Grenada

Grenada, often referred to as the “Island of Spice”, is a small yet culturally rich nation located in the southeastern Caribbean Sea, north of Trinidad and Tobago. Known worldwide for its production of nutmeg and mace, Grenada combines a vibrant colonial legacy, a period of revolutionary change, and decades of stable democratic governance. Today, it is a constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth, characterised by political stability, a diversified small-island economy, and a strong emphasis on education and social development.

Historical Background

Grenada was originally inhabited by Indigenous Carib peoples, who resisted early European attempts at colonisation. Christopher Columbus sighted the island in 1498, but permanent settlement did not occur until the 17th century, when French colonists established plantations. The French introduced enslaved Africans to work on sugar and cocoa estates, creating a plantation economy that became the foundation of Grenada’s modern society.
Control of the island alternated between France and Britain during the colonial wars of the 18th century until the British captured Grenada in 1762 during the Seven Years’ War, formalised by the Treaty of Paris (1763). Under British rule, Grenada’s economy revolved around sugar, cocoa, and nutmeg, with the enslaved African majority forming the backbone of agricultural production. Following emancipation in 1834, the economy gradually diversified, and by the 20th century, nutmeg and cocoa had surpassed sugar as the island’s leading exports.
Grenada achieved Associated Statehood in 1967, gaining internal self-government, and on 7 February 1974, it became an independent state within the Commonwealth, with Sir Eric Gairy as its first Prime Minister.
A major political upheaval occurred in March 1979, when the New Jewel Movement (NJM), a Marxist-Leninist party led by Maurice Bishop, overthrew Gairy’s government and established the People’s Revolutionary Government. Bishop pursued socialist reforms and cultivated close ties with Cuba and the Soviet Union. Internal divisions within the NJM led to Bishop’s execution in October 1983, prompting a United States-led military intervention, supported by several Caribbean states, to restore constitutional order.
Following the intervention, democratic institutions were reinstated in 1984, and Grenada has since maintained stable parliamentary governance.

Geography and Natural Features

Location: Southeastern Caribbean Sea, between the Caribbean and Atlantic, north of Trinidad and Tobago.Coordinates: 12°07′ N, 61°40′ WArea: 344 sq km (approximately twice the size of Washington, D.C.)Islands: Grenada (main island), Carriacou, and Petite Martinique
Topography: Grenada is of volcanic origin, featuring central highlands, fertile valleys, and a rugged coastline. The highest point, Mount Saint Catherine (840 m), is a dormant volcano. Offshore lies Kick ’em Jenny, an active submarine volcano, part of the Lesser Antilles volcanic arc.
Climate: Tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds, with a wet season (June–November) and a dry season (December–May). The island is prone to hurricanes and tropical storms.
Natural resources: Timber, fertile volcanic soils, tropical fruits, and spices (notably nutmeg and cocoa).Land cover:

• Forested: 52%
• Agricultural: 25%
• Other: 23%

Environmental issues include deforestation, coastal erosion, and waste management challenges, all exacerbated by limited land area and climate risks.

Demography and Society

Population (2024 est.): 114,621Population growth: 0.27%Median age: 35.4 yearsUrbanisation: ~33% (mainly around St. George’s)
Ethnic composition:

• African descent: 82%
• Mixed heritage: 13%
• East Indian, European, and other: 5%

Languages: English (official); Grenadian Creole and French Patois used colloquially.
Religions:

• Protestant: 49%
• Roman Catholic: 36%
• Others (Jehovah’s Witnesses, Rastafarian, Muslim, Hindu): 15%

Social indicators:

• Life expectancy: 76.3 years (male 73.5; female 79.1)
• Fertility rate: 1.9 children per woman
• Literacy rate: 99%
• School life expectancy: 18 years
• Education expenditure: 5.1% of GDP
• Health expenditure: 5.7% of GDP

Grenada maintains a robust healthcare system for its size, with 1.38 physicians and 3.2 hospital beds per 1,000 people. Public education is free and compulsory until age 16, with near-universal enrolment.

Government and Politics

System: Parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchyMonarch: King Charles III (Head of State)Governor General: Dame Cécile La GrenadeHead of Government: Prime Minister Dickon Mitchell (since June 2022)
Legislature: Bicameral Parliament

• House of Representatives: 15 elected members (five-year term)
• Senate: 13 appointed members representing government, opposition, and civil society interests

The National Democratic Congress (NDC) holds the majority with 9 of 15 seats (2022 election), defeating the New National Party (NNP). Women occupy about 31% of parliamentary seats, among the highest in the Caribbean.
Judiciary: Operates under English common law, within the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) structure. The Judicial Committee of the Privy Council (London) serves as the final appellate court.
Administrative divisions: Six parishes and one dependency (Carriacou and Petite Martinique). The 1974 Constitution remains in force as the supreme law.

Economic Structure and Development

Grenada’s economy is small and service-oriented, with key contributions from tourism, agriculture, and education. It is a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU).
Economic indicators (2024 est.):

• GDP (PPP): $2.08 billion
• GDP per capita (PPP): $17,700
• Real GDP growth: 3.7%
• Inflation: 1.1%
• Public debt: Moderate but declining
• Gini index: 43.8

Sectoral composition:

• Services: 65.2%
• Industry: 14.8%
• Agriculture: 2.7%

Agriculture: Grenada remains a leading global exporter of nutmeg and mace, second only to Indonesia. Other exports include cocoa, bananas, and tropical fruits.
Tourism: The island’s beaches, coral reefs, waterfalls, and rainforest attract visitors globally, while St. George’s University, one of the Caribbean’s leading medical schools, contributes significantly to service exports.
Trade (2024):

• Main exports: Spices (nutmeg, mace), cocoa, fish, and fruit products
• Main partners: United States (24%), Antigua and Barbuda (13%), St. Vincent (8%)
• Main imports: Refined petroleum, vehicles, food, and plastics (chiefly from the USA and Trinidad & Tobago)

Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (XCD), pegged at 2.7 XCD per USD
Remittances: Approx. 5% of GDP, sustaining rural household income.

Energy, Infrastructure, and Environment

Electricity access: 94% of populationInstalled capacity: 60 MWEnergy mix:

• Fossil fuels: 98%
• Renewables (solar and wind): 2%

Efforts to diversify include solar microgrids and wind feasibility studies, supported by the Caribbean Development Bank and the UN Development Programme.
Infrastructure:

• Air transport: Maurice Bishop International Airport (St. George’s) and Lauriston Airport (Carriacou)
• Seaport: St. George’s Harbour
• Internet penetration: 74%, with mobile subscriptions exceeding population size

Environmental policy focuses on coastal resilience, reforestation, and sustainable waste management. Grenada is a signatory to the Paris Agreement and participates in CARICOM climate adaptation projects due to its vulnerability to hurricanes and sea-level rise.

Defence and Regional Security

Grenada has no standing army. Defence and internal security are provided by the Royal Grenada Police Force (RGPF), which includes a Coast Guard and a Special Services Unit with limited paramilitary capacity.
The nation cooperates regionally through the Caribbean Regional Security System (RSS), focusing on disaster response, maritime patrol, and anti-trafficking operations.

International Relations and Culture

Grenada maintains active diplomatic relations with over 100 countries and is a member of the United Nations (UN), Organisation of American States (OAS), World Trade Organization (WTO), Commonwealth of Nations, CARICOM, and OECS.
Cultural life reflects African, French, and British influences. Music and festivals such as Carnival, Calypso, and Soca play central roles in national identity. Spicemas, the island’s annual carnival, celebrates liberation, creativity, and Caribbean unity.