GRENADA
|
| Motto:
|
Ever
Conscious of God We Aspire, and Advance as One
People |
|
|
|
Coat
of Arms |
National
Flower (Bougainvillea)
|
Flag |
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| Location: |
The most southerly of the Windward Islands, 135
km (83.8 miles) north of Trinidad and Tobago |
| History: |
Columbus landed on the island in 1498. Grenada
was settled by the French in 1650. It was alternately
ruled by the French and British until 1783 when,
under the Treaty of Versailles, the island became
British. It was joined to the Windward Islands
in 1833, and was a part of the West Indies Federation
from 1958-62. It gained independence on 7 February
1974. The Maurice Bishop Government which came
to power in 1979 was toppled by an internal coup
in 1983, and an interim government prepared the
way for 1984 elections. |
| Elections: |
Last elections were held in 2003. Next elections
- 2008. |
| Ruling
Party: |
New National Party (NNP) |
| Major
Political Parties: |
New
National Party (NNP), Grenada United Labour Party
(GULP), Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (MBPM),
National Democratic Congress (NDC), The National
Party (NP) |
| Head
of State: |
H.E.Sir
Daniel Williams, Governor General
|
| Head
of Government: |
|
| |
Dr.
the Hon. Keith Claudius Mitchell
Prime Minister
DATE
OF BIRTH: 12 November 1946
MARITAL
STATUS: Married
EDUCATION:
- 1971:
B.Sc. (Mathematics and Chemistry), UWI
- 1975:
M.Sc. (Mathematics), Howard University
- 1979:
Ph.D. (Mathematics and Statistics), American
University
PROFESSIONAL/POLITICAL
CAREER:
- 1972-73:
Teacher, Presentation Brothers College
- 1977-83:
Mathematics Professor, Howard University
- 1984-95:
Professional Consultant
- 1984:
Elected to Parliament. Member of Parliament,
St. George's North West
- 1984-88:
Minister of Communications, Works and Public
Utilities, Transportation, Civil Aviation
and Energy
- 1988-89:
Minister of Communications, Works, and Public
Utilities, Cooperatives, Community
Development, Women's Affairs and Civil Aviation
- 1989:
Elected Political Leader of New National Party
- 1995:
Prime Minister, Minister of National Security,
Mobilisation, Carriacou and Petit Martinique
Affairs, Finance, Trade, Industry and Planning,
Information
- 1999:
Prime Minister, Minister of National Security
and Information
- 1999:
Re-elected Prime Minister
- 2003:
Re-elected Prime Minister. Holds portfolios
of National Security, Human Resource Development,
Information, Information and Communication
Technology (ICT), Business and Private Sector
Development, Youth Development
|
| Economic
Summary: |
Tourism
is the main source of foreign-exchange earnings,
recording modest growth at an average of 4.6%
in 1997-1998.
There is a small offshore financial sector, legislation
of which was updated in 1996.
Agriculture
accounted for 8.3% of GDP in 1997 and about
one-sixth of employment. Nutmeg and mace are
major exports. Grenada is the world's second
largest producer of these crops after Indonesia,
supplying one-quarter of world demand. These
crops have benefited from higher prices, caused
by Indonesia production shortfalls.
There
is a small manufacturing sector, with some food
processing, beverages, garments and assembly
industries.
|
| Airport: |
Point Salines International |
| Status: |
Independent - 7 February 1974 |
| Capital: |
St. George's |
| Population: |
100,700
(1999) |
| Area: |
345
km2 (133 miles2) |
| Currency: |
Eastern Caribbean Dollar |
| GDP
Per Capita (at current prices): |
EC$10,132.9
(1999)
|
| Total
Exports: |
EC$98.1 million (1999) |
| Total
Imports: |
EC$546 million (1999) |
| Intra-Regional
Exports: |
EC$27.5
million (1999)
|
| Intra-Regional
Imports: |
EC$149.7 million (1999) |
| Business
Hours: |
General:
08:00-16:00 hrs Monday to Thursday. 08:00-17:00
hrs Friday. There is a one-hour break from 12:00-13:00
hrs. |
| National
Holidays: |
New
Year's Day (01 January); Independence Day (07
February); Good Friday; Easter Monday; Labour
Day (01 May);
Whit Monday; Corpus Christi (as decreed); Emancipation
Day (04 August); Carnival (11-12 August); Thanksgiving
Day (25 October); Christmas Day (25 December);
Boxing Day (26 December) |
| National
Anthem: |
Hail!
Grenada land of ours
We pledge ourselves to thee
Heads, hearts and hands in unity
To reach our destiny
Ever conscious of God,
Being proud of our heritage
May we with faith and courage
Aspire, build, advance
As one people, one family
God Bless our Nation. |
| Highest
National Award: |
Grenada does not have a system of national awards.
Instead, the achievement of citizens in various
areas of national development is recognised each
year in a grand awards ceremony held to coincide
with Independence Day. |
| Favourite
Dish: |
Oil
Down |
| Date
of CARICOM Membership: |
1 May 1974 |
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