GRENADA
Bishop Clyde Harvey of St George’s-in-Grenada has spoken out against citizens who seemed intent on celebrating Grenada’s Carnival as usual.
The two-day public celebration was carded for August 10–11 but cancelled due to COVID-19.
In an address to the nation posted August 8, via Catholic Grenada’s website catholicgnd.org, Bishop Harvey asserted those who reported that Grenada is COVID-free spoke out of ignorance as no country is COVID-free.
“We cannot let our guard down at this stage. We have come this far by faith in our God and necessary action, disciplined action. Let us not falter now,” he told people of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.
The decision not to have Carnival this year was “obvious”. It is not a “sinister plot” but sensible, responsible behaviour, Bishop Harvey explained.
He reminded citizens that what they do as men and women, young and old, over the next few weeks will determine whether Grenada is truly a free and responsible nation, and most starkly whether they live or die.
“Indeed, if you felt sick and then recovered, it is quite likely that you carried the virus and may even still be carrying it. The truest word that anyone can speak in this context is—we do not know,” he stressed.
The Bishop then made a special plea to all young Grenadians. He commented that it was foolishly said that young people are strong against this virus. That, he said, has been proven to be not true.
Bishop Harvey referred to The United States which now has the most infections in the world. Many people there, he opined, ignored physical distancing in their love for the beach and house parties.
“We can jam together today and die alone next week. All the virus seeks is human flesh to infect and destroy. Any young person can infect a vulnerable relative, old, or young, and set them up for a horribly lonely death,” he said.
To this end Bishop Harvey further beseeched all to take COVID-19 and the protocols seriously. “We know we are truly free when we do not need a big stick to do what is right and just. Let us protect those we love, not only from the virus, but from our own temptations to self-centered stupidity.”
He prayed that God protect them from disease and hurricanes and from pleasure-seeking irresponsibility.
“May we look to the day when we will truly be able to sing as one people, on our streets and off our streets—‘We beat COVID, we beat COVID’,” Bishop Harvey said.