A crowd united on the grounds of City Hall yesterday to share a moment of healing through their experiences of grief.

Michael Weeks, the Minister of National Security, read out a proclamation to have the day officially recognised on a national level and to be marked on March 7.

Mr Weeks said the inaugural Grief and Loss Awareness Day from the Gina Spence Programme charity offered an occasion for “awareness, hope and encouragement”.

Attendees were joined in solidarity through collective experiences of loss — and the need to draw comfort from one another.

Andrew Murdoch, the Governor, stood with Tinée Furbert, the Minister of Youth, Social Development and Seniors, and Jarion Richardson, the Leader of the Opposition.

Darrin Simons, the Commissioner of Police, attended with Puisne Judge Juan Wolffe.

Mr Weeks shared his experience of grief from the loss of his son, Malik, in a road traffic accident in 2012.

He said: “Like many of you, I have had to navigate the long, difficult road of healing.

“It is a journey that never truly ends — but one that can be made easier through community support and understanding.”

Mr Weeks added: “Grief touches us all, whether through the loss of a loved one, an unexpected tragedy or the weight of hardship that life sometimes brings.

“It is an experience that does not discriminate — yet too often people feel isolated, as if they must carry their opinion in silence.

“Today, we stand together to break that silence — we recognise that deeply personal grief is not something that should be endured alone.”

The celebration ran under the theme that grief and happiness can coexist.

Speeches were interjected with musical performances by primary school choirs and the musical duo Last Call.

Participants were encouraged to wear orange, the Gina Spence Programme’s colour to signify the experience of loss.

Mr Murdoch told the crowd how his father, a coroner, had confronted grief through his work.

He said: “He, like others, saw that grief could be one of the most challenging emotions to deal with.

“You’ve heard that it’s one of those things that we can all expect to experience — but when it does come to you, you always feel unprepared.”

Mr Murdoch reminded the crowd that grief was not just experienced from death, but could come from changes to one’s health and relationships.

He added that there was no single way for people to react to grief, nor was healing a straightforward path.

Mr Murdoch said: “The key to finding a way through is to understand the signs and stages of grief — signs like increased anxiety, loss of appetite and, of course, many more.

“My father, if he were here, would recognise the importance of understanding, support, compassion and learning how to work through grief.”

Halfway through the ceremony, attendees were given small wooden hearts and were asked to write the names of someone close to them whom they were still mourning.

Participants held the hearts to their chests during a moment of silence at 12.45pm.

Gina Spence-Virgil, the organiser, pointed out that between the island’s prevalence of gang violence and road deaths, everyone was affected by grief in some way.

She added: “This day is more than an event — it is a movement. A divine vision.

“Let today ignite you. Let today change you. Let today be the day when you say, ‘I’m not going through this alone, and I matter’.”

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