By Linda Straker
“Service to our country ennobles and dignifies us. However, we must in no way perform this service for the benefits that will devolve to us individually,” was the advice from Dr Kendrick Lewis when he addressed the annual independence Gala of the Grenadian American Entertainment and Cultural Organisation last Saturday night.
Speaking on the topic, “In service to Country” with a focus on community service Dr Lewis told the members and the hundreds attending the awards ceremony and gala at the Holiday Day Inn in Orlando that there are evidence abound which shows that Grenadians has made service to country a part of their life whether on island or overseas.
“Many individuals and organizations at home, as well as in the Grenada/Carriacou/Petit Martinique diaspora, have already heeded the call to serve our country,” he said while pointing out that GAECO’s financial and material contributions to the Grenada Patient Kidney Foundation and to the Hillsview Home in Gouyave are outstanding examples of the service that a diaspora organization provides.
Dr Lewis who is a former student of theGrenadaBoysSecondary Schoolsaid that from the register of individual community servants, he can recall the contributions of Pansy Rowley, Betty Mascoll, Claude Francis, Professor Denneke, Johnny Branch, Cuthbert Peters, Norris Bain and Randolph Mark.
Pointing out that there are examples of persons who have been effective, in inspiring them to give assistance to the needy in villages, towns and parishes he called on the group to select a person, project or organization and respond to the call to action explicit in GAECO’s theme.
Opportunities with the potential to transform Dr Lewis said are: Transportation assistance for students attending secondary schools and TAMCC; Construction of shelter facilities at bus stops and Teaching aids and education software for primary and secondary schools.
“Books and subscriptions to periodicals for the public and school libraries; Support for local groups that clean up litter and debris from rivers and beaches; Working with the Grenada Museum in the preservation of images and documents critical to Grenada’s history,” he recommends while explaining that support for organizations that train youth in drama and the arts as well as material and financial assistance to homes for the aged and orphans should not be forgotten.
