Grenadian Media

As we get used to acquire information directly from websites of stakeholders, we often denigrate the value of newspapers as well as other traditional media. However, those traditional media are still useful and convenient resources to know what is going on where the Internet is not necessarily the major mean to disseminate information. Media agencies collect, edit, and distribute information via the Internet instead of those individuals, companies, or agencies which do not disseminate.

Here's a list of links to major media agencies of Grenada.

Newspapers
The Barnacle
Grenada Informer
Grenada Today (not updated since 2008)

Radio
Grenada Broadcasting Network

Internet News
Spice Islander
Grenada Broadcast
Grenadian Connection

Cheers to the Internet !!

February 7, 1974 - Grenada's Independence Day

This day, February 7, marks the 37^th Anniversary of Grenada’s independence from the United Kingdom. Premier, Sir Eric Matthew Gairy, Grenada’s first Prime Minister, led the country into independence. Prior to independence, Grenada became an “Associated State of the United Kingdom” in 1967, which enabled Grenada to be responsible for her own internal affairs, while the UK still remained responsible for Grenada’s defense and foreign affairs.

Every independence day, it is customary for the current Prime Minister and Governor Generals to offer independence messages. Past messages have updated the Grenadian public on increased government social spending, as well as progress related to new policies such as the working Draft of Grenada’s National Strategic Development Plan introduced in 2007 by Prime Minister Keith Mitchell to promote investments in agriculture, health, education, and youth. This year’s independence message by Prime Minister Tillman Thomas focuses on the theme of “Celebrating 37 years through challenging times, with optimism and resilience.” In his message, Prime Minister Thomas calls for Grenadians to unite and tolerate differences among one another in an effort to move forward in the years to come.

Mr. Anthony C. George designed Grenada’s national flag.

The star at the very center of the flag represents the capital of St. George, symbolizing Grenada’s sovereignty and a guiding light for the country. The diagonal lines which divide the flag into three colors radiating from the star symbolize “maximum expansion” to indicate progress and how far Grenadians have come from their colonial past. Red is the most prominent color on the flag signifying national fervor, pride, and aspirations. Yellow symbolizes warmth and Grenada’s beautiful sunshine, while green represents Grenada’s fertile soil and lush vegetation. The left green triangle showcases the Isle of Spice with nutmeg, Grenada’s highly valued export. The gold outer stars convey Grenada’s six parishes which are: St. Andrew, St. George, St. David, St. John, St. Mark, and St. Patrick.

Locals look forward to celebrating Grenada’s independence each year. Calypso and soca music also fill neighborhoods and bars. Grenadian folk dancers express their national pride by wearing green, red, and yellow. Locals decorate the streets for the annual military parade.

Bananagrams Tournament - IEDP fundraiser

Do you like board games? Do you like to crush your opponents? Do you like helping out a good cause?

We'll be holding a Ford School Board Game Tournament on Friday, February 18th at 4pm in the Betty Ford Classroom to fundraise for our IEDP trip to Grenada.  We'll be playing Bananagrams tournament-style, but will have a few other board games (Scrabble, Settlers of Catan, etc) on hand for those who just want to come and hang out.

For those of you who haven't played Bananagrams before, it's a hyper version of Scrabble--you compete with other people to see who can arrange words from tiles the quickest.  There are more details here (http://www.bananagrams-intl.com/instructions.asp).  It's takes no more than a few minutes to learn and is incredibly fun!

The winner will receive a gift certificate--I'll email out details on the gift certificate soon.

We're asking for a minimum of a $5 donation to enter (and if you want to give more, that'd be fantastic).

The tournament is open to everyone--students, staff, faculty, friends, significant others, precocious children, etc--so pass the word along!

If you're interested, please sign up here: http://bit.ly/gdpJCP

Thanks!
Kate Saetang

This American Life - Students Decide whether to Invade Grenada

Listen to the first part of this episode from This American Life!
A class of elementary school students visits the Reagan Presidential Library and is part of a simulation deciding whether or not the US should invade Grenada. (... guaranteed to incite ironic chuckles)

http://www.thisamericanlife.org/radio-archives/episode/424/kid-politics

Houses of Parliament in Grenada

STRUCTURE

Parliamentary democracy as we understand it today is based upon the consent of the governed.  Sovereignty resides in the people and it is they who decide who shall occupy the seats of power.

Parliament consists of the Queen, represented by the Governor General, the Senate and the House of Representatives.  The Governor-General summons Parliament, brings its session to an end by prorogation, and formally assents to every bill before it can become law.  In practice, he exercises all these powers on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Cabinet.

The passage of legislation depends on the participation of all three component parts of Parliament.  A bill must be agreed to by both Houses and receive the Royal Assent before it can become an Act of Parliament.  The powers of the Senate and the House of Representatives are constitutionally equal except that financial legislation may not be introduced in the Senate.

All Senators are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition.

The House of Representatives is directly elected by the people, and although by tradition the Senate is the Upper House and the House of Representatives is the Lower House, it is the House of Representatives which plays the predominant part in the parliamentary system.

The Parliament of Grenada came into being in 1974 when Grenada became an independent country.

THE SENATE

The Senate consists of thirteen (13) non-elected Members. The members come from different sources.  They are:

• Seven are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister;
• Three are appointed on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition; and
• Three are appointed on the advice of the Prime Minister after he has consulted the organizations or interests which he considers the Senators should be selected to represent.

FUNCTIONS OF THE SENATE

• To act as a House of review with responsibility for expressing second opinion in relation to legislative and other proposals initiated in the House of Representatives;
• To ensure proper consideration of all legislation;
• To provide adequate scrutiny of financial measures;
• To initiate non-financial legislation as the Senate sees fit: the Senate’s capacity to initiate proposed legislation effectively means that Parliament is not confined in its opportunities for considering public issues in a legislative context to those matters covered by bills brought forward by the executive;
• To probe and check the administration of laws and to keep itself informed and to insist on ministerial accountability for the administration of the Government;
• To provide effective scrutiny of Government and enable adequate expression of debate about policy and government programmes.  As a parliamentary forum, the Senate is one place where a Government can be, of right, questioned and obliged to answer.

All bills must be passed by the Senate before they can become law and it has the constitutional right to reject any bill, and keep on rejecting it as long as it sees fit.  It can also amend any bill, although it cannot initiate or increase the amount of any bill dealing with taxation or expenditure.

THE HOUSE OF REPRESENTATIVES
The House of Representatives was modelled on the British, and even now, in any matter of procedure not provided for by its own rules and practices, the rules and practices of the British House of Commons are followed.

The House of Representatives is the focal point of parliamentary activity and public attention, the grand forum of the nation, where major national and international issues are debated; where the Prime Minister and the Leader of the Opposition may be seen in regular confrontation; where Cabinet Ministers defend the policies and conduct of their departments; where the nation’s business in freely and openly transacted, all that is said and done being faithfully recorded.

Parliament makes the laws and the House of Representatives plays the predominant part in making them.  Any member can introduce bills, except bills involving expenditure or taxation, which can only be introduced by the government.  Since the responsibilities of government now extend into almost every sphere of activity, and since most government action involves spending money (and raising it by taxes, fees, loans, and so forth), most of the time of the House is spent on Government Bills.

Every bill must pass both Houses and receive the Royal Assent before it becomes law.  Assent is signified by the Governor General.

By law a general election must be held at least once every five years.  However, Parliament may be dissolved and an election called before the statutory period has elapsed, and this is what normally happens.  The power to dissolve Parliament is a royal prerogative exercised by the Governor General, normally on the advice of the Prime Minister.

IEDP 2011 Group Picture

Fatman George - Skin Up (Grenada soca 2010)

This is the SKINUP that Tova mentioned in today's class. However, I don't have any clue what this song is singing about.

Rum Shop Culture

Nearly every village on the island has at least one rum shop on the street corner where the locals go to gossip, play pool or darts, and discuss politics--politricks according to Bajans.  The rum shop was (and still is) a central institution in village life.  "The Rum Shop served as a meeting point for society's more colorful members.  [It] is often seen as a common ground, where people form [sic] all walks of life could meet and feel the pulse of society, exchange ideas and refresh themselves" (www.tidco.co.tt/local/THF-1996/rumshop/).  I was told once:  "If you want to experience real Bajan culture, visit the rum shops and talk."  


From: http://www.courses.vcu.edu/ENG-snh/Caribbean/Barbados/Images/rumshop.htm

Exploring the Sounds of Grenada

Week 3 of the IEDP focuses on Grenada's cultural dynamics. A cultural element such as music can serve as a means to express social commentary as well as protest. Calypso is an Afro-Caribbean style of music which originated in Trinidad and Tobago in the 18th century that blends modern folk culture with the history of slavery and colonialism. The Calypso musical style stems from the Caribbean's African heritage as well as French, Spanish, and British influences. In many ways, the Calypso genre became a means to spread news and test the boundaries of free speech under British rule. Historically, the general public of Trinidad relied upon these songs for news of the day, but the songs also inspired many political debates surrounding corruption, political independence, and social norms.

                                     (King Ajamu, http://www.ajamumusic.com/biography.htm)

Today Edson Mitchell, popularly known as "King Ajamu," is Grenada's most prominent award-winning Calypsonian. King Ajamu began singing and writing Calypso in Trinidad in 1983. His music is a combination of Calypso, soca, and reggae. Some of his most popular songs are: "A Prayer to the Nation," "Oh Grenada," "Freedom," and "Until My Work is Over."

Movie: Island in the Sun

The movie, Island in the Sun, was filmed in Grenada in 1956, helping promote Grenada as a tourist destination. The movie is based on the novel by Alec Waugh, and stars an ensemble cast including James Mason, Joan Fontaine, Dorothy Dandridge, Joan Collins.

Plot summary for Island in the Sun:

Set on a fictitious island in the Carribean during colonial British rule. It focuses on the life of a young charismatic and handsome black male with political aspirations. He finds himself confused on returning home when his romantic liaison with a white female tends to conflict with his political views. As rumor has it an interracial screen kiss caused quite a commotion in the U.S. when the film was released. The plot is further strengthened by a look at the lives of a white ex-pat family also living on the island. The family has to deal with problems of infidelity, racism and murder. Written by Warren D. Mottley <trident@toj.com>