General background: 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 quickly captured
the ringleaders and their hundreds of Cuban advisers.
Free elections were re-instituted the following year.
Area comparative: Twice the size of Washington,
DC
Climate: Tropical; tempered by northeast
trade winds
Terrain: Volcanic in origin
with central mountains
Population: 89,211 (July 2002 est.)
Ethnic groups: Black 82%, Mixed Black and European
13%, European and East Indian 5% , and trace of Arawak/Carib
Amerindian
Religions: Roman Catholic 53%, Anglican 13.8%,
other Protestant 33.2%
Language: English (official), French patois
Government type: Constitutional monarchy with
Westminster-style parliament
Capital: Saint George's
Legal system: Based on English common law
Economic overview: Despite government steadying
of annual economic growth in recent years through progress
in fiscal reform and prudent macroeconomic management,
a downturn in tourist arrivals in 2001 threatens government
spending in 2002. Grenada relies on tourism as its main
source of foreign exchange, although it also supports
a small agriculture sector and a developing offshore
financial industry. Short-term concerns include a rising
fiscal deficit and the deterioration in the external
account balance.
Communication/Telephone system: Automatic, islandwide
telephone system
Places of interest: It has a rugged mountainous
interior of rainforests and waterfalls and an indented
coastline with protected bays and beaches. Its capital,
St George's, has one of the prettiest harbor settings
in the Caribbean.
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