Grenada celebrates Independence Day 7 February 2023
By Joy Osiagwu
History
Grenada is a group of islands countries situated in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea on the Southern end of the Grenadines Island chain with its capital at St George’s. The nation is made up of islands of Grenada, two smaller islands (Carriacou and Petite Martinique including numerous other smaller islands in the north of the main island, all part of the Grenadines.
Grenadines is located northwest of Trinidad and Tobago, northeast of Venezuela and southwest of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The small Caribbean Island is also known as (spice island) the world’s second-largest producer of nutmeg after Indonesia and a big producer of cinnamon, ginger and cloves. Grenada is a group of island countries situated in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea on the Southern end of the Grenadines Island chain, with its capital at St George’s. The nation is made up of the islands of Grenada, two smaller islands (Carriacou and Petite Martinique) including numerous other smaller islands in the north of the main island, all of the Grenadines.
Grenada is northwest of Trinidad and Tobago, northeast of Venezuela and southwest of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. The tiny Caribbean Island is also known as (spice island) the world’s second-largest producer of nutmeg after Indonesia and a significant producer of cinnamon, ginger, and cloves.
Grenada has fertile valleys, rainforests, and mountain lakes with beautiful sceneries. The nation’s tropical climate and beautiful beaches are its major tourist attraction.
The tiny Caribbean Island of Grenada is one of the smallest independent countries in the western hemisphere. It has a landmass of 348.5 square kilometers with an estimated population of 124 610.
The languages spoken are English, Grenadian, Creole English, and Grenadian Creole French.
Settlers from South America first dominated the island during the Caribbean Archaic age. However, Christopher Columbus was the first European to discover Grenada in 1498 during his third voyage, christening the location “La Concepcion”. Although it was considered the property of the government of Spain, records were not available to support the attempt by the Spanish to settle in the area.
The first authentic settlement attempt was deemed a failed exercise by the English in 1609, who were massacred and sent away by the native “Carib” peoples.
In 1650, French settlers from Martinique created a colony and found Saint George’s, the capital. However, France ceded Grenada to Britain under the “Treaty of Versailles” Enslaved Africans were transported to work on cotton, sugar and tobacco plantations in 1783. But Julien Fedon, an African planter, revolted against the British administration in 1795. Slavery was subsequently abolished in 1834. Between 1885-1958, Grenada acted as an administrative head office of the British Windward Islands.
Grenada was granted independence on February 7, 1974, under the leadership of Eric Gairy. He became the first prime minister of Grenada as a sovereign state.
In February 2008 –Sir Eric Matthew Gairy was named the country’s first National Hero on the 34th anniversary of independence.
Hurricane Ivan
In September 2004, Grenada suffered a significant setback from Hurricane Ivan to 90% devastation. The Prime Minster at the time, Keith Mitchell, described it as “the country’s worst hurricane in living memory”.
Grenada joined the Commonwealth of Nations with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state, currently headed by King Charles III, King of Grenada. The island nation is also a full and participating member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)
Current Governance Structure
Grenada operates a Parliamentary structure consisting of a Senate of 13 members and a House of Representatives of 15. The government and the opposition appoint the senators, while the electorate elects the representatives for five-year terms. The nation operates a multi-party system. The largest parties are the centre-right New National Party (NNP) and the Centre -left National Democratic Congress (NDC). Dickon Amiss Thomas Mitchell is the current Prime Minister of Grenada; he was sworn- in in June 2022.
Dickon Mitchell of the center-left National Democratic Congress (NDC) party was sworn-in as Grenada’s new Prime Minister on June 24, 2022. Photo credit: St Vincent Times.
Prime Minister Mitchell promised to focus on the country’s healthcare system, reduce unemployment and poverty while building affordable housing and improve the standard of education in the nation.
Mitchell is a Grenadian politician and attorney, serving as the ninth Prime Minister since 2021 He galvanized the NDC to victory in the 2022 general elections.
Dame Cecile Ellen Feurette La Grenade, a food scientist is the current Governor-General of Grenada. She has been serving in the capacity since 7 May 2013.
Trending news
Under the leadership of Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell, the government of Grenada has promised to Issue a total of EC$ 105 million on the Regional Government’s Securities Market (RGSM) to refinance the current treasury bills and notes.
Grenada news reports that the amount is billed to be raised by issuing 91 – day Treasury Bills in four instalments in the year 2023 from January to December.
The Regional Government Securities Market on January 25, 2023, auctioned on the ECSE’s primary market platform, raised $15.0 million and the competitive uniform price system used led to a discounted rate of 3.46972% according to the daily submission from the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE). The other dates for issuing the 91-day Treasury Bill in 2023 are April 28, August 1 and November 2. The maximum coupon rate of the new treasury bills is 3.5% per annum.
The report by Now Grenada news also said that investors could participate in the auction through the services of licensed intermediaries and members of the ECSE. “The prospectus added that yields will not be subject to any tax, duty, or levy by the Participating Governments of Eastern Caribbean Currency Union.”
Grenada Ottawa Connections
The Canadians of Grenada descent in Ottawa collaborate with the members of St. Vincent and the Grenadines regularly to celebrate their culture and heritage under the leadership of the President, Suzette Small-Weeks.
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Joy Osiagwu is a Project Officer with Black History Ottawa. She has over two decades of experience as a broadcast journalist in Nigeria and North America. She holds a Master of Business Administration (MBA) degree from the University of Cumbria in the United Kingdom, plus a post-graduate diploma in Broadcast Performing Arts from the Columbia Academy, Vancouver, British Columbia.