THE LONG OVERDUE RENAMING OF OUR INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT

On Saturday May 30th 2009 I joined a large and enthusiastic crowd of jubilant Grenadians who journeyed down to Point Salines to participate in a historical event of great magnitude. The long overdue re naming of our international Airport. An honour bestowed, at last, on the man who succeeded where others failed in building perhaps the most important physical structure in Grenada. A facility that would perpetually bring immeasurable and unmatched economic benefits to our country for many years to come, irrespective of whoever strode in his footsteps to hold the reins of power in our country.

The atmosphere at the airport was electrifying and emotions ran high as Grenadians from all walks of life wearing Maurice jerseys and waving placards joined visiting delegations from Cuba, St Vincent, Dominica, the USA, Canada and other regional countries to celebrate the unveiling of the sign that officially introduced the world to the MAURICE BISHOP INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT. It was a home coming reunion for me, as I met scores of other Grenadians, who like me, had worked with Maurice Bishop and many others towards someday seeing the reality of an International airport operational in Grenada.

As I listened to the ceremonial activities unfold I could not help but reflect on that day, the 6th June 1982, when only a few feet away from where I sat, the first aircraft to ever use the airport at Point Salines had taken off on 4500ft of useable runway at the construction site that would one day become an international airport. On board the Cheyenne executive turboprop aircraft was the prime Minister of Grenada, a man by the name of Maurice Bishop, leading a delegation on state visits to the GDR and Bulgaria.

Proudly, I was one of the two pilots flying that aircraft, the other was a Cuban by the name of Jose Santos. The faded entry of the first part of that trip from Point Salines to Havana via Santiago de Cuba still winks back at me from my pilots log book’s pages. Poetic justice, perhaps? Yes, I think so. Maurice did not witness the physical or the ceremonial openings of the airport that would proudly bear his name one day, but symbolically, he flew on the first aircraft to use the facility. I know he must be smiling.

On Saturday the speakers were all impressive. The happy and bustling crowd interacted just as I remembered crowds doing when Maurice addressed them many years ago. Dr. Terry Marryshow, by far one of the most consistent voices over the years in support of recognition of Maurice’s contributions to our nation, reminded us in no uncertain terms of why we were sitting in the afternoon heat at Point Salines. Prime Minister Roosevelt Skerrit told us of how Maurice had sought and secured aid for Dominica after hurricane David devastated that island in 1979. Tourism Minister Peter David reiterated that he had never wavered during the renaming process because of the glaring justification of the exercise.   Vice president Lazo Hernandez of Cuba said that he had to be here because he was one of the workers at the airport construction site in 1980 who was responsible for the awesome physical task of building a runway at Point Salines. Fidel and Raul Castro sent their greetings to all Grenadians on the occasion.

The dependable old revolutionary Dr. Ralph Gonsalves, an old buddy of Maurice, known fondly in some quarters today as the latter day Maurice Bishop of the Caribbean, did not let down an expectant audience. He connected with the crowd as only he could, and Maurice used to, with a masterful delivery laced with historical fact cleverly mixed in with eloquent verse and saucy comedic high points. Tongue in cheek, a glint in his eyes, he reminded us of how - after one time is a next, as he was barred entry to Pearls airport by the pre revolutionary regime of the day before 1979, but here he was delivering the keynote address at Point Salines!

Ma Bishop, that tower of fortitude, who gave so much by way of personal sacrifice, sat and smiled proudly as she watched her granddaughter Nadia Bishop thank everyone for attending. Nadia said that her father’s first love was always Grenada. This I knew to be
a fact, because I had lived the times and Maurice had always put Grenada first.

I was almost emotionally overwhelmed when the flowers of Grenada, the young spice girls, lustily sang the catchy MBIA tune. A fine touch to a happy occasion.

Prime Minister Tillman Thomas showed his mettle and epitomized the spirit of national unification and forgiveness as he delivered the lyrics for that old tune that some people sang; but only when it favoured their narrow point of view, reminding us that he was detained without trial during the PRG reign in Grenada but that he had put it all behind him. He challenged the crowd that if HE could forgive the people that jailed him, then so could we. His Government had stayed the course and taken that first bold step towards national reunification, and they must be highly commended for their clear vision.

Appreciating the moment at hand, his voice trembled with determination and genuine conviction when he declared the words we had all trekked down to Point Salines to hear, that from this day on, 30th May 2009, the airport at Point Salines would be henceforth called the MAURICE BISHOP INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT.  

There was a lot of laughter and some tears of reminiscence at the ceremony. A coming together of Grenadians not experienced around here for a long time. A spirit of energy and a feeling of “Yes we can” pervaded the atmosphere, as the evenings proceedings came to a close and a satisfied sun dipped towards the western horizon. A good day for the people of Grenada. Let us not let this opportunity to unite go a begging. The healing process has begun Grenada. So Let it be.