Grenada seeking partnerships to enhance resilience and sustainable development
Canada and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) have a strong partnership, grounded in shared economic interests, common values and strong people-to-people ties.
Since 2010, Canada has delivered more than $2.8 billion in bilateral assistance to the region, excluding multilateral assistance to organizations, including the Caribbean Development Bank.
“We see Canada as a trusted, steady and sure partner through thick and thin and look forward to the continued growth and development of that relationship,” Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell said during a visit to Toronto last week.
Grenadian-born former Canadian Member of Parliament Jean Augustine in discussion with Grenadian PM Dickon Mitchell. At centre is Toronto Metroplitan University Chancellor Donette Chin-Loy Chang (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
In 2022, he led the National Democratic Congress – which he assumed leadership of the previous year – to victory in the general elections, securing just over 51 percent of the popular vote.
At a reception on August 21, Mitchell updated Canadian business leaders on developments in his island and highlighted opportunities for business collaboration.
“We are serious about tackling some of the global issues that we face, from the geopolitical tensions to climate change, but ultimately to putting human beings first over ideology, politics and war,” the former CARICOM Chair said. “The Caribbean is a melting pot. We have our races and our religions and we are a wonderful example of showing the world that if we speak together regardless of our differences and backgrounds, there are significant opportunities for us to address our differences and to be able to move forward as a community and civilization together.”
Because of their geographic, economic and environmental vulnerabilities, Caribbean Island Developing States face a unique set of significant challenges.
Last June, Grenada bore the brunt of Hurricane Beryl which damaged almost 90 percent of the island’s buildings.
Mitchell described the destruction as ‘almost Armageddon-like’.
“We deal with it, we grow, we emerge from it and we find solutions,” he said. “We need the partnerships. There are things we can teach the world and there are things the world needs to help us with. We have to make sure we have partners in rooms like this at the highest political level and at the business table so that people understand that the planet does not just belong to those of us who are alive today, but also those coming after. We have to ensure we do our bit to leave the planet a better place for those who follow. The Caribbean is at the forefront of the climate challenge, and it is something that we are continuously seeking partners and a partnership for. Canada is an exemplary partner and we look forward to continuing the work on Canada with this.”
Canada has funded premiums for the Caribbean Catastrophe Risk Insurance Facility (CCRIF), a regional pooled insurance program for Caribbean nations to manage natural disaster risk.
Toronto International Film Festival Chief Executive Officer Cameron Bailey and his wife Carolynne Hew met Grenada’s PM Dickon Mitchell at a reception in Toronto (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
In December 2024, Protexxa partnered with the Grenadian government and Cyber Nations to launch the Grenada Digital Workforce Initiative (GDWI).
To help businesses protect their systems from unauthorized access or theft, global information technology leader Claudette McGowan founded Protexxa, a business-to-business Software-as-a-Service cybersecurity company.
Using AI, the Protexxa Defender platform rapidly identifies, evaluates, predicts and resolves common cyber issues.
A year ago, the company closed $10 million Series A which is the largest round secured by a Black woman founder in Canada.
Through the (GDWI) initiative aimed at building a digitally resilient workforce and driving economic transformation, 64 Grenadians received cybersecurity training.
Mitchell thanked McGowan for the project that he said was an amazing success.
“I have many people, including older folks, calling to find out when the next program is,” he said. “That is evidence again of how we can partner to introduce new technology and jobs that people need and to start the economic and educational revolution that we need in the Caribbean. Our education system in large parts of the Caribbean has served us well, but to some extent it is also outdated and ill-suited for the modern realities that we face. So, investing in education is a singular goal of not just Grenada, but most Caribbean countries.”
Dr. Mehboob Elahi opened his home to Grenada’s PM Dickon Mitchell (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
Recognizing education as the pillar of progress, Mitchell’s NDC government launched a free tuition program in September 2023 to ensure all students have access to tertiary education.
“Whether it is education or health care, we are deeply invested and interested in ensuring that we in Grenada can serve as an example to the rest of the world by investing in our people,” he said. “As difficult as it is, we are very clear that if we don’t invest in our citizens, there will be no country.”
Positioning itself as a leader in Caribbean health innovation, the Grenadian government signed a long-term collaboration last May with New York-based Mount Sinai Health System that will advise on the design, development and clinical operation of the 84-acre state-of-the-art Hope Vale Hospital that will provide advanced medical services, training and opportunities for medical tourism for Grenadians and the Eastern Caribbean.
Dr. Upton Allen and his wife Dr. Melanie Kirby-Allen with Grenadian PM Dickon Mitchell (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
Construction of the Project Polaris initiative is set to begin next year.
“This is something we have been talking about all my life and now that I have the opportunity to make a difference, I am sacrificing all my political goodwill to make it happen,” said Mitchell. “We have a significant medical school on the island that has created hundreds of doctors, particularly for the United States northeastern seaboard, but we have not been able to retain any of them because we have not completed the other piece of the puzzle.”
Grenada is always seeking to strengthen its ties with Canadian universities through partnerships aimed at addressing Canada’s doctor shortage and fostering educational exchange programs.
Eight years ago, St. George’s University (SGU) in Grenada partnered with Trent University to offer qualified Trent graduates’ direct admission to its Schools of Medicine and Veterinary Science through a Medical Professional Stream designed for students striving to pursue a medical professional program, including dentistry, medicine, veterinary and pharmacy upon graduation from Trent with an undergraduate degree.
Last month, St. George’s and the University of Waterloo signed an agreement that will allow aspiring physicians to begin their training earlier moving from pre-med studies into St. George’s School of Medicine.
Through the program, students will earn a Bachelor of Medical Sciences from Waterloo and an MD from SGU.
Last month’s African Canadian Trade and Investment Forum held in Grenada proved successful, fostering new business opportunities and strengthening economic ties for the country.
Nigerian businessman Alika Dangote – one of Africa’s richest persons – announced the establishment of the Dangote & Oramah (Benedict Oramah is the President of Afreximbank) Centre of Excellence in Grenada
Mitchell envisions the centre as a hub for innovation, education and economic growth.
The PM is unapologetic about his bold and ambitious vision aimed at transforming the island’s economic and social landscape.
“As small islands, we have to be ambitious,” he pointed out. “If not, it is quite easy to get swallowed up. If there is one thing that stands out about Caribbean people, it is their ambition, intellect, hard work and resilience.”
Canada and Grenada have enjoyed a healthy relationship since the Caribbean island achieved independence in 1974.
Representing Canada at the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Conference Heads regular meeting in Barbados last February, Minister of International Development Ahmed Hussen announced investments in international assistance projects across several islands, totalling more than $38 million.
Part of the funding will be used to strengthen 2SLGBTQ1+ people rights in five Caribbean islands, including Grenada, increase access, demand and equality of sexual and reproductive health and rights to the Spice Island.
Grenadian-born musician Eddie Bullen provided entertainment at a reception for Grenada’s PM Dickon Mitchell (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
On his first visit to Grenada last year, Hussen visited a fish processing facility in Gouyave Fish Market where Canada and other donors are supporting a project aimed at improving the efficiency of the seafood supply chain and the sustainability of the fish products market value.
Prime Minister Mitchell has worked tirelessly to enable Grenada and the CARICOM region to take advantage of value-added fisheries and agriculture, making sure that goods and services produced in the region get the maximum benefit back,” he said.
Mitchell thanked Hussen for supporting the Caribbean region.
“Since I met him, he has been a friend of the Caribbean through thick and thin,” the PM noted. “We have had some challenges. We have had hurricanes in Grenada, Barbados and Jamaica, we have had changes in Canada and we have had significant challenges in Haiti. He has always been there in person, I am sure, sacrificing many times other countries and regions that have also had significant challenges for sake of the Caribbean.”
Canada’s International Development Minister Ahmed Hussen welcomed Grenada’s PM Dickon Mitchell to Toronto (Photo by Ron Fanfair)
Event co-host Donette Chin-Loy Chang said partnerships are critical in these times of geopolitical instability, digital transformation and global crises.
In welcoming Mitchell to the city, Toronto Metropolitan University Chancellor reminded the gathering that she and her late husband, G. Raymond Chang, hosted a reception for then Prime Minister Tillman Thomas in 2012 and, as a young journalist in Jamaica, she interviewed the late Maurice Bishop on a few occasions.
Husband and wife healthcare professionals Mehboob and Saadia Elahi hosted the event at their home.
Healthcare professionals Mehboob and Saadia Elahi hosted Grenada’s Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell at a reception at their residence (Photo contributed)
