NESTLED at the southernmost tip of the Windward Islands, Grenada, also referred to as the Spice Island or Isle of Spice, is a breathtaking island paradise with warm and hospitable people.Grenada was first spotted by Christopher Columbus in 1498. And from 1609 to 1793, the island was ruled by the British and French, until the Treaty of Versailles awarded Grenada to Britain.

This tranquil island boasts many waterfalls, white sand beaches, intriguing cultural and historical sites, and natural preserves. In this country, one can find large and beautifully designed houses built on the tops of hills, garden-like parapets along paved roads, and an environment that is squeaky clean.

The vast majority of Grenadians are physically fit, probably because every day they walk up and down steep hills to leave for work and to return home. They complete this exercise with great ease, but I found it somewhat challenging.

I was on this breathtaking paradise for four days, reporting on the Caribbean Public Health Agency’s (CARPHA’s) 60th Health Research Conference, which was held at the picturesque St George’s University Campus.

BUSTLING WITH LIFE
The campus is an architectural splendour that occupies a vast area of land on a steep hill. The complex is outfitted with a number of superstructures, among which are student dorms. With food cafeterias, bus transportation service, sporting facilities, and an intricate road network connecting pathways at the top storey of high-rise buildings to various sections of the university, the campus appears to be a little town in Grenada.

I was told by university officials that most of the students on campus are from the USA, but there is also a considerably large contingent of students from India, Pakistan and other Asian countries, besides a reasonably large contingent of students from the African continent. There are, additionally, a few Grenadians and others from territories in the Caribbean. All told, the students are drawn from more than 80 countries.

I was made to understand that it is cheaper to study medicine at St George’s University than in the USA, the UK, and the University of the West Indies. St George’s is known for its programmes in medicine. The pass rate of students in these programmes is just over 90 per cent.

From the break of dawn to late in the night, life is bustling on St George’s campus. Students get up early to exercise before going to classes; and after classes, they play cricket, basketball and other sport. In the evening, they go on outings with friends.

FULLY COVERED
During the three-day conference, there were 93 presentations covering practically every aspect of health in the Caribbean. Among the numerous areas of health research were violence, accidents, suicide, abuse of health workers, patient care, injuries, diabetes, cancer, and marijuana.

The conference even heard of cases of women in one Caribbean country demanding that men be intimate with them; and the overtures were deemed an abuse!

An evening stroll outside the campus and chatting with some Grenadians conveyed the impression that the islanders are happy people and, on the whole, pay no homage to any political party or political leader on the island.

“If they make life difficult for we, we vote them out!” a taxi driver at Wall Street, Grand Anse, told me as he munched on a chicken wrap (the food looks somewhat like a chicken burger) he purchased from a nearby vendor for EC$15.

Wall Street comes alive at nights, with cars and Pit Bull minibuses plying their services as taxis. Stalls string up their wares –mostly food — for sale, and friends gather to gaff. Those who do not want to gaff on the roadside go to nearby restaurants, which also have discotheques.
There is hardly any vegetarian food around. I visited one of the restaurants and the atmosphere was very lively.

A Grenadian national accosted me and, in a jovial tone, inquired: “You are a first year student at St George’s?” And when I responded in the negative and informed that I was from Guyana, he replied, “Oh, I never been to Guyana, but I heard it is a nice place.” I told him Guyana is indeed a beautiful country, and I urged him to visit and experience Guyana’s beauty first-hand.
I looked at the menu, and the chatty islander informed me that, at Wall Street, there is plenty of food to be had. “Right here, you get goat head braff, cow heel soup, mannish water, baked chicken — delicious foods (that are) difficult to resist.”

The menu was laden with meat foods, but a helpful waitress was able to locate some fries and prepare me a vegetable wrap. I thanked her wholeheartedly for her effort and retired to a table.

A few minutes later, the music stopped, and I heard loud revving of a motor bike. I looked around and glanced outside and saw no one on a motorcycle. When I looked up, I saw, on the big screen telly on the wall, a guy on a donkey trying to whip it into top speed. Then Bungi Garlin’s “We Ready for the Road” came on blaring. Grenadians have a good sense of humour, and like to enjoy themselves.

By Tajeram Mohabir