February 4, 2024 — As a follow-up to an IBW delegation in October and in response to an invitation from the Hon. Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of Grenada, the Institute of the Black World 21st Century (IBW), will participate in celebrations marking Grenada’s 50th anniversary of Independence from British colonialism on Feb. 7. The IBW delegation will be led by Dr. Ron Daniels, President of the Institute and Convener of the National African American Reparations Commission (NAARC).
This visit comes three months after an IBW delegation traveled to Grenada last October to participate in the country’s first “Heroes Day” event commemorating the assassination of former Prime Minister Maurice Bishop and several other “martyrs” in a military coup forty years ago. Shortly after that visit, IBW released its “Grenada Declaration” [https://ibw21.org/oct19] which outlines an action agenda for ongoing collaboration on a range of initiatives between the Institute the Grenada government, and various civil society groups in the country.
While in Grenada, the IBW delegation will present to PM Mitchell a letter from US Congressperson and Member of the Congressional Black Caucus Barbara Lee of California in which she congratulates the government and people of Grenada on being a sovereign, independent Caribbean state for the past 50 years. The itinerary for the delegation includes a visit to the village of La Digue to meet with community leaders to discuss the creation of an appropriate marker or monument honoring Louise Little the mother of Malcolm X who was born in La Digue, engage in a dialogue with leaders of Grenada’s Reparations Commission; and meet with facilitators of the highly successful intergenerational dialogue in October in preparation for a repeat of the dialogue by IBW during a future visit.
Dr. Daniels will be accompanied by Paulann Paterson, Assistant to the President, and Dr. Yolande Cadore, Program Consultant, and Policy Advisor to IBW, both of whom will do advance work on a larger delegation to Grenada in May in conjunction with the celebration of the Birthday of Malcolm X and African Liberation Month. The May delegation will be another act of solidarity with the Government and people of Grenada during the yearlong commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of the nation’s independence.
Contact:
Paulann Paterson
Email: ppaterson@ibw21.org
