Grenada’s ruling government under Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell has unveiled a groundbreaking new strategy to formally embed Grenadian diaspora communities across the globe into the country’s long-term national development agenda, with the first-ever Grenada Diaspora Homecoming event slated to run from June 21 to July 5 marking the opening of this reimagined partnership.
Prime Minister Mitchell first laid out the details of the cabinet-approved initiative during a Diaspora Town Hall gathering in New York on Sunday, part of a cross-regional outreach campaign to engage Grenadians living outside the country ahead of the event. He emphasized that the island nation’s past approach to engaging its diaspora has long been limited to informal, ad hoc interactions centered overwhelmingly on remittances, charitable donations and philanthropic contributions. While Mitchell expressed gratitude for these longstanding contributions from overseas nationals, he stressed that a new, intentional strategic framework is long overdue to expand collaboration beyond the existing model.
“The future development of Grenada cannot be achieved without the active participation of our diaspora, bringing their unique expertise, professional skills, global networks, and financial resources to shape our nation’s trajectory over the next quarter century,” Mitchell said, framing the 2026 inaugural Diaspora Homecoming as the first critical step toward this integrated vision.
He added that the annual homecoming event is the government’s tangible commitment to deepening strategic ties, turning policy commitments into actionable engagement. “The diaspora homecoming is a formal recognition of the invaluable role our overseas citizens play, and this annual gathering is how we put our commitments into practice to foster deeper, more structured connections between the diaspora and our homeland.”
Over the course of the two-week event, returning Grenadians from across the diaspora – which has large established communities in Toronto, London, and multiple regions of the United States – will take part in a full schedule of cultural immersion experiences, economic development roundtables, cross-community networking sessions, and skills-sharing workshops designed to reconnect overseas nationals with Grenada, its sister islands Carriacou and Petite Martinique, and their national heritage.
Terrence Forrester, Grenada’s Ambassador for Diaspora Affairs, described the initiative as a historic policy turning point for the government. “This marks a fundamental strategic shift: for decades, the diaspora was primarily viewed through the narrow lens of remittances and informal contributions. Today, we are positioning overseas Grenadians as full, equal partners in our national development process,” Forrester explained.
The official event schedule will kick off June 21 with a formal welcome ceremony for returning nationals at Maurice Bishop International Airport, followed by an interfaith church service. The two-week program will conclude on July 5 with a large-scale public concert hosted at the Grenada Trade Centre.
Beyond cultural and networking opportunities, the initiative also seeks to give diaspora community members a direct, meaningful voice in shaping Grenada’s future development priorities. “This is your chance to share your perspectives, your vision for our nation, your concerns, and your recommendations. This event will become a permanent fixture on our national calendar, and it will serve as a catalyst for inclusive growth across all three of our islands,” Mitchell noted.
The New York town hall is just one of multiple pre-event outreach stops the prime minister and his team have planned to raise awareness of the initiative, build broad community support, and encourage strong participation from diaspora communities based in North America, Europe and beyond.
