Grenada
parliamentary democracyIndependence 7 February 1974 (from UK)
Grenada as the 1996 edition of the CIA World Factbook published it: 86 fields, one of 36 editions from 1990 to 2025.
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Geography
Caribbean, island in the Caribbean Sea, north of | Trinidad and Tobago
15 fieldsLand useshare of 340 sq km
Terrain
volcanic in origin with central mountains
- lowest point:
- Caribbean Sea 0 m
- highest point:
- Mount Saint Catherine 840 m
Environment
- current issues:
- NA
- natural hazards:
- lies on edge of hurricane belt; hurricane season lasts from June to November
- international agreements:
- party to - Biodiversity, Climate Change, Law of the Sea, Ozone Layer Protection, Whaling
Geographic note
the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada
People
15 fieldsPer 1,000 population(1996 est.)
Male · female(1996 est.)
Age structure
- 0-14 years:
- 43% (male 20,975; female 20,246)
- 15-64 years:
- 52% (male 26,089; female 23,068)
- 65 years and over:
- 5% (male 2,112; female 2,471) (July 1996 est.)
Sex ratio
- at birth:
- 1.02 male(s)/female
- under 15 years:
- 1.04 male(s)/female
- 15-64 years:
- 1.13 male(s)/female
- 65 years and over:
- 0.86 male(s)/female
- all ages:
- 1.07 male(s)/female (1996 est.)
Government
Parliamentary democracy; Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Reginald Oswald PALMER (since 6 August 1992); Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June 1995) was appointed from members of the House of Assembly by the governor general
21 fieldsLegislature, 15 seatsone dot, one seat
Administrative divisions
6 parishes and 1 dependency*; Carriacou and Petit Martinique*, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint John, Saint Mark, Saint Patrick
Executive branch
- chief of state:
- Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a hereditary monarch, is represented by Governor General Reginald Oswald PALMER (since 6 August 1992)
- head of government:
- Prime Minister Keith MITCHELL (since 22 June 1995) was appointed from members of the House of Assembly by the governor general
- cabinet:
- Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice of the prime minister
Senate
consists of a 13-member body, 10 appointed by the government and three by the leader of the opposition
House of Representatives
- elections last held on 20 June 1995 (next to be held by NA October 2000);
- results - percent of vote by party NA;
- seats - (15 total) NDC 5, GULP 2, NNP 8
Political parties and leaders
- National Democratic Congress (NDC), George BRIZAN;
- Grenada United Labor Party (GULP), Sir Eric GAIRY;
- The National Party (TNP), Ben JONES;
- New National Party (NNP), Keith MITCHELL;
- Maurice Bishop Patriotic Movement (MBPM), Terrence MARRYSHOW;
- New Democratic Party (NDP), James MITCHELL;
- Unity Labor Party (ULP), Vincent BEACHE
International organization participation
ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, LAES, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WHO, WToO
Diplomatic representation in US
- chief of mission:
- Ambassador Denneth MODESTE
- chancery:
- 1701 New Hampshire Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20009
- telephone:
- [1] (202) 265-2561
US diplomatic representation
- chief of mission:
- the ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Grenada; Charge d'Affaires Dennis CARTER
- embassy:
- Point Salines, Saint George's
- mailing address:
- P. O. Box 54, Saint George's, Grenada, W.I.
- telephone:
- [1] (809) 444-1173 through 1178
Flag
- a rectangle divided diagonally into yellow triangles (top and bottom) and green triangles (hoist side and outer side) with a red border around the flag;
- there are seven yellow five-pointed stars with three centered in the top red border, three centered in the bottom red border, and one on a red disk superimposed at the center of the flag;
- there is also a symbolic nutmeg pod on the hoist-side triangle (Grenada is the world's second-largest producer of nutmeg, after Indonesia);
- the seven stars represent the seven administrative divisions
Economy
The economy is essentially agricultural and | centers on the traditional production of spices and tropical plants. | Agriculture accounts for about 10% of GDP and 80% of exports and | employs 24% of the labor force.
21 fieldsGDP composition by sector(1994 est.)
Budget(1996 est.)
Installed generating capacity, 12,500 kW
Economic overview
The economy is essentially agricultural and centers on the traditional production of spices and tropical plants. Agriculture accounts for about 10% of GDP and 80% of exports and employs 24% of the labor force. Tourism is the leading foreign exchange earner, followed by agricultural exports.
Manufacturing remains relatively undeveloped, but is growing due to a favorable private investment climate since 1983. The economy achieved an impressive average annual growth rate of 5.5% in 1986-91 but has slowed since 1992. The new MITCHELL government has moved forward with a plan to eliminate personal income tax in the hope of spurring domestic consumption.
Labor force
36,000; by occupation: services 31%, agriculture 24%, construction 8%, manufacturing 5%, other 32% (1985)
Exports
$24.2 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
- commodities:
- bananas, cocoa, nutmeg, fruit and vegetables, clothing, mace
- partners:
- Caricom 32.3%, UK 20%, US 13%, Netherlands 8.8% (1991)
Imports
$162.2 million (f.o.b., 1995 est.)
- commodities:
- food 25%, manufactured goods 22%, machinery 20%, chemicals 10%, fuel 6% (1989)
- partners:
- US 31.2%, Caricom 23.6%, UK 13.8%, Japan 7.1% (1991)
Transportation
5 fieldsAirports by runway lengthpaved left, unpaved right · 3 in all
Networkskm
Communications
Royal Grenada Police Force, Coast Guard
9 fieldsTelephone system
automatic, islandwide telephone system
- domestic:
- interisland VHF and UHF radiotelephone links
- international:
- new SHF radiotelephone links to Trinidad and Tobago and Saint Vincent; VHF and UHF radio links to Trinidad
Cite this entry
Central Intelligence Agency. “Grenada.” The World Factbook 1996. Archived by The Factbook, thefactbook.org/grenada/1996.