Ladies and gentlemen, nationals of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique – those residing at home and those who are abroad at this time – I want on my own behalf, and on behalf of my family and the National Democratic Congress – to extend greetings to you on Grenada's 34^th Anniversary of Independence.

Every man and every woman yearn to be free of shackles imposed on them by others; to not allow themselves to be in bondage.  It is this yearning that nestled in the hearts of our indigenous Brothers, the Caribs, who chose to leap to their deaths rather than surrender and be captured and live in servitude.

Our African Brothers and Sisters, who were enslaved on sugar plantations in the Caribbean, fought daily for their freedom.  And the struggle for self-rule and autonomy continued with others like T.A. Marryshow and W.G. Donovan, culminating on February 7, 1974, under the leadership of Eric Matthew Gairy, our first Prime Minister.

The road to Independence was a long and trying one; lives were lost, families were divided, and acrimony simmered over the path to Independence and whether we should stick with the status quo or embrace the wind of change that was blowing away old colonial regimes in Africa and other parts of the Developing World.

Whatever the disagreement at the time, Grenada embraced the wind of change and became an independent nation on February 7, 1974, with the hoisting of our new – and now very familiar around the world – red, green and gold flag.

As we celebrate the significant achievement of the attainment of Independence, we are cognizant of the importance of securing and strengthening our Independence.  Paramount in securing and strengthening our Independence and nationhood is the critical need for food security.

My party, the National Democratic Congress, is unwavering in its belief that there should be greater investment in agriculture, agro-processing, fishing and fish-processing.  We must be able to feed ourselves much better than we are right now doing.

The challenges ahead also call on us to build and re-build the nation.  We must enhance our social network system to support those who are least able to take care of themselves, especially our children and the elderly.  It is imperative that we rebuild our communities, from coast to coast, by instituting a program of serious urban planning.  This urban planning program must be geared to rebuilding the nation, community by community; providing support to the people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique to establish local neighbourhoods that would include homes, schools, churches, community centres and playing fields.

We would like to again see large numbers of people gathering on afternoons in all our parishes to watch exciting local football and cricket league games.  In addition, we ought to support our people in their ongoing efforts at rekindling all aspects of our performing arts culture.

As we look back with pride on 34 years of Independence, we also must look forward with optimism and hope to doing all in our power to making our nation all it can be.  It is the greatest legacy we can bestow on our children and our children's children.  Together, with the grace of God, we can do it.

God bless Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.