79-425: Alleyne Jeremy Francique (born June 7, 1976) is a retired Grenadian athlete who specialized in 400 metres , his personal best being 44.47 seconds set in 2004. He is the 400m two-time world indoor champion in 2004 and 2006. He won his first world-level medal in 2003, when he finished third in the first World Athletics Final in 45.25 s. He had won a 400 metres gold medal and finished fifth in 4x400 metres relay at
158-515: A People's Revolutionary Government (PRG), headed by Maurice Bishop , who declared himself prime minister. His Marxist–Leninist government established close ties with Cuba , Nicaragua , and other communist bloc countries. All political parties except for the New Jewel Movement were banned and no elections were held during the four years of PRG rule. Some years later, a dispute developed between Bishop and certain high-ranking members of
237-548: A bloodless coup d'état and established the People's Revolutionary Government (PRG), headed by Maurice Bishop as prime minister. Bishop was later arrested and executed by members of the People's Revolutionary Army (PRA), which was used to justify a U.S.-led invasion in October 1983. Since then, the island has returned to a parliamentary representative democracy and has remained politically stable . A Governor General represents
316-498: A palisade surrounding a series of entrenchments. The French fleet anchored off the Grenada coast just north of St. George's on 2 July. The troops that d'Estaing landed that day consisted of the 1,400-man Irish Dillon Regiment and 700 troops drawn from the regiments Champagne, Foix, Auxerrois, and Hainault. With the arrival of the French, Macartney ordered his forces to withdraw behind
395-509: A 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.22/10, ranking it 131st globally out of 172 countries. The climate is tropical: hot and humid in the dry season and cooled by the moderate rainfall in the rainy season . Temperatures range from 22–32 °C (72–90 °F) and are rarely below 18 °C (64 °F). Grenada lies at the southern edge of the Main Development Region for tropical cyclone activity, though
474-584: A 48 hour period. Like much of the Caribbean, Grenada is depauperate of large animals . However, native opossums , armadillos , and introduced mona monkeys and mongooses are common. As of June 2024, the avifauna of Grenada included a total of 199 species according to Bird Checklists of the World . Of these, one is endemic ( Grenada dove ), one has been introduced by humans ( Rock Pigeon ), and 130 are rare or accidental . Approximately 2 million years ago, in
553-553: A British fleet under Admiral William Hotham also arrived, augmenting the West Indies fleet of Admiral Samuel Barrington . The British then captured French-held St. Lucia , despite d'Estaing's attempt at relief . The British used St. Lucia to monitor the French on Martinique , where d'Estaing was based. The British fleet was further reinforced in January 1779 by ten ships of the line under Admiral John Byron , who assumed command of
632-522: A brief period until the June 1995 election which was won by the New National Party under Keith Mitchell , who went on to win the 1999 and 2003 elections , serving for a record 13 years until 2008. Mitchell re-established relations with Cuba and also reformed the country's banking system, which had come under criticism over potential money laundering concerns. In 2000–02, much of the controversy of
711-505: A capital known as Fort Royal (later St. George's). To shelter from hurricanes, the French navy would often take refuge in the capital's natural harbour, as no nearby French islands had a natural harbour to compare with that of Fort Royal. The British captured Grenada in the Seven Years' War in 1762. Grenada was formally ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Paris in 1763. The French re-captured
790-429: A four-day total curfew, during which anyone leaving their home without approval would be shot on sight. US President Ronald Reagan stated that particularly worrying was the presence of Cuban construction workers and military personnel building a 10,000-foot (3,000 m) airstrip on Grenada. Bishop had stated the purpose of the airstrip was to allow commercial jets to land, but some US military analysts argued that
869-508: A landslide and the NNP returned to power, winning again by another landslide in 2018 . In March 2020, Grenada confirmed its first case of COVID-19 and, as of 17 March 2022 , 13,921 cases and 217 deaths had been recorded. On 23 June 2022, the NDC won the general election under Dickon Mitchell , who became prime minister the following day. The island of Grenada is the southernmost island in
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#1733085346525948-501: A multi-party system, with the largest parties being the centre-right New National Party (NNP) and the centre-left National Democratic Congress (NDC). In February 2013, the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) lost the election . The opposition New National Party (NNP) won all 15 seats in the general election. Keith Mitchell , leader of NNP, who had served three terms as prime minister between 1995 and 2008, returned to power. Mitchell subsequently led NNP to win all 15 seats in
1027-532: A re-enactment of the capture. D'Estaing did not see the popular work, but John Paul Jones attended a performance during a visit to Paris . During their occupation, the French began construction of a series of fortifications on Richmond Hill. Designed to defend against an attack like theirs, its cannons pointed to the landward rather than seaward side. These defences were completed by the British after 1783. Both Grenada and Saint Vincent remained in French hands until
1106-412: A research project into the era and specifically into the fact that Maurice Bishop's body was never discovered. On 7 September 2004, after being hurricane-free for 49 years, the island was directly hit by Hurricane Ivan . Ivan struck as a Category 3 hurricane , resulting in 39 deaths and damage or destruction to 90% of the island's homes. On 14 July 2005, Hurricane Emily , a Category 1 hurricane at
1185-522: A similar resolution, which was supported by 11 countries. However, the United States vetoed the motion. After the invasion, the pre-revolutionary Grenadian constitution came into operation once again. Eighteen members of the PRG/PRA were arrested on charges related to the murder of Maurice Bishop and seven others. The 18 included the top political leadership of Grenada at the time of the execution, along with
1264-419: A small fourth detachment made a demonstration from a location where the British might more reasonably expect an attack, in other words a decoy or distraction. On the evening of 3 July these formations moved out. The columns, each numbering 300 men, were led by Arthur Dillon , Édouard Dillon, and the comte de Noailles. Arthur Dillon's column was accompanied by an advance guard of 180 under the comte de Durat , and
1343-575: A small quantity of nutmeg trees on board, which they left in Grenada, and this was the beginning of Grenada's nutmeg industry that now supplies nearly 40% of the world's annual crop. In 1877, Grenada was made a Crown colony . Theophilus A. Marryshow founded the Representative Government Association (RGA) in 1918 to agitate for a new and participative constitutional dispensation for the Grenadian people. Due to Marryshow's lobbying,
1422-510: Is Mount St. Catherine , rising to 840 m (2,760 ft) above sea level. Other major mountains include Mount Granby and South East Mountain . Several small rivers with waterfalls flow into the sea from these mountains. The coastline contains several bays, most notably on the southern coast, split into numerous thin peninsulas. Grenada is home to four ecoregions: Windward Islands moist forests, Leeward Islands dry forests, Windward Islands dry forests, and Windward Islands xeric scrub. It had
1501-618: Is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Grenada Grenada ( / ɡ r ə ˈ n eɪ d ə / grə- NAY -də ; Grenadian Creole French : Gwenad , [ɡweˈnad] ) is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean Sea . The southernmost of the Windward Islands , Grenada is directly south of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and about 100 miles (160 km) north of Trinidad and
1580-602: Is far above his personal best. In 2006, however, he defended his title at the World Indoor Championships with 45.54 s. In March the same year he won a silver medal at the 2006 Commonwealth Games . He then finished sixth at the World Athletics Final and fourth at the World Cup . Francique ran track collegiately at Louisiana State University . This biographical article relating to Grenadian athletics
1659-453: The 2003 Central American and Caribbean Championships . The next year he won the gold medal at the World Indoor Championships , achieving the result 45.88 s. Later that year he competed in 400 metres at the 2004 Summer Olympics , and finished fourth with 44.66 s. In the 2005 World Championships in Helsinki , he competed in 400 metres but only reached the semi-finals, running 46.59 s which
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#17330853465251738-595: The 2022 election to the National Democratic Congress, with the NDC winning 9 seats to the NNP’s 6. Dickon Mitchell , a political newcomer who had only taken over as leader of the National Democratic Congress less than a year before the election and never held elected office, was subsequently appointed prime minister. Grenada is a full and participating member of both the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and
1817-400: The 48th Regiment of Foot and 24 artillery men. He also had over 400 militia and volunteers but did not consider these forces dependable because one third of them were of French extraction. He ordered the construction of significant fortifications on Hospital Hill, a prominence overlooking the island capital St. George's . The steep hillsides were fortified by stone walls, and the hilltop had
1896-725: The American Revolutionary War . Charles Hector, comte D'Estaing led French forces against the British -held West Indies island of Grenada . The French forces landed on 2 July and the assault occurred on the night of 3–4 July. The French forces assaulted the British fortifications on Hospital Hill, overlooking the island's capital, Saint George's . The British cannons were captured and turned against Fort George. British Governor Lord Macartney opened negotiations to surrender. Admiral d'Estaing controversially rejected Macartney's terms of capitulation, instead insisting on him adopting
1975-454: The Antilles archipelago, bordering the eastern Caribbean Sea and the western Atlantic Ocean, and roughly 140 km (90 mi) north of both Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. Its sister islands make up the southern section of the Grenadines, which include Carriacou , Petite Martinique , Ronde Island , Caille Island , Diamond Island , Large Island , Saline Island , and Frigate Island ;
2054-524: The Grenada United Labour Party (GULP), initially as a trade union, which led to the 1951 general strike for better working conditions. This sparked great unrest, and so many buildings were set ablaze that the disturbances became known as the "sky red" days. On 10 October 1951, Grenada held its first general elections based on universal adult suffrage, with Gairy's party winning six of the eight seats contested. From 1958 to 1962, Grenada
2133-626: The New National Party under Herbert Blaize, who served as prime minister until his death in December 1989. Ben Jones briefly succeeded Blaize as prime minister and served until the March 1990 election . This election was won by the National Democratic Congress under Nicholas Brathwaite, who served as prime minister until he resigned in February 1995. He was succeeded by George Brizan for
2212-575: The Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). Grenada, along with much of the Caribbean region, is a member of the Commonwealth of Nations . The organisation primarily consists of former British colonies and focuses on fostering international relations between its members. Capture of Grenada (1779) Comte D'Estaing The Capture of Grenada was an amphibious expedition in July 1779 during
2291-455: The Pliocene era, the area of what is nowadays Grenada emerged from a shallow sea as a submarine volcano. In recent times, volcanic activity has been non-existent, except for some of its hot spring and underwater volcano Kick 'em Jenny . Most of Grenada's terrain is made up of volcanic activity that took place 1–2 million years ago. There would have been many unknown volcanoes responsible for
2370-507: The "Island of Spice" due to its production of nutmeg and mace crops. 12°07′N 61°40′W / 12.117°N 61.667°W / 12.117; -61.667 Before the arrival of Europeans in the Americas , Grenada was inhabited by the indigenous peoples from South America. Christopher Columbus sighted Grenada in 1498 during his third voyage to the Americas. Following several unsuccessful attempts by Europeans to colonise
2449-541: The British Leeward Islands station. Throughout the first half of 1779, both fleets received additional reinforcements, after which the French fleet was superior to that of the British. Byron departed St. Lucia on 6 June in order to provide escort services to British merchant ships gathering at St. Kitts for a convoy to Europe, leaving d'Estaing free to act. D'Estaing and the French governor-general at Martinique, François Claude Amour, marquis de Bouillé , seized
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2528-550: The Caribbean Archaic Age , although definitive evidence is lacking. The earliest potential human presence comes from proxy evidence of lake cores, beginning c. 3600 BC . Less ephemeral, permanent villages began c. 100–200 . The population peaked between 750 and 1250, with major changes in population afterward, potentially the result of either the "Carib Invasion" (although highly contested), regional droughts, or both. In 1498, Christopher Columbus
2607-511: The GULP won the 1976 Grenadian general election , albeit with a reduced majority; however, the opposition deemed the results invalid due to fraud and the violent intimidation performed by the so-called ' Mongoose Gang ', a private militia loyal to Gairy. On 13 March 1979, whilst Gairy was out of the country, the NJM launched a bloodless coup which removed Gairy, suspended the constitution, and established
2686-493: The Grenadian Army, led a coup against the government of Maurice Bishop and placed Bishop under house arrest . These actions led to street demonstrations in various parts of the island because Bishop had widespread support from the population. Because Bishop was a widely popular leader, he was freed by impassioned supporters who marched en masse to his guarded residence from a rally in the capital's central square. Bishop then led
2765-557: The Head of State. The country is currently headed by King Charles III , King of Grenada , and 14 other commonwealth realms . The origin of the name "Grenada" is obscure, but it is likely that Spanish sailors named the island for the Andalusian city of Granada . The name "Granada" was recorded by Spanish maps in the 1520s and referred to the islands to the north as Los Granadillos ("Little Granadas"); although those named islands were deemed
2844-513: The House of Representatives again in 2018 , marking three separate occasions on which he had achieved this feat. In November 2021, Prime Minister Keith Mitchell said that the upcoming general elections which were constitutionally due no later than June 2023, was to be the last one for him. Mitchell advised the governor-general on 16 May 2022 to dissolve Parliament a year earlier than the constitutional requirement. The New National Party subsequently lost
2923-483: The NJM. Though Bishop cooperated with Cuba and the USSR on various trade and foreign policy issues, he sought to maintain a non-aligned status . Hardline Marxist party members, including communist Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard , deemed Bishop insufficiently revolutionary and demanded that he either step down or enter into a power-sharing arrangement. On 16 October 1983, Bernard Coard and his wife, Phyllis, backed by
3002-465: The South American mainland. Grenada consists of the island of Grenada itself, two smaller islands, Carriacou and Petite Martinique , and several small islands which lie to the north of the main island and are a part of the Grenadines. Its size is 348.5 square kilometres (134.6 sq mi), with an estimated population of 114,621 in 2024. Its capital is St. George's . Grenada is also known as
3081-607: The St. George's Anglican Church and the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (Scots Kirk) were restored in 2021). On July 1, 2024, Hurricane Beryl slammed into Grenada, causing damage throughout the country but especially in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, where the eye of the storm passed. Beryl gained international attention, in part, because of its rapid intensification from a tropical storm to Category 4 hurricane within just
3160-517: The United States for assistance. On 25 October 1983, combined forces from the United States and the Regional Security System (RSS) based in Barbados invaded Grenada in an operation codenamed Operation Urgent Fury . The US stated this was done at the behest of Barbados, Dominica and Governor-General Paul Scoon . Scoon had requested the invasion through secret diplomatic channels, but it
3239-612: The Wood Commission of 1921–22 concluded that Grenada was ready for constitutional reform in the form of a modified Crown colony government. This modification granted Grenadians the right to elect five of the 15 Legislative Council members on a restricted property franchise, enabling the wealthiest 4% of adult Grenadians to vote. Marryshow was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1943 . In 1950, Eric Gairy founded
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3318-487: The cannon inoperative). They also abandoned many valuables that had been brought up on the heights for safekeeping. The French used the captured cannons to fire upon Fort George. Realizing the situation was hopeless, Macartney raised the white flag. The French took about 700 prisoners, and claimed casualties of 36 killed and 71 wounded. British reports, however, claimed the French casualties numbered closer to 300. The French also claimed as prizes 200 merchant ships anchored in
3397-564: The capitulants." His council was unanimous in rejecting the proposed capitulation, and the British chose to surrender unconditionally instead. As a consequence, d'Estaing permitted his troops to pillage St. George's. Among the items taken or destroyed were most of Macartney's silver and plate, much of his clothing, and his personal papers. The latter came as a particularly harsh blow to the governor, for copies of those papers sent to St. Lucia with his wife for safeguarding were destroyed by fire. When d'Estaing invited Macartney to dine with him,
3476-447: The crowd to the island's military headquarters to reassert his power. Grenadian soldiers were dispatched in armoured vehicles by the Coard faction to retake the fort. A confrontation between soldiers and civilians at the fort ended in gunfire and panic. Three soldiers and at least eight civilians died in the tumult that also injured 100 others, a school-sponsored study later found in 2000. When
3555-405: The demonstration force numbered just 200. At 4:00 am on the 4th the demonstration force opened fire, while the other three columns charged up Hospital Hill. The British defenders panicked and most fled down the hill to the apparent safety of Fort George. The British, in their haste to leave the premises, neglected to spike some of the cannons (driving a metal spike into the touchhole , rendering
3634-508: The end of the war, when they were returned to Britain under the terms of the 1783 Treaty of Paris . The rule of the comte de Durat, who was appointed governor by d'Estaing, was reported by British residents to be harsh and oppressive. After the British resumed control, they cracked down on the predominantly Roman Catholic French-speaking population, leading to discontent and an exodus of French Grenadians to Trinidad . These religious and cultural divisions in Grenadian society contributed to
3713-609: The entire military chain of command directly responsible for the operation that led to the executions. Fourteen were sentenced to death , one was found not guilty, and three were sentenced to 45 years in prison. The death sentences were eventually commuted to terms of imprisonment. Those in prison have become known as the " Grenada 17 ". When US troops withdrew from Grenada in December 1983, Governor-General Scoon appointed an interim advisory council chaired by Nicholas Brathwaite to organise new elections. The first democratic elections since 1976 were held in December 1984 , and were won by
3792-414: The formation of Grenada including Grenada's capital St. George's with its horseshoe-shaped harbour, the carenage. Two extinct volcanoes, which are now crater lakes, Grand Etang Lake and Lake Antoine , would have also contributed to the formation of Grenada. Grenada is a constitutional monarchy with Charles III as head of state , represented locally by a governor-general . Executive power lies with
3871-427: The fortifications of Hospital Hill. D'Estaing spent 3 July reconnoitring the British position. Concerned that Byron might appear at any time, he decided to launch an attack on Hospital Hill. He first sent a parley flag to Macartney demanding his surrender; the British governor rejected the demand. D'Estaing's plan of attack called for three columns to attack the back side of the fortifications with bayonets , while
3950-414: The governor apologised for his garb, noting that the coat he was wearing was the only one left him. Macartney and other leading Grenadians were also refused parole , and were sent to France as prisoners of war. Admiral Byron had been alerted to the capture of Saint Vincent on 1 July and was en route with a force to retake it when he learned of the attack on Grenada. He immediately sailed there, arriving on
4029-399: The harbour. Admiral d'Estaing rejected Macartney's proposed terms of capitulations, countering with a list of articles that he had drafted. Macartney found d'Estaing's proposed articles "not merely unprecedented and humiliating, but so ensnaring and uncertain in their nature, extent, and aim that they might at any time supply a pretext for taking away the lives, together with the fortunes, of
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#17330853465254108-498: The harsher terms he had written. Macartney rejected those terms, choosing to surrender unconditionally. D'Estaing thereafter permitted his forces to loot the town, and Macartney was sent to France as a prisoner of war . On 5 July, French forces re-embarked when word arrived that a British fleet under Admiral John Byron was approaching. The two fleets battled the next day . The French severely damaged several British ships; however, both fleets successfully returned to their bases. Under
4187-510: The head of government, the prime minister . The governor-general role is mainly ceremonial, while the prime minister is usually the leader of the largest party in Parliament . The Parliament of Grenada consists of a Senate (13 members) and a House of Representatives (15 members). The government and the opposition recommend appoints of senators to the governor-general, while the population elect representatives for five-year terms. Grenada operates
4266-447: The initial shooting ended with Bishop's surrender, he and a group of seven of his closest supporters were taken prisoner and executed by firing squad. Besides Bishop, the group included three of his cabinet ministers, a trade union leader, and three service-industry workers. After the execution of Bishop, the People's Revolutionary Army (PRA) formed a military Marxist government with General Hudson Austin as chairman. The army declared
4345-525: The island during the American Revolutionary War , after Comte d'Estaing won the bloody land and naval Battle of Grenada in July 1779. However, the island was restored to Britain with the Treaty of Versailles in 1783. A decade later, dissatisfaction with British rule led to a pro-French revolt in 1795–96 led by Julien Fédon , which was successfully defeated by the British. As Grenada's economy grew, more and more African slaves were forcibly transported to
4424-467: The island due to resistance from resident Island Caribs , French settlement and colonisation began in 1649 and continued for the next century. On 10 February 1763, Grenada was ceded to the British under the Treaty of Paris . British rule continued until 1974 (except for a brief French takeover between 1779 and 1783). However, on 3 March 1967, it was granted full autonomy over its internal affairs as an Associated State , and from 1958 to 1962, Grenada
4503-411: The island has suffered only four landfalling hurricanes in the last several decades. Hurricane Janet passed over Grenada on 23 September 1955, with winds of 185 km/h (115 mph), causing severe damage. The most recent storm to hit Grenada was Hurricane Beryl on 1 July 2024, a strong category 4 hurricane which set the record for the earliest forming Category 5 Hurricane in recorded history and
4582-403: The island of Carriacou, causing widespread damage across all of Grenada and Carriacou. On Carriacou, there was no electricity and limited communication. Throughout the rest of the country, 95% of customers had no power and telecommunications were also damaged. Mitchell was defeated in the 2008 election by the NDC under Tillman Thomas ; however, he won the 2013 Grenadian general election by
4661-497: The island was completely subjugated by the French. Warfare continued during the 1600s between the French on Grenada and the Caribs of present-day Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines . Chocolate was brought to Grenada in 1714 with the introduction of cocoa beans . The French named their new colony La Grenade, and the economy was initially based on sugar cane and indigo , worked by African slaves. The French established
4740-470: The island. Britain eventually outlawed the slave trade within the British Empire in 1807. Slavery was completely outlawed in 1833, leading to the emancipation of all enslaved by 1838. To ease the subsequent labour shortage, migrants from India were brought to Grenada in 1857. Nutmeg was introduced to Grenada in 1843 when a merchant ship called in on its way to England from the East Indies. The ship had
4819-550: The late 1970s and early 1980s was once again brought into the public consciousness with the opening of the truth and reconciliation commission . The commission was chaired by a Roman Catholic priest , Father Mark Haynes, and was tasked with uncovering injustices arising from the PRA, Bishop's regime, and before. It held a number of hearings around the country. Brother Robert Fanovich, head of Presentation Brothers' College (PBC) in St. George's, tasked some of his senior students with conducting
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#17330853465254898-653: The main island of Grenada, mainly on the windward and northern portions of the island. Grenada was also impacted by Hurricane Ivan on 7 September 2004, which caused severe damage and thirty-nine deaths, and Hurricane Emily on 14 July 2005, which peaked as a category 5 hurricane on July 16 over the greater Caribbean region. Hurricane Emily caused serious damage in Carriacou and in the north of Grenada, which had been relatively lightly affected by Hurricane Ivan; Grenada has had to be put on Tropical Storm Watch several times since. It took over five years to officially recover from Ivan, although recovery continued for decades after (e.g.,
4977-771: The morning of 6 July. D'Estaing, alerted to Byron's intentions on the 5th, embarked most of the troops and weighed anchor at 4:00 am on the 6th. The fleets battled off Grenada , with d'Estaing prevailing over Byron's disorganised attack. There were no further major actions in the West Indies before d'Estaing sailed north and led an unsuccessful siege of British-held Savannah, Georgia in September. D'Estaing's successes in capturing Grenada and defeating Byron made him immensely popular in France. Playwright and actor Pierre-Germain Parisau wrote Veni, Vidi, Vici, ou La Prise de Grenade containing
5056-695: The only reason for constructing such a long and reinforced runway was so that it could be used by heavy military transport planes. The contractors, American and European companies, and the EEC , which provided partial funding, all claimed the airstrip did not have military capabilities. Reagan asserted that Cuba, under the direction of the Soviet Union, would use Grenada as a refuelling stop for Cuban and Soviet airplanes loaded with weapons destined for Central American communist insurgents. The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Barbados , and Jamaica all appealed to
5135-404: The opportunity to begin a series of operations against nearby British possessions . Their first target, the isle of Saint Vincent , fell on 18 June, and d'Estaing turned his attention to other islands. He had hoped to capture Barbados , a key British possession, but after making no progress against the prevailing easterly trade winds , he turned his attention instead to Grenada . Grenada
5214-568: The property of the King of Spain , there are no records to suggest the Spanish ever attempted to settle Grenada. The French maintained the name (as "La Grenade" in French) after settlement and colonisation in 1649. On 10 February 1763, the island of La Grenade was ceded to the British under the Treaty of Paris . The British renamed it "Grenada", one of many place-name anglicisations they made there. The island
5293-454: The region with the Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda and mapmaker Juan de la Cosa . Vespucci is reported to have renamed the island "Mayo", although this is the only map where the name appears. The indigenous Arawak who once lived on the island before the arrival of the Europeans gave the name Camajuya . Grenada is thought to have been first populated by peoples from South America during
5372-477: The remaining islands to the north belong to St Vincent and the Grenadines. Most of the population lives in Grenada, and major towns there include the capital, St. George's, Grenville and Gouyave . The largest settlement on the sister islands is Hillsborough on Carriacou. Grenada is of volcanic origin, as evident in its soil, mountainous interior, and several explosion craters, including Lake Antoine, Grand Etang Lake , and Levera Pond . Grenada's highest point
5451-693: The strongest hurricane to develop within the Main Development Region (MDR) of the Atlantic before the month of July. While all three inhabited Grenadian islands were impacted, it passed directly over the island of Carriacou causing total devastation and the damage and destruction of many vessels (both in water and ashore) in Tyrrel Bay and the Carriacou Mangroves. Petit Martinique also suffered considerable damage with much more limited damage occurring on
5530-461: The terms of the Treaty of Paris , France returned Grenada to British control at the end of the war. Following the entry of France into the American War of Independence as an American ally in early 1778, French Admiral the comte D'Estaing arrived in the West Indies in early December 1778 commanding a fleet of twelve ships of the line and a number of smaller vessels. At about the same time
5609-464: The time, struck the northern part of the island with 80-knot (150 km/h; 92 mph) winds, killing one person and causing an estimated US$ 110 million (EC$ 297 million) worth of damage. Agriculture, and in particular the nutmeg industry, suffered serious losses, but that event caused changes in crop management and it is hoped that as new nutmeg trees mature, the industry will gradually rebuild. On July 1, 2024, Hurricane Beryl (2024) struck
5688-514: Was a failed venture by the English in 1609, but they were massacred and driven away by the native "Carib" peoples. In 1649, a French expedition of 203 men from Martinique , led by Jacques Dyel du Parquet , founded a permanent settlement on Grenada. They signed a peace treaty with the Carib chief Kairouane , but within months conflict broke out between the two communities. This lasted until 1654 when
5767-591: Was given its first European name by Christopher Columbus who sighted it on his third voyage to the region in 1498 and named it "La Concepción" in honour of the Virgin Mary . It is said that he may have actually named it "Assumpción", but it is uncertain, as he is said to have sighted what are now Grenada and Tobago from a distance and named them both at the same time. However, it became accepted that he named Tobago "Assumpción" and Grenada "La Concepción". The year after, Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci travelled through
5846-481: Was granted on 7 February 1974 under the leadership of Eric Gairy, who became the first prime minister of Grenada . Grenada opted to remain within the Commonwealth , retaining Queen Elizabeth as Monarch , represented locally by a governor-general . Civil conflict gradually broke out between Eric Gairy's government and some opposition parties, including the Marxist New Jewel Movement (NJM). Gairy and
5925-487: Was not made public for his safety. Progress was rapid, and within four days the Americans had removed the military government of Hudson Austin. The invasion was criticised by the governments of Britain, Trinidad and Tobago , and Canada. The United Nations General Assembly condemned it as "a flagrant violation of international law" by a vote of 108 to 9, with 27 abstentions. The United Nations Security Council considered
6004-490: Was one of Britain's richest colonies , producing significant quantities of sugar on its plantations. Lord Macartney , the British governor, had been alerted to the possibility of a French attack. He made repeated requests for support to Admiral Byron and the British commander at St. Kitts but was told that Saint Vincent was the principal French interest. However, Byron stated he would bring relief should Grenada be attacked. Macartney had at his disposal 101 soldiers drawn from
6083-596: Was part of the Federation of the West Indies , a short-lived federation of British West Indian colonies . Independence was granted on 7 February 1974 under the leadership of Eric Gairy , who became the first prime minister of Grenada as a sovereign state . The new country became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations , with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. In March 1979, the Marxist–Leninist New Jewel Movement overthrew Gairy's government in
6162-532: Was part of the Federation of the West Indies . After the federation's collapse, Grenada was granted full autonomy over its internal affairs as an Associated State on 3 March 1967. Herbert Blaize of the Grenada National Party (GNP) was the first Premier of the Associated State of Grenada from March to August 1967. Eric Gairy served as Premier from August 1967 until February 1974. Independence
6241-479: Was the first European to report sighting Grenada during his third voyage, naming it 'La Concepción', but Amerigo Vespucci may have renamed it 'Mayo' in 1499. Although it was deemed the property of the King of Spain, there are no records to suggest the Spanish attempted to settle. However, various Europeans are known to have passed and both fought and traded with the indigenous peoples there. The first known settlement attempt
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