After outlining an ambitious Vision 75 agenda centred on investment, renewable energy and economic transformation, Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell turned to what he described as an equally important foundation for Grenada’s future-its identity.

Addressing delegates during the Grenada Diaspora Homecoming Forum, PM Mitchell argued that building a stronger nation is not solely about infrastructure or economic growth. It is also about ensuring that future generations understand who they are, where they come from and the history that has shaped them.

“What does it mean to be Grenadian?” he asked.

To Mitchell, teaching Grenadian history is not simply about preserving the past. It is about giving the next generation a stronger sense of who they are before asking them to imagine who they can become.

The Prime Minister revealed that Grenadian history has now been made a mandatory part of the school curriculum, describing the move as an important step towards strengthening national identity at a time when questions of belonging are becoming increasingly significant around the world.

“We’ve introduced the teaching of Grenadian history in our schools,” he said.

Among the texts now being studied is The Assassination of Maurice Bishop, which Mitchell said had been donated to secondary schools through the generosity of a member of the Grenadian diaspora.

Mitchell said the decision reflects a broader belief that national history should do more than recount historical events. It should help young Grenadians understand the experiences, struggles and defining moments that have shaped the country they now inherit.

“If our students don’t understand what makes us unique,” he said, “they will struggle to understand who they are.”

Mitchell argued that identity has become one of the defining issues of the modern world, pointing to growing migration, geopolitical tensions and debates over belonging taking place across many societies.

“The biggest fight in the world today is about identity,” he told delegates.

“Who you are. Where you come from. What makes you unique?”

He suggested that small nations like Grenada cannot afford to take that uniqueness for granted.

“There are only 190-plus independent countries in the world,” he said. “We are small, but we are independent.”

“That is why being Grenadian matters.”

Throughout his address, Mitchell returned repeatedly to the importance of the diaspora in helping to shape Grenada’s future. Yet he argued that preserving national identity is just as important as attracting investment, suggesting that economic development and cultural confidence must advance together.

For Grenadians living abroad, he noted, patriotism remains unmistakable.

“When I travel, whether it’s London or Montreal or Toronto or New York or even Dubai, I see the flags. We see the commitment. We see the passion,” he said.

Those expressions of national pride, Mitchell suggested, demonstrate that Grenadian identity extends well beyond the island’s shores. The challenge now is ensuring that future generations-both at home and across the diaspora-inherit the same sense of belonging.

As Vision 75 seeks to position Grenada for the next quarter century, Mitchell argued that the country’s future will depend not only on the industries it builds, but also on the stories it continues to tell about itself.

If Grenada is to realise the ambitions of Vision 75, Mitchell believes the next generation must inherit more than opportunities. They must also inherit a deep understanding of the history, identity and values that define the nation.