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Grenada

Grenada, one of the smallest independent countries in the Western Hemisphere in situated in the south-east of the Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago and Venezuela, and south of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. Grenada is an island nation in the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. St. George’s is the capital of Grenada. Grenada Dove, the national bird of the country is seriously endangered. It has no regular military forces. The Royal Grenada Police Force including the Coast Guard is responsible for the defense affairs.

HISTORY:- The Arawak Indians were the earliest inhabitants of Grenada. Later the Carib Indians overpowered them. In 1498, Christopher Columbus arrived in the island and named it Conception Island. The French conquered Grenada from the Caribs in 1650. France ceded the island to United Kingdom in 1763 through the Treaty of Paris. In 1877 Grenada had achieved the status of a crown colony. From 1958 to 1962, Grenada remained a province within the Federation of West Indies. In 1967 Grenada gained the status of ‘Associated State of the United Kingdom’ to control its own internal affairs, while UK remained responsible for foreign and defense affairs. In 1974, Grenada gained independence from UK with Sir Eric Matthew Gairy as the first Prime minister of Grenada. In 1979 Maurice Bishop took the office of the Prime ministry. He was killed in a military coup in 1983. In he same year US President Ronald Reagan invaded Grenada to ward off the existence of the Cuban military. The US troops resisted the Cuban soldiers and occupied Grenada. Herbert A. Blaize, the leader of a centrist coalition won the parliamentary majority. Pre-revolutionary Grenadan constitution was re-adopted.

GEOGRAPHY:- Grenada is located at 12 07 N, 61 40 W in the Caribbean. The total area of the island is 344 sq km. The coastline is 121 km long along with the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean. The lowest point is Caribbean Sea (0 m) and the highest point is the Mount Saint Catherine (840 m). All the Grenadine islands are volcanic in origin. The central region is mountainous.

CLIMATE:- The climate of Grenada is mostly tropical though it is moderated by the northeast trade winds.

GOVERNMENT:- Grenada has a parliamentary democracy. The constitution was adopted on 19th December 1973. The legal system is based on the English common law. The three branches of the government are:

Executive branch comprises the Queen (chief of state), the Prime minister (head of government), and cabinet. The Governor General represents the Queen and is appointed by the Monarch. Cabinet is appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the prime minister.

Legislative branch comprises the bicameral Parliament which consists of the Senate (13 seats) and the House of Representatives (15 seats).

Judicial branch comprises the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court which in turn divided into the court of Appeal and the High Court of Justice.

Prominent political parties are New National Party (NNP), National Democratic Congress (NDC), and Grenada United Labor Party (GULP). Suffrage is universal at the age of 18.

Queen Elizabeth II

Governor General Sir Daniel Williams

Prime Minister Tillman Thomas

ADMINISTRATIVE DIVISIONS:- Grenada is divided into 6 parishes and 1 dependency.

Parishes: Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick.

Dependency: Carriacou and Petite Martinique.

CULTURE:- Caribbean culture is predominant in the Grenadian culture. In the annual Carnival, soca, calypso, and reggae numbers are hugely played. Cricket is the national and most popular sport of Grenada. Another important Grenadian cultural tradition is story-telling. Grenadian Cuisine is highly influenced by the French cuisine. Grenadian cuisine also includes Indian dishes like dal puri, rotis, sweets, and curries. Oildown is considered as the national dish of Grenada.

ECONOMY:- Tourism is the backbone of the economy of Grenada providing a major percentage of foreign earnings. Developed sectors of construction and manufacturing coupled with offshore financial industry are responsible for the strong economy of the island. The island is called the Spice Isle, as it is the leading producer of many spices of the world.

GDP/PPP (2006 est.): $982 million; per capita $3,900 (2005 est.).

Real growth rate: 0.9%.

Inflation: 3% (2005 est.).

Unemployment: 12.5% (2000).

Arable land: 6%.

Agriculture: Bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, mace, citrus, avocados, root crops, sugarcane, corn, vegetables.

Budget:

Revenues: $85.8 million

Expenditures: $102.1 million (1997)

Debt - external: $347 million (2004)

Labor force: 42,300 (1996); services 62%, agriculture 24%, industry 14% (1999 est.).

Industries: Food and beverages, textiles, light assembly operations, tourism, construction.

Natural resources: Timber, tropical fruit, deepwater harbors.

Exports: $38 million (2006 est.): bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace.

Imports: $343 million (2006): food, manufactured goods, machinery, chemicals, fuel.

Major trading partners: Saint Lucia, U.S., Antigua and Barbuda, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Dominica, Trinidad and Tobago, UK (2006).

Monetary unit: East Caribbean dollar

LANGUAGE:- English is the official language of Grenada. French patois is also spoken.

CITIES:- The capital St. George's is also the largest city of Grenada. Other major cities are Grenville and Gouyave.

POPULATION:- The estimated population of Grenada is 89,971 with a growth rate of 0.3%.

Density per sq mi: 687

Literacy rate: 96% (2003 est.)

RACE:-

Black 82%

Mixed black and European 13%

European and East Indian 5%

RELIGION:-

Roman Catholic 53%

Anglican 13.8%

Other Protestant 33.2%

HEALTH:-

Birth rate: 21.61 births/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Death rate: 6.31 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)

Infant mortality rate: total: 13.58 deaths/1,000 live births

Life expectancy at birth: total population: 65.6 years

Total fertility rate: 2.27 children born/woman (2008 est.)

HIV/AIDS - deaths: NA

Total expenditure on health per capita (Intl $, 2005): 561

UNICEF:- HIV prevalence is gradually increasing in Eastern Caribbean countries. A regional Health and Family Life Education curriculum has been established to improve the awareness of HIV on youth of the country. UNICEF also promotes the needs for teenage mothers to return to schools and to complete their education. The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States drafted legislation and distributed to all the members for the betterment of child care and protection and has promoted adoption, the legal status of children and juvenile justice.

TRANSPORTATION:-

Railways: 0 km.

Highways: total: 1,127 km; paved: 687 km; unpaved: 440 km (1999 est.).

Ports and harbors: Saint George's.

Airports: 3 (2007).