Sir Nicholas Alexander Braithwaite, also known as Sir Nick, was born on July 8, 1928 on the island of Carriacou. He was educated at Mount Pleasant Government (elementary) School and Grenada Boys Secondary School (GBSS). His education continued at Teacher’s Training College in Trinidad and University of the West Indies in Jamaica.

His career spanned five decades, from the 1950s to the 1990s, and different eras in the history of politics in Grenada. Following a short stint as an oil refinery operator in Curacao, Sir Nick spent 30 years working in education, serving students in Grenada and other islands in the region. He later became principal of both primary and secondary schools, and subsequently served as Chief Education Officer.

When Sir Nick made the transition to public administration in 1974, he was excited about the new phase of his life. After serving as Chief Education Officer, he held the position of Regional Director of the Commonwealth Youth Program. His political career began in January 1983 when he was appointed by Governor General, Sir Paul Scoon, to serve as head of Grenada’s Interim Government following an invasion of the island by United States and Caribbean military forces. After its dissolution following an election in 1994, he served as an Executive Adviser to Prime Minister Herbert Blaize.

In 1989, Sir Nick was elected political leader of the NDC. He won the Carriacou and Petite Martinique seat in the general elections held on March 13, 1990, and on March 16, 1990, was appointed Prime Minister of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique. His most important goals were to restore democracy, promote good governance, and implement sound and appropriate economic policies, creating a model for sustainability in the region. Foremost among the gutsy decisions he had made toward these goals were restoring the island’s constitution and implementing a Structural Adjustment Program designed by local and regional experts rather than adhere to the recommendations for reform made by the IMF and World Bank.

Despite being a one-term prime minister, Sir Nick left behind a legacy of steadfast leadership during a time of national crisis. He is also remembered for bringing local and regional communities together through sports. He passed away on October 28th, 2016 at the age of ninety-one. But his leadership and spirit continue to inspire us.