Grenada

Government
Constitutional monarchy. A governor-general represents the sovereign, Elizabeth II.

Geography
Grenada is the most southerly of the Windward Islands, about 100 mi (161 km) from the Venezuelan coast. It is a volcanic island traversed by a mountain range, the highest peak of which is Mount St. Catherine (2,756 ft; 840 m).

Historical Background
Carib Indians inhabited Grenada when COLUMBUS discovered the island in 1498, but it remained uncolonized for more than a century. The French settled Grenada in the 17th century, established sugar estates, and imported large numbers of African slaves, later Britain took the island. In the 19th century, cacao eventually surpassed sugar as the main export crop; in the 20th century, nutmeg became the leading export. In 1974 Grenada one of the smallest independent countries in the Western Hemisphere. Grenada was seized by a Marxist military council on 19 October 1983. Six days later the island was invaded by US forces and those of six other Caribbean nations, which captured the ringleaders and their Cuban advisers. Free elections were reinstituted and have continued since then. Hurricane Ivan in September 2004 caused severe damage.

•  1767 - Britain took the Island.
•  1967 - Britain gave Grenada autonomy.
•  1974 - Attained full Independence.

Facts & Figures

Name

Grenada

Capital

St. George’s

Government

Parliamentary democracy under constitutional monarchy

Language

English

Race/Ethnicity

82% black, 13% mixed black & European, 5% European & East Indian, & trace of Arawak/Carib

Religion

99.8 Christianity

Area

344 km2 (203rd)

Population

110,000

Currency

East Caribbean dollar (XCD)