when the trade winds prevail. The rainy Most of the population is of African (82 per season runs from June–December, when cent in 1991 census) or mixed hurricanes may occur and in some years – for African/European descent (13 per cent). The example, Hurricane Ivan in 2004 – cause remainder is made up of small European and extensive damage. The temperature and Asian groups. rainfall vary with altitude, with much heavier Language: English is spoken by almost rainfall in the mountains. everyone. A French-based Creole is also Vegetation: The natural vegetation is spoken. tropical rainforest (about 75 per cent of Religion: According to the most recent surviving natural forest is state-owned) and census available (2001) the population is brushwood. Species include the gommier, made up of mainly Christians (Roman bois canot and blue mahoe. There are also Catholics 45 per cent, Anglicans 14 per cent, mangrove swamps and stunted woods. Seventh Day Adventists, Methodists). Forest covers 50 per cent of the land area Health: Public spending on health was three and there was no significant loss of forest per cent of GDP in 2012. There are three cover during 1990–2012. hospitals: General Hospital (St George’s), Wildlife: Mainly smaller species, such as the Princess Alice Hospital (St Andrew’s) and , agouti, armadillo and Princess Royal Hospital (Carriacou). There are mongoose. There is a large variety of ; homes for handicapped children and geriatric KEY FACTS the Grenada dove and hookbilled kite (an patients. Health centres and district medical endangered species) are unique to the island. Joined Commonwealth: 1974 stations undertake maternity and child welfare Main towns: St George’s (capital, pop. work under the charge of a nurse/midwife. Population: 106,000 (2013) 5,200 in 2010), Gouyave (3,000), Grenville Government hospitals and clinics provide free GDP p.c. growth: 1.8% p.a. 1990–2013 (2,400), Victoria (2,300), St David’s and medical and dental treatment. There is a piped-water supply to all the towns and to UN HDI 2014: World ranking 79 Sauteurs on Grenada; and Hillsborough (800) many of the villages. Infant mortality was 11 on Carriacou. Official language: English per 1,000 live births in 2013. Transport: There are 1,127 km of roads, 61 Time: GMT minus 4 hrs Education: There are 12 years of compulsory per cent paved. In the mountainous terrain education starting at the age of five. Primary : Eastern dollar (EC$) roads are often narrow and winding. school comprises seven years and secondary St George’s is a deep-water port. Anchorage five. The school year starts in September. Geography and facilities for yachts are offered at St Tertiary education centres on the T. A. Area: 344.5 sq km George’s (at the Lagoon), Prickly Bay on the Marryshow Community College, which hosts south-east coast and Secret Harbour, south of Coastline: 121 km an open campus of the regional University of St George’s. The port for the Grenadine Capital: St George’s the . T. A. Marryshow Community island of Carriacou is at Hillsborough and College was established in 1988 when Grenada is an archipelago comprising the ferry services run between Grenada and other Grenada National College merged with several island of Grenada, the most southerly of the islands. International Airport other tertiary institutions including Grenada Windwards in the Eastern Caribbean, and is 11 km south-west of St George’s in the Teachers College, Grenada Technical and some of the southern Grenadine islands, the south-west of Grenada and there is a small Vocational Institute, and Institute for Further airport at Lauriston on Carriacou. largest of which is Carriacou (33 sq km). Its Education. The University of the West Indies Caribbean neighbours include St Vincent and has its main campuses in Barbados, Jamaica, the Grenadines (which includes the more Society and Trinidad and . St George’s northern Grenadines) and . KEY FACTS 2013 University – founded in 1977 – is an offshore Topography: Mountains, chiefly of volcanic American university specialising in medicine. Population per sq km: 307 origin, form a backbone stretching the 33 km The female–male ratio for gross enrolment in length of the island and rise to 840 metres at Life expectancy: 73 years tertiary education is 1.40:1 (2009). Mount St Catherine. The terrain slopes down Net primary enrolment: 87% (2009) Media: There are no daily newspapers, but to the coast on the east and south-east. The Population: 106,000 (2013); 36 per cent of The Grenada Guardian (Grenada United island is watered by its many streams and people live in urban areas; growth 0.4 per Labour Party), Grenada Informer , The springs, and a small lake, Grand Etang, cent p.a. 1990–2013, depressed over this Grenada Times and The Grenadian Voice are occupies an old crater at 530 metres. period by emigration; birth rate 19 per 1,000 weeklies; all in English. Climate: The tropical climate is especially people (28 in 1970); life expectancy 73 years A public–private partnership, the Grenada pleasant in the dry season (February–May) (64 in 1970). Broadcasting Network, provides radio and

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Grenada

television stations. MTV is privately owned named it ‘Concepcion’ (later being named by GDP by sector (2013) and there are several privately-owned radio the Spaniards after their own city, Granada). stations. European settlement was slow to follow, due to the fierce resistance of the warlike Caribs, Communications: Country code 1 473; 5.6% although Britain and France in particular internet domain ‘.gd’. Coin- and card- Industry competed for control. A company of operated payphones are widely available. 14.4% merchants tried and failed to form a There are internet cafes in St George’s. The settlement in 1605. The French launched main post office is in St George’s. Services 79.9% more concerted attacks until, by 1674, they For every 1,000 people there are 270 had subdued the Caribs and gained control landlines, 1,256 mobile phone subscriptions of the island. By 1753, Grenada was a and 350 internet users (2013). enjoyed strong growth during the 1990s, flourishing French possession, with 100 sugar even though the world market for spices was Public holidays: New Year’s Day, mills and 12,000 enslaved Africans working sluggish during most of the decade and Independence Day (7 February), Labour Day the industry. The Caribs had been became increasingly competitive. (1 May), Emancipation Day (first Monday in exterminated. Grenada is nonetheless vulnerable, its August), Carnival (second Monday and being so small, and high public Britain took over from France in 1763 under Tuesday in August), Thanksgiving Day (25 expenditure has brought fiscal difficulties. the Treaty of Paris and again (having October), Christmas Day and Boxing Day. meanwhile lost control) in 1783 under the An IMF-backed economic adjustment Treaty of Versailles. Britain introduced the Religious festivals whose dates vary from year programme was put in place in the 1990s, cultivation of cacao, cotton and nutmeg; by to year include Good Friday, Easter Monday, with fiscal reform, privatisation and staff the time of the emancipation of slaves Whit Monday and Corpus Christi. reductions in the public sector to reduce the (1833), the slave population had reached deficit, and improve the debt position. The 24,000. Economy government has encouraged development of industry to broaden the country’s economic National political consciousness developed KEY FACTS 2013 base, but Grenada’s small scale and high through the labour movement, with the GNI: US$806m costs hinder progress. formation of the Grenada Manual and Mental Workers Union. In the new GNI p.c.: US$7,460 A small offshore sector was established in the environment, a union organiser, Eric Matthew GDP growth: -1.1% p.a. 2009–13 1990s, including internet gaming companies, Gairy, formed the first political party, the pro- but it failed to flourish in the 2000s. A US : 1.7% p.a. 2009–13 union, pro-independence Grenada United university, St George’s University, with 800 Labour Party (GULP). In 1951, GULP won the The economy of Grenada (the ‘spice island’) mainly North American students, also brings elections and Gairy became leader of the is based on agriculture, notably nutmeg and in substantial foreign exchange. assembly. The Grenada National Party (GNP), mace, and tourism. Consequently it has an After three years of strong growth, the led by held power between outward-looking and open economy, and economy stalled in 2001, reflecting the US 1957–61 and 1962–67. economic downturn and fall in tourism, only Grenada joined the Federation of the West Real growth in GDP picking up again in 2003. In September 2004 Indies in 1958. When that was dissolved in % 3 Grenada was devastated by Hurricane Ivan and % 1962, it evolved first into an associated state 2 the economy stalled again. Growth of more with full internal self-government (1967), and 1 than ten per cent in 2005 was followed by then towards independence, the core of the 0 shrinkage of 1.9 per cent in 2006, resuming GULP platform. -1 strongly positive in 2007–08. However, global -2 Independence was achieved in 1974; recessiogn the n caus e d a sharp fall in tourism -3 Grenada became a constitutional monarchy, and the econo my sh rank by 6.6 per cent in -4 2009, recover i ng w eakly in 2010–15. with Gairy as Prime Minister, and Queen -5 Elizabeth II as head of state, represented by -6 a Governor-General. Strikes during the -7 History independence preparations, which almost -8 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 Before the 14th century, Grenada was settled prevented the transition, were suppressed by Caribs, who displaced the earlier by, it was claimed, ‘Mongoose Gangs’ population of Arawaks. Christopher operating in the manner of Haiti’s ‘Tonton- Inflation Columbus visited the island in 1498 and Macoutes’. % 3.5 3.0 Grenada on the international stage 2.5 Grenada is the world’s second largest producer of nutmeg after Indonesia – a symbol of a 2.0 clove of nutmeg is on the national flag. 1.5 Kirani James, born in 1992 in Gouyave, brought the country its first ever Olympic gold 1.0 medal in the 2012 games when he won the 400 Metres. 0.5 Current Prime Minister captained the national cricket team in his 20s. When 0.0 it comes to present day cricket, Devon Smith, born in 1981 in Hermitage, plays for the -0.5 West Indies. 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013

The CommonwealTh Yearbook 2015 Grenada

In 1979, while absent in the USA, Gairy was front against the NNP, leaving the term. NNP won eight seats, with 48 per cent deposed in a coup by opposition leader government with a majority of one. of the votes, and the National Democratic Maurice Bishop, who took the New Jewel Congress (NDC) seven, with 46 per cent, Movement (NJM) into power as the People’s Constitution following a recount in two constituencies Revolutionary government. The new where the margin was very small. Status: Monarchy under Queen Elizabeth II government created state farms and In the July 2008 election, Mitchell failed in a industries, and forged links with the socialist Legislature: Parliament bid to secure an unprecedented fourth world. With ’s assistance, it began Independence: 7 February 1974 consecutive term. In a relatively peaceful construction of the modern international election, monitored by a strong contingent Grenada is a constitutional monarchy with airport at Point Salines. from the Organization of American States, Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. She is where the main issues were concerned with In October 1983, after a military coup in represented by a Governor-General. A management of the economy, NDC took 11 which Bishop, two other ministers, two union parliamentary democracy, Grenada has a of the 15 House of Representatives seats and leaders and 13 bystanders were killed, bicameral legislature. The House of 51 per cent of votes; NNP won four seats and Bishop’s deputy, , took control Representatives has 15 members elected by and set up a Revolutionary Military Council. 48 per cent of votes. – NDC universal suffrage for a five-year term, and At the request of OECS, in late 1983, the leader since 2000 – became Prime Minister. the Senate 13 members appointed for a five- USA then invaded Grenada, supported by a year term by the Governor-General in In the general election in February 2013 Keith token force of 300 police from Antigua and consultation with the Prime Minister and the Mitchell and the NNP won a landslide victory, Barbuda, Barbados, , Jamaica, Saint Leader of the Opposition. The Prime Minister taking all 15 seats in the House of Lucia, and St Vincent and the Grenadines. appoints the cabinet. Representatives, a result which Mitchell had The Governor-General, Sir , took previously achieved in January 1999. Turnout control of an interim administration, (almost was 88 per cent; the NNP secured 59 per fully) reinstated the 1974 constitution and Politics cent of votes and the NDC 41 per cent. The organised elections for a new government. Last elections: 19 February 2013 election was observed by a Commonwealth The New National Party (NNP), a four-party Next elections: 2018 election assessment team led by Irfan Abdool Rahman, the electoral commissioner of merger led by Herbert Blaize and supported Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, Mauritius. by the neighbouring islands, easily defeated represented by Governor-General, Dame Gairy’s GULP at the December 1984 general Cecile La Grenade (2013–) election, and Blaize became Prime Minister. International relations Head of government: Prime Minister Dr In the elections in 1990 no single party Keith Mitchell Grenada is a member of the African, gained an overall majority and another Caribbean and Pacific Group of States, Ruling party: New National Party merger, the National Democratic Congress Association of Caribbean States, Caribbean (NDC), formed the government under Women MPs: 33% Community, Non-Aligned Movement, . In the general election in January 1999 – Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States, Organization of American States, United The 1995 elections, contested by seven called early after a defection left the New Nations and . parties, were narrowly won by the NNP, now National Party (NNP) government without a led by Dr Keith Mitchell, who became Prime parliamentary majority – the NNP won a Minister. The NNP gained eight seats, the landslide victory, receiving 62 per cent of the Traveller information NDC, now led by , five and votes and Dr Keith Mitchell continued as Immigration and customs: Passports must GULP, two. Prime Minister. It was not only the first time a be valid for at least six months from the date party had taken all 15 seats, but also the first Two no-confidence motions following the of departure. Visas are required by most time for any party to have won two elections were unsuccessful. However, in May Commonwealth nationals. Prohibited imports successive elections. 1997, five opposition parties, including the include some fresh food and soil. NDC, GULP and the Democratic Labour Party In another early election in November 2003 Travel within the country: Driving is on the formed an alliance to provide a common Mitchell and NNP were returned for a third left. Visitors wishing to drive in Grenada need to purchase a local driving permit; they must Further information be aged at least 25 years and in possession of a foreign driving licence. Government of Grenada: www.gov.gd There are regular flights from Grenada to Parliament: www.gov.gd/departments/parliament Carriacou and Petite Martinique; and daily Eastern Caribbean Central Bank: www.eccb-centralbank.org Grenada Tourism Authority: www.grenadagrenadines.com ferry services from St George’s to the other Commonwealth Secretariat: www.thecommonwealth.org islands. Taxis and minibuses serve the islands. Commonwealth of Nations: www.commonwealthofnations.org/ Travel health: Prevalent diseases where country/Grenada appropriate precautionary measures are Media recommended include dengue fever and Grenada Informer : www.thegrenadainformer.com hepatitis B. Grenada Broadcasting Network: www.klassicgrenada.com There were 116,000 tourist arrivals in 2013.

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The CommonwealTh Yearbook 2015