For many years, Grenada has been known…
The Island Blog
- September 5th 2012
With less than 110,000 inhabitants and only 133 square miles of land, the tri island of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique appears almost invisible on the world map. Sitting neatly within the Caribbean archipelago, the island is known for its abundance of spices, unspoilt beauty and friendly people. However, it has often been questioned, how can an island so tiny have a people with such great character and huge hearts.
Do you remember Kirani James, the 400m Olympic Champion from Grenada ran against Oscar Pistorius? When the race was over, James traded bibs with Pistorius; the first double amputee to compete at the Olympic Games stating that he is an inspiration to everyone. The media raved about this for weeks and this was not the first time Grenadians created a buzz because of their humility and acts of kindness.
In 2005, Lance Corporal Johnson Beharry VC; a Grenadian British Army Soldier was awarded the highest military decoration otherwise known as the Victoria Cross for saving the lives of members of his unit on two occasions. To date, he is the youngest recipient and first man to be awarded the Victoria Cross since 1982.
Also, in 1961, when the Italian cruise liner, the Bianca C caught fire and sank, hundreds of Grenadians rushed to the aid of those onboard, feeding, sheltering and clothing them as needed. Today, a statue known as the ‘Christ of the Deep’ still stands on the Carenage in the town of St. George as an expression of gratitude for the great acts of kindness to Grenadians.
If you visit the island today, you will still notice the distinct friendliness and hospitality of the Grenadian people. From the willingness to assist with changing a tire to the humorous manner of providing directions, the locals never fail. Until then, Grenada has definitely been listed as one of the most amazing vacation destinations and it’s not because of cheap airfare. It is simply because of the island’s unspoilt beauty and charm of the people.
