标签： Grenada

A recent governmental announcement from Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell’s administration regarding the restoration of historical buildings in Grenada has generated significant public enthusiasm. Winston Strachan, a concerned citizen, has expressed particular interest in three capital structures: the National Sheila M Buckmire Memorial Library, York House, and Government House.

Strachan’s personal connection to these landmarks dates back to 2005-2008 when he returned to Grenada and developed professional relationships with library staff and the Grenada National Museum. His efforts included attempting to establish an international library partnership between Grenada and Northamptonshire’s Library Plus Service before the Carenage library’s permanent closure.

The historical significance of these buildings is substantial. York House served as the nation’s first parliamentary site, while Government House functioned as the official residence for the Governor of the Windward Islands during colonial administration. Despite their historical importance, these structures have suffered from governmental neglect in recent decades.

Strachan emphasizes the dual benefit of restoration efforts, noting both the cultural preservation aspect and potential tourism advantages. He suggests that restored historical sites could become significant revenue-generating attractions while preserving national heritage.

The article calls for coordinated fundraising efforts involving the Grenadian government, the Grenada National Trust, and The Willie Redhead Foundation. Strachan advocates for creating mechanisms allowing both domestic and overseas Grenadians to contribute financially to restoration projects.

This perspective represents independent citizen commentary rather than organizational viewpoints, highlighting growing public demand for historical preservation leadership after years of unsuccessful advocacy attempts with previous administrations.

In an unprecedented collaborative effort, three major US toy corporations have joined forces with the Sandals Foundation to deliver holiday joy to thousands of Caribbean children. The landmark initiative, valued at over $500,000, marks the first Caribbean outreach for all participating companies and represents one of the region’s most significant holiday gift distributions.

The philanthropic partnership brings together Spin Master, Jazwares, and The Toy Foundation™ in a coordinated campaign that will benefit children across nine Caribbean nations: Jamaica, Antigua, St. Lucia, The Bahamas, Turks & Caicos, Grenada, Barbados, Curaçao, and St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Heidi Clarke, Executive Director of the Sandals Foundation, emphasized the emotional significance of the initiative: “These holidays are about hope—the kind that reminds every child that they are seen, valued, and deeply loved. We are incredibly grateful to our partners for spreading joy to 45,000 young lives across the Caribbean.”

Spin Master contributed 15,000 items through its global “Toy Movement” initiative, including educational games, puzzles, Rubik’s Cubes, Kinetic Sand Kits, PAW Patrol figurines, and board games. Tammy Smitham, VP of Communications and Corporate Citizenship at Spin Master, noted: “By expanding The Toy Movement to the Caribbean islands, we hope to create new opportunities for children to grow, explore and learn through play.”

The Toy Foundation™ provided an additional 15,000 toys including plushies, building blocks, and dinosaur figurines. Executive Director Pamela Mastrota explained the deeper impact: “When a child receives a new toy, it’s more than something to play with—it’s a moment of comfort, connection, and the reassurance that they are cared for and loved.”

Jazwares contributed approximately 10,000 Squishmallows plush toys through its Jazwares Cares program. Sara Rosales, Senior Vice President of Communications at Jazwares, stated: “Bringing comfort, joy, and smiles to children is at the heart of what we do. We were happy to partner with the Sandals Foundation to create meaningful moments for families throughout the Caribbean.”

In Grenada, the distribution effort involved more than 50 volunteers from Sandals Grenada Resort who dedicated their time to wrapping and distributing 1,200 toys to children across the country. Recipients included the St. Andrew School for Special Education, Uganda Martyrs RC Primary School, Stars & Angels Day Care, and several community organizations through partnerships with the Salvation Army Grenada and the Rotary Club of Grenada.

Alison Mitchell, Teacher-in-Charge at the St. Andrew School for Special Education, expressed profound gratitude: “For those who may ‘not have,’ now they can say they have received a Christmas gift. Thank you so much for the delicious lunch and wonderful new gifts—you’ve made today a happy day for all of us.”

This year’s initiative continues a 13-year tradition of holiday toy distributions by the Sandals Foundation, creating lasting memories and reinforcing the spirit of generosity that defines the Caribbean holiday season.

In a heartwarming collaboration demonstrating profound community spirit, two of Grenada’s most respected organizations have joined forces to spread holiday cheer among underprivileged youth. The Rotary Club of Grenada and the Sandals Foundation have launched an initiative to distribute 1,000 Christmas presents to children in need during the acclaimed 26-night Christmas at the Point festival at Quarantine Point Recreational Park.

This partnership represents a powerful alignment of two institutions with deep commitments to Caribbean community development. The Sandals Foundation, the charitable arm of Sandals Resorts International, brings its extensive experience in youth advocacy and regional support. Meanwhile, the Rotary Club of Grenada contributes its longstanding philosophy of ‘service above self’ and decades of grassroots engagement.

The carefully curated gifts, generously funded by the Sandals Foundation, will be distributed through surprise giveaways at various intervals throughout the festival season. While specific distribution times will remain unannounced to preserve the magic of spontaneous moments, families attending the festivities may experience these joyful surprises during their visits.

Julia Lawrence, President of the Rotary Club of Grenada, emphasized the partnership’s significance: ‘This collaboration is fundamentally rooted in service to our community. Following last year’s hurricane relief efforts that redirected our resources to support children in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, we’re honored to return our focus to bringing joy directly to Grenadian children through this generous initiative.’

DeLeon Forrester, Public Relations Manager at Sandals Grenada and Foundation spokesperson, added: ‘Every child deserves to feel celebrated and loved, particularly during the holiday season. Our partnership with Rotary enables us to connect meaningfully with families in an atmosphere of respect and shared joy. We take pride in contributing to this cherished tradition.’

The Christmas at the Point festival continues through January 4, 2026, offering nightly entertainment including festive light displays, family movies, local cuisine, artisan markets, and children’s activities—all supporting Rotary’s broader community service mission.

This year’s initiative also highlights the strengthened regional connection between Grenada and Jamaica, where Sandals maintains its headquarters. The Rotary Club of Grenada has further demonstrated this bond by planning a telethon to support Jamaica’s hurricane recovery efforts, creating a reciprocal relationship of Caribbean solidarity.

Families seeking updates on festival programming and surprise gift distributions are encouraged to follow @rotarygrenada on social media platforms.

Grenada is strategically positioning its creative talent for global opportunities following the successful conclusion of specialized animation and multimedia training. The Grenada Office of Creative Affairs (GOCA) hosted a closing ceremony on December 12th for its “In Motion and In Focus” masterclasses, marking a significant investment in the nation’s creative economy.

Implemented in collaboration with Ghana’s AnimaxFYB Studios, the intensive program provided comprehensive hands-on training in photography, videography, livestreaming, and animation techniques. Francis Y Brown, founder of AnimaxFYB Studios and lead instructor, emphasized the global context of this initiative: “The creative economy contributes over $2.2 trillion to global GDP and employs more than 30 million people worldwide. Animation, multimedia and digital content represent among the fastest growing segments, with the global animation industry projected to surpass $500 billion by 2030.”

Brown articulated the program’s mission: “We arrived in Grenada with a clear objective to equip its citizens with world-class creative skills and position them to participate in a rapidly expanding global industry, ensuring Grenada’s talent is not excluded from this growth.”

The program’s effectiveness was demonstrated through two substantial student projects. The multimedia class produced “The Last Jab,” showcasing their acquired skills in scripting, directing, and cinematography. Simultaneously, the animation class created “Oil Down Animals,” an original animated piece of cultural significance that Brown noted “demonstrates that with proper guidance, Grenadian talent can meet and exceed competitive standards.”

Participant Milissa Thomas expressed gratitude to both the instructors and GOCA, stating: “We entered this programme as individuals, but we are walking away as animators, filmmakers and storytellers. We discovered skills, confidence and a sense of direction many of us did not know we needed. Opportunities like this aren’t just training—they are building blocks for an industry that will shape the future of Grenadian artists.”

The government reinforced its commitment through tangible support. Orlando Roman, Advisor for the Creative Economy, announced: “Each graduate of this programme will receive a grant to assist with the acquisition of essential tools, including software and other equipment, enabling continued development of their work.”

Senator the Hon. Adrian Thomas, Minister for Tourism, Creative Economy and Culture, congratulated graduates while emphasizing their role in Grenada’s creative future: “The future of animation, digital media and creative technology in Grenada is bright and begins with you. Let us continue to unlock industries that were once unimaginable in our small island, but which now represent our greatest potential.”

The Coca-Cola Foundation has committed a substantial $1 million grant to the Pan American Development Foundation (PADF) to accelerate the Caribbean Plastics Recycling Project, marking a significant step in addressing the region’s escalating plastic pollution crisis. This strategic investment targets six Caribbean nations—Grenada, Suriname, St Vincent and the Grenadines, Trinidad and Tobago, The Bahamas, and Guyana—where waste management challenges have reached critical levels.

According to World Bank data, over 320,000 tons of plastic waste remain uncollected annually across the Caribbean, severely damaging marine ecosystems and threatening vital economic sectors including tourism, fisheries, and shipping. The region’s unique geographical fragmentation, limited infrastructure, and complex regulatory frameworks have historically impeded effective recycling solutions.

Carlos Pagoaga, President of The Coca-Cola Foundation, emphasized the project’s dual focus: “We’re strengthening local recycling systems while creating sustainable economic opportunities. This initiative represents our commitment to both environmental protection and community empowerment throughout the Caribbean.”

The comprehensive program will implement three core strategies over its one-year timeline: identifying and supporting local ‘recycling champions’ to innovate collection methods, expanding waste collector networks to generate income opportunities, and establishing cross-border collaborations to reduce operational costs. Particular emphasis will be placed on creating economic opportunities for women, youth, and marginalized communities.

This latest investment builds upon an existing partnership that since 2022 has already facilitated the collection of 2,300 tons of plastic while providing training and equipment to hundreds of waste collectors. Katie Taylor, Executive Director of PADF, noted: “Our continued collaboration with The Coca-Cola Foundation enables us to create lasting impact by building resilient communities and ecosystems through innovative recycling models.”

The project represents a growing recognition that environmental conservation and economic development must be addressed simultaneously, particularly in regions where waste management challenges intersect with limited economic opportunities. Implementation will be handled by PADF in partnership with CircularPak, a circular economy consultancy specializing in sustainable waste management solutions.