Grenada Prime Minister Keith Mitchell arrived in the Virgin Islands Thursday to sample some of the territory's successes while attempting to lure some of his countrymen home to assist in his island's economic resurgence.
It's also to celebrate the 25th anniversary of Grenada's independence.
"Since winning the general elections, I decided I wanted to come out to the Grenadian community abroad to talk to them about the development in Grenada and how they can make a contribution to that development where they are," Mitchell said Thursday in a press conference at Cyril E. King airport.
"I'm also encouraging Grenadians to come home where they are needed," Mitchell said. "We've had a serious flight during the last 30-40 years. People have left to look for better opportunities elsewhere."
Pamela Hagley, president of the local Grenada Association, said Mitchell's first visit to the territory means a lot to the local Grenadian community.
"It's an exciting time for us because it's the 25th anniversary of Grenada's independence and we're reconnecting with home," Hagley said.
There are over 200 Grenadians in the Virgin Islands, Hagley estimates.
Mitchell said he is encouraged by the success Grenadians have had in the Virgin Islands.
"You have a number of citizens here who have done well and I'm very thankful to the Virgin Islands government and community for allowing them to make useful contributions and help themselves, and therefore help people back home," he said.
Mitchell said the political stability represented by his party's massive victory in last January's elections will be a tremendous boost to Grenada's economically and socially.
"There's a number of economic activities taking place, we have an international airport that's buzzing, we're building new hotels and we've just built a modern international stadium that's been identified as one of the best in the region," he said. "Tourism is also starting to go upward, though we don't think we've reached the tip of iceberg yet."
Grenada has begun an economic citizenship program where persons who can make investments in the country can attain a degree of citizenship, Mitchell said, adding he believes this initiative will attract many to the island.
"There are opportunities for people with skills, people with knowledge and people with resources," Mitchell said. "I believe even Americans will want to leave America when they see the beauty."
The Grenadian government is in the process of privatizing many services, he said, and followed with words that may apply to the Virgin Islands' current fiscal crisis.
"I've seen government operate and more and more I'm convinced that the smaller the government the better the country," Mitchell said.
The "political victimization" that has occurred in the past to opponents of sitting governments is being eliminated, Mitchell said.
"I think people feel they have more freedoms and there's more of an atmosphere for contributions from persons with different political philosophies," he said. "What has hurt Grenada in the past has been the political instability."
In a recent United Nations study, Grenada's quality of life was ranked 52nd out of the 174 countries surveyed. Grenada would like to follow the success the Virgin Islands has had in education, tourism and historical preservation, Mitchell said.
"There are certainly opportunities here, in education, in tourism and we can learn some serious lessons from the success of this beautiful country," he said. "We're also looking at protecting our heritage and developing our architectural sites. We know St. Thomas has done an excellent job in that area."
Mitchell said he plans to visit the archeological dig site at Cinnamon Bay in St. John.
Heritage preservation is vital throughout the Caribbean, Mitchell added.
"We as an African people have lost our identity and in many, many cases have adopted other cultures instead of our own," he said. "But you can't know where you're going until you know where you've come from."
