts in the media to mentally stimulate his islanders at home. Frederick said that during the short space of time he worked in the media in Miami both on a “colonized” basis through his assignment as News Director of Radio One’s Miami Radio station and his own private and independent initiative through his recently launched “Caribbean Perspective” news magazine program, he was surprised to be awarded for outstanding work in the media by his Grenadian family abroad.
According to him: “I dream of the day to be able to have a comprehensive Caribbean news program complete with interviews of leading professionals in the region to include public and private sector individuals – as a means of bringing the Caribbean even closer to the Diaspora in South Florida. Based on how things are developing, I believe that day is right around the corner!” On the invitation of BBC trained radio journalist Paul Roberts, who established the first privately owned radio station on the island – Spice Capital Radio – Eddie Frederick became known as the man all opposition political parties love and upon assuming elected political office have tried with special zeal to silence – with of course the most concerted effort being made by the Keith Mitchell administration. Even though he relocated to Miami in the early aftermath of the passage of hurricane Ivan in September of 2004, Frederick continues his radio program in Grenada – Public Response – by remote. This program can be heard on the World Wide Web through Omel Radio, Comrade Radio, KayakPM, and Spiceislander.com.
His exposure through radio has launched him into the spotlight as a person of strong conviction and belief in democracy. As part of his community outreach in Grenada, he launched through the Unit for the Promotion of Democracy (an arm of the OAS) a successful public information program to strengthen the democratic process in Grenada in the mid-90’s. Very shortly he will be launching his “Take Elections Seriously”program both in the print and electronic media. He is in the mature stages of launching an organization to strengthen democracy and good governance in the entire region and has started discussions with several leaders in this regard.
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