Grenada Political Parties & Government Institutions
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GRENADA
Grenada was inhabited by the Arawaks since the 1st Century AD, and later by the Caribs long before Columbus “discovered” it in 1498. He named it Concepcion. Later Spanish sailors renamed it Granada. The French were the first to settle the island, changing the name to Grenade, and defeating the Caribs – many of whom jumped to their death off a precipice in the north of the island rather than submit to the French. The British won possession in 1763 and named the island Grenada. They imported slaves from Africa, and established sugar plantations.
Grenada became independent in 1974, and its first Prime Minister was Sir Eric Gairy. The United States invaded the country in 1984 to prevent a communist government from taking shape.  The present Prime Minister is Dr. Keith Mitchell who won  re-election in 2003.

1649                     French colony
1762                     British colony
1779 - 1783         French occupation
1833 -  1 Jan 1960  part of the Windward Islands (Barbados [to 1885], Dominica [from 1940], Grenada, St. Lucia [from 1838], St. Vincent, Tobago [to 1889])
3 Jan 1958 - 31 May 1962  part of the Federation of the West Indies
27 Feb 1967        Associated state
7 Feb 1974          Independence
Economic Notes:
Sq. km: 344
Population: 89,258
Ethnic groups: black 82%;  mixed black and European 13%;  European and East Indian 5%;  trace of Arawak/Carib Amerindian
Capital: St. George's
Governor General:  Sir Daniel Williams (since 9 August 1996)
Prime Minister:  Dr. Keith Claudius Mitchell  The government is formed by the New National Party.
Deputy Prime Minister: Gregory Bowen
Opposition Leader: Tillman Thomas
Independence Day: 7 February 1974 (from UK)
Parliament: Parliament has two chambers. The House of Representatives has 15 members, elected for a five year term in single-seat constituencies. The Senate has 13 appointed
members.
Last elections held:  27 November 2003 (next to be held by November 2008):
            New National Party  (NNP)  8 seats
            National Democratic Congress (NDC)  7 seats
            Grenada United Labour Party (GULP) 0 seats
            People Labour Movement (PLM)  0 seats

Political Parties with web sites


Grenada Government Media

Grenada Political Newspapers
(Not yet available)

Grenada Government Institutions
Government of Grenada
Prime Minister's Office
 

Websites with information about Grenada Elections
(Not yet available)

Grenada Newspapers
Grenada Today

Major Country websites
 www.spiceisle.com -  links to a host of other Grenadian sites

Broadcast Media
GBC Radio-105.5 FM
GBN Radio-535

Chief Ministers
1954 -        1956                Eric Gairy (1st time)       (b. 1922 - d. 1997)
1958 -    Jan 1960             Eric Gairy (2nd time)
Jan 1960 -  Mar 1961       Herbert A. Blaize (1st time)       (b. 1918 - d. 1989)
Mar 1961 -  Aug 1961     George E.D. Clyne
Aug 1961 - 19 Jun 1962  Eric Gairy (3rd time)
Sep 1962 -    Aug 1967    Herbert A. Blaize (2nd time)
Aug 1967 - 1974               Eric Gairy
Prime Ministers
1974 -  13 Mar 1979                 Eric Gairy ( became Sir Eric Gairy in 1977)
13 Mar 1979 - 19 Oct 1983     Maurice Bishop  (b. 1944 - d. 1983)  (de facto deposed 14 Oct 1983)
19 Oct 1983 - 25 Oct 1983      Hudson Austin     (b. 1939)  (head of Revolutionary Military Council)
 9 Dec 1983 -  4 Dec 1984       Nicholas Brathwaite (1st time)     (b. 1925)  (chairman interim advisory council)
 4 Dec 1984 - 19 Dec 1989      Herbert A. Blaize
20 Dec 1989 - 16 Mar 1990     Ben Jones              (b. 1924)
16 Mar 1990 -  1 Feb 1995      Nicholas Brathwaite (2nd time)
 1 Feb 1995 - 22 Jun 1995       George Brizan        (b. 1942)
22 Jun 1995 -  present            Keith Mitchell        (b. 1946)

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