By Neals J. Chitan
It was the worst of times, it was the best of times! A statement which most fittingly describes the civic, social and political climate of Grenada, the beautiful Spice Island Paradise of the lower Caribbean within the last year.
Grenada made its recent tainted debut into mainstream international media last summer when visiting Canadian resident and Grenadian born Oscar Bartholomew was beaten up and killed by local law enforcers in the parish of St. David. This incident plunged the nation that is well known for its peaceful and friendly people into a downward spiral of unprecedented crime and violence over the next twelve months which hopefully ended with a recent reign of terror on the women of the nation, with the killing of three women by their male companions, within an eight day period.
Along with all the negative implications and trauma of this period of horrific crimes on the social landscape of the island, the nation was further plunged into political uncertainty and stagnation as the ruling party sustained self inflicted blow after blow which ended up in ministerial resignations, firings and internal squabbling, making the first phrase, “It was the worst of times” so seemingly applicable.
And so with a hurting heart, I wondered when will all these “out-of-character” incidents end, so as to avoid us competing with our crime ridden “Big Island” northerly and southerly neighbours who have honed their places at the top of the page in the “Crime Book” of the Caribbean.
Like Jacob’s descendants enslaved in Egypt, the cry of our homeland echoed, “Who will deliver us and redeem our good name?” Then came the voice of a young Grenadian over five thousand miles away in Great Britain. A simple, poor boy from Gun Battle, Gouyave, a humble son of the soil steps up to the block. Devoid of pride, arrogance and boasting he kneels at his starting block and awaits the sound of the gun. Yes, a sound which has reaped havoc and grief in the lives of people of his community and across his homeland will now be the sound that will ignite and explode within him the speed of a jaguar, the determination of his people and the resilience of his Grenadian roots which propelled him to a 43.94 golden victory, finishing the final twenty meters or so, in a class all by himself to claim the Superstardom of Olympic Men 400m champion and Gold Medal Winner.
As a child growing up in Grenada, I remember my teacher having us learn proverbs from our famous Student Companion book. One said, “A bad beginning makes a good ending” I am glad to know that I have lived to see at least one of these proverbs come through. Despite the crime, violence and political uncertainties of the past year, Kirani James and his Olympic team mates have made us realize that although it started as the worst of time, It is has become the best of time for Grenada.
However, the large golden medal that will hang around Kirani’s neck cannot adequately redeem the good nature and spirit of our people as his little golden, kind and unselfish gesture towards his rival, South Africa’s double amputee 400m Oscar Pistorius.
The world got a look into the natural lovely and kind disposition of our people when after winning semi-finals and qualifying for the finals, that selfless ebony son of the soil, unpinned his athletic identification bib and exchanged it with Oscar Pistorius who finished last, as if to say, “My friend in my eyes, for beating your adversity and competing at this level, you are also a champion”
And so, with one simple kind deed to Oscar, Kirani James our Grenadian, Spice Boy, Olympian and Gold Medal Winner has hopefully redeemed our good Grenadian name from the evil that was done to our brother, the first Oscar.
God Bless Grenada, and we are thankful for our Olympian, his parents, his team, his coach and his community for producing such an excellent and good natured son who has represented us well.
CONGRATULATION!!
