Grenada Overview Country Overview Grenada is located in the Caribbean. The island is of volcanic origin and is divided by a central mountain range. It is the most southerly of the Windward Islands. Tropical rainforests, gorges and the stunning beauty of dormant volcanoes make this a fascinating and diverse landscape with some of the finest beaches in the world. In the capital, St George’s, The Carenage, a picturesque inner harbour with 18th-century warehouses and restaurants, the botanical gardens and Fort George (built by the French in 1705) are all worth a visit. Travelling north from the capital towards Spice Country, visitors pass through some of the prettiest fishing villages on the island. Levera Bay and Grand Anse are considered to be two of the island’s best beaches. The highest waterfall is Mount Carmel with two falls cascading over 21m (70ft) to clear pools below. Local specialities include calaloo soup, crabs, conches (lambi) and avocado ice-cream. The local rum and beer, Carib, is excellent. The nightlife is based in hotels, with discos, organised shows and cabarets. General Information Area: 344.5 sq km (133 sq miles). Population: 100,100 (1998). Population Density: 290.6 per sq km. Capital: St George’s. Population: 4439 (1991). GEOGRAPHY: Grenada is located in the Caribbean. The island is of volcanic origin and is divided by a central mountain range. It is the most southerly of the Windward Islands. Agriculture is based on nutmeg, cocoa, sugar cane and bananas. Tropical rainforests, gorges and the stunning beauty of dormant volcanoes make this a fascinating and diverse landscape with some of the finest beaches in the world. Carriacou and some of the other small islands of the Grenadines are also part of Grenada. Government: Constitutional monarchy. Head of State: HM Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor-General Sir Daniel Williams since 1996. Head of Government: Prime Minister Keith Mitchell since 1995. Language: English. French patois is spoken by a minority. Religion: Roman Catholic 53 per cent, Anglican 14 per cent, as well as other smaller Protestant denominations. Time: GMT - 4. Electricity: 220/240 volts AC, 50Hz. Telephone Full IDD service. Country code: 1 473. No area codes are in use. Coin and telephone card payphones are available. Telephone cards can be purchased at the offices of Cable & Wireless Grenada and from other agents. Mobile telephone 800 MHz analog or TDMA network. Network provider is Cable & Wireless Caribbean Cellular (website: www.caribcell.com). Handsets can be hired. GSM 900/1900 network operated by Grenada Wireless Ventures has recently been established. Fax Cable & Wireless Grenada provide a service in St George’s. Internet Internet is widely available throughout Grenada. Main ISPs include Caribsurf (website: www.caribsurf.com). Telegram Cable & Wireless Grenada offer telegraphic services. Post The post office in St George’s (at Burns Point) is open Mon-Thurs 0800-1530, Fri 0800-1630 (closed weekends). Press All newspapers are in English, and are printed weekly or monthly. They include The Grenadian Voice, Grenada Today and Grenada Times. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.19 12.10 6.195 5.975 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 13.79 9.455 6.130 5.995 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British 1 No Yes Australian Yes No Yes Canadian 1 No Yes USA 1 No Yes OtherEU Yes No Yes Japanese Yes No Yes PASSPORTS: Passport valid for six months required by all except: (a) 1. nationals of the UK, the USA and Canada holding the following photograph-bearing documents: Driver’s Licence, national insurance card, social security card, Voter’s Registration Card or a Birth Certificate accompanied by Photo ID (US nationals only); (b) nationals of CARICOM countries holding the above photograph-bearing documents or valid national identity cards. Note: Travellers are advised to carry a valid passport. VISAS: Required by all except the following: (a) nationals of countries shown in the chart above including Australian External Territories, French Overseas Dependencies and Netherlands Associated Territories; (b) nationals of Commonwealth countries, British Dependent Territories and New Zealand Associated and Dependent Territories; (c) nationals of Argentina, Bulgaria, Chile, Czech Republic, Iceland, Israel, Korea (Rep), Liechtenstein, Norway, Poland, Slovak Republic, Taiwan and Venezuela; (d) nationals of CIS countries, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Romania and Slovenia, who can apply for a tourist visa on arrival at a cost of £5 or equivalent in East Caribbean Dollars. Note: Visitors may be required to deposit an amount equal to the fare of their return passage. Types of visa and cost: Tourist and Business: £35. Validity: Up to three months. Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission) well in advance of intended day of departure; see Contact Addresses section for details. Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Completed application form. (c) Two passport-size photos. (d) Return or onward ticket. (e) Fee payable by cash or postal order (to include additional £4 fee to cover postage). (f) Stamped self-addressed envelope. (g) Confirmation of hotel reservation. (h) For Business visas, letter from contact in Grenada. Working days required: One to three days. Money Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (EC$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of EC$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of EC$1, and 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. Note: The East Caribbean Dollar is tied to the US Dollar. Currency exchange: National Commercial Bank, the Grenada Co-operative Bank, Barclays Bank, Grenada Bank of Commerce and Scotia Bank are all found on the island. Credit & debit cards: American Express, Visa, MasterCard, Diners Club and other major cards are accepted by most shops, car hire companies and hotels. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: Widely accepted. To avoid additional exchange rate charges, travellers are advised to take travellers cheques in US Dollars. Currency restrictions: No restrictions on the import or export of local or foreign currency. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Eastern Caribbean Dollar against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date May ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 3.93 4.12 4.27 4.30 $1.00= 2.70 2.70 2.70 2.70 Banking hours: Mon-Thurs 0800-1500, Fri 0800-1700. Duty Free The following goods may be imported into Grenada without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250g of tobacco; 1l of wine or spirits. Prohibited items: Narcotics; arms and ammunition; fruit and vegetables. Note: Licensed firearms must be declared. A local licence can be obtained from the police. Public Holidays Jan 1 2003 New Year’s Day. Feb 7 Independence Day. Apr 18 Good Friday. Apr 21 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. Jun 9 Whit Monday. Jun 19 Corpus Christi. Aug 4-5 Emancipation Days. Aug 11-12 Carnival. Oct 25 Thanksgiving Day. Dec 25-26 Christmas. Jan 1 2004 New Year’s Day. Feb 7 Independence Day. Apr 9 Good Friday. Apr 12 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. May 31 Whit Monday. Jun 10 Corpus Christi. Aug 2-3 Emancipation Days. Aug 9-10 Carnival. Oct 25 Thanksgiving Day. Dec 25-26 Christmas. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No 1 Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio No N/A Malaria No N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from all travellers over one year of age coming from infected areas. Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated and relatively safe, but there is still some risk of diarrhoea, particularly in rural areas. Bottled water is available. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. Other risks: Immunisation against hepatitis A, B and diphtheria is sometimes recommended. Rabies is present. For those at high risk, vaccination before arrival should be considered. If you are bitten, seek medical advice without delay. See the Health appendix for further details. Health care: There is a general hospital in St George’s and small hospitals in Mirabeau and Carriacou. Health insurance is advised. Travel - International AIR: The main airlines serving Grenada are British Airways (BA) which offers a direct flight from London on Tuesday; Monarch Airlines which flies twice weekly from London on Thursday and Saturday; BWIA International which offers daily flights from London via Port of Spain (Trindad) with connections to Grenada; and American Airlines, Air Europe, Martin Air, LIAT and Caribbean Star, which offer connections with Grenada from other Caribbean islands. Approximate flight times: From Grenada to London is 8 hours, to Los Angeles is 9 hours and to New York is 5 hours. International airports: Grenada International Airport (Point Salines) (GND) is 11km (8 miles) south of St George’s. Taxis and buses are available. Facilities include duty-free shops, bureaux de change, car hire (Dollar), handicraft shops, snack bars, boutiques and tourist information. Departure tax: EC$50 per adult, payable in cash. EC$25 for children five-11 years of age. SEA: St George’s, considered the most picturesque port in the Caribbean, is a port of call for many cruise lines, including Cunard, Costa and Royal Viking. Geest Line (website: www.geestline.co.uk) sails from the UK via Martinique, Antigua, St Lucia and Barbados. Around 70 per cent of tourist arrivals are cruise-ship passengers. An inter-island ferry service sails to Carriacou, Petit Martinique and Isle de Ronde up to four times weekly. Check at a local tourist office for times and fares. Travel - Internal SEA: Water-taxis are available from St George’s across the Carenage to the Esplanade or Grand Anse Beach. A large number of yachts and boats are available to charter. Arrangements can be made via the Grenada Board of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). ROAD: There is a network of approximately 1046km (650 miles) of paved roads. Most main roads are in good condition but they are narrow and winding. Traffic drives on the left. Bus: These are cheap but slow. The main bus terminal is located at the west end of Granby Street. Minibuses run between Hillsborough, Windward and Tyrell Bay. Taxi: Taxis are the most efficient means of transport. They are available from the airport, the Carenage and most hotels. Car hire: A large range of vehicles are available in St George’s or St Andrew’s. Credit cards are not always accepted by car hire companies. Documentation: A temporary licence to drive is available from local authorities on presentation of a valid driving licence. The cost is approximately EC$30. An International Driving Permit is recommended, although it is not legally required. TRAVEL TIMES: The following chart gives approximate travel times (in hours and minutes) from St George’s to other towns/islands in Grenada. Air Road Sea Grenville - 0.35 - Carriacou 0.20 - 1.30 Accommodation HOTELS: Grenada offers a variety of modern, luxurious hotels. Pre-booking is essential. An eight per cent government tax is added to all hotel and restaurant bills, and a ten per cent service charge is added to the bill by many hotels and restaurants. Contact the Board of Tourism for details and exact price listings (see Contact Addresses section). Further information is available from the Grenada Hotel Association, Le Marquis Complex, Morne Rouge, St George’s (tel: 444 1353; fax: 444 4847; e-mail: grenhota@caribsurf.com; website: www.grenadahotelsinfo.com). GUEST-HOUSES: There are several guest-houses, some of which offer self-catering facilities. SELF-CATERING: There are a growing number of apartments and villas available for hire. Contact the Grenada Board of Tourism for details (see Contact Addresses section). CAMPING: Allowed in Grand Etang National Park, and on school and church grounds in Carriacou (permission must be sought first). Introduction The island of Grenada dwarfs the chain of islands spinning off to the northeast known as the Grenadines. The capital of Grenada, St George’s, is on the southwest coast near one of the island’s best beaches at Grand Anse; another is at Levera Bay near the island’s northern tip. At Grand Etang, an extinct volcano cradles a beautiful 30-acre (12 hectares) lake. There are several waterfalls in Grenada, the most spectacular of which are the Annandale Falls, a 15m (50ft) cascade that flows into a mountain stream, and the Mount Carmel Waterfall, the island’s highest waterfall, which has two falls cascading over 21m (70ft) to clear pools below. St George’s: The Carenage, a picturesque inner harbour with 18th-century warehouses and restaurants, the botanical gardens, the zoo and Fort George (built by the French in 1705) are all worth a visit. See also the outer harbour, St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church and Fort Frederick. Spice Country: On the way here, north from the capital, visitors pass through some of the prettiest fishing villages on the island. Hidden among the red roofs of Gouyave is the factory where spices are sorted, dried and milled. The Dougaldston Estate is a traditional plantation in the centre of the nutmeg- and cocoa-growing region. Sauteurs/Morne des Sauteurs: From these rocks, the last of the island’s Carib Indians plummeted to their deaths in 1650. Carriacou: In ‘the Grenadines of Grenada’, this island is a yachtsman’s paradise. The Carriacou Museum in Hillsborough has an impressive collection of Amerindian artefacts and mementoes dating back to occupation by the French and British. Sport & Activities Watersports: Grenada’s best-known white-sand beach, the Grand Anse, is complemented by several others, notably those on neighbouring Morne Rouge, the deserted beaches on the southern coast and Levera Bay, which is also a favourite surfing spot. Apart from in the sea, swimming is also possible at several of the islands’ rainforest pools and lakes, many of which are formed by waterfalls, such as the Concord Falls and the Annandale Falls. Diving and snorkelling can be practised widely, with the Grand Anse beach being the starting point for many diving trips to the nearby reefs and islands. Most dive sites are easily accessible from the coast. Some of the best are Molinière Reef, located approximately 5km (3 miles) from St George’s; Martin’s Bay, close to Grand Anse, also a popular snorkelling spot; and Channel Reef. The neighbouring island of Carricou, part of the Grenadines, is known as the ‘island of coral reefs’ and offers ideal diving conditions, with a rich marine life. Yachting is also extremely popular and a number of major yacht races and regattas are held throughout the year, notably the January Sailing Festival (lasting five days) and the sailing regatta in Tyrell Bay on Carricou. Particularly popular sailing destinations in the area include the Grenadine islands Sugar Loaf, Green Island and Sandy Island. A variety of small and large craft may be hired. Contact the Grenada Board of Tourism for details. Visitors can also make boat trips on traditional wooden schooners, which is a popular way to cross the 5km (3-mile) distance between the islands of Carricou and Petit Martinique. Walking: The Grand Etang National Park and Forest Reserve contains numerous marked trails. The road to the park passes by the northwestern edge of Mount Sinai (703m/2306ft), with its beautiful crater lake, the Grand Etang. The park contains a wealth of interesting flora and fauna, and there are spectacular flower displays depending on the season. Another volcanic crater lake, Lake Antoine, is located in the Levara National Park, a well known destination for birdwatching. The La Sagesse Nature Reserve, located in the south, is a protected bird sanctuary with several rivers, mangroves and salt lakes. Social Profile Food & Drink: Local specialities include seafood and vegetables, calaloo soup, crabs, conches (lambi) and nutmeg ice-cream. Most hotels and restaurants offer international cuisine, serving a large variety of tropical fish and English, Continental, American and exotic West Indian food. A local company supplies a wide variety of local fruit juices and nectars. The local rum and beer, Carib, is excellent. Bars are stocked with most popular wines and spirits, including various brands of whisky, rum and brandy. Nightlife: Home to the vibrant calypso and reggae music, Grenada offers a good mix of local and international restaurants and bars. Many resorts provide night-time entertainment, such as discotheques, organised shows and cabarets. The Regal Cinema has recently been refurbished and hosts many multi-cultural events as well as showing films. Shopping: Special purchases include leather crafts, jewellery, spices, straw goods, printed cottons and other fabrics. There are a number of duty-free shops selling quality goods from all over the world. A vendors market has now opened close to the Grand Anse Beach with 82 vendors offering various goods and services. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1600, Sat 0800-1300. Supermarkets are usually open Mon-Sat 0900-1900. Special Events: Grenada’s annual carnival in August involves colourful street parties, steel bands and calypso competitions. There are several yachting and fishing events throughout the year; in addition, public holidays are usually accompanied by some form of special celebration. For full details of events, contact the Grenada Board of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of the major festivals and special events celebrated in Grenada during 2003: Jan 31-Feb 4 2003 Grenada Sailing Festival, Grand Anse Beach. Apr 25-27 Maroon Music Festival. Apr 26-27 Grenada Triathlon. May Spice Jazz Festival. Aug Carnival; Rainbow City Festival, Grenville. Dec Carriacou Parang Festival. Social Conventions: Local culture reflects the island’s history of British and French colonial rule and, of course, the African cultures imported with the slaves – African influence is especially noticeable on the island of Carriacou in the Big Drum and in Grenada with the Shango dance. The Roman Catholic Church also exerts a strong influence on the way of life. Local people are generally friendly and courteous. Dress is casual and informal but beachwear is not welcome in town. Tipping: A ten per cent service charge is added by most hotels and restaurants. If no charge is added, it is customary to leave a ten per cent tip. Business Profile Economy: Grenada’s agricultural economy is centred on the production of spices. The principal exports are nutmeg, cocoa, bananas and sugar cane. There are extensive timber reserves but exploitation is being strictly controlled to prevent deforestation. The fishing industry has grown in recent years and now generates one sixth of export earnings. There are thought to be some oil and gas deposits off the southern coast of Grenada, and attempts to locate them continue. Industry is confined to production of nutmeg oil and rum, as well as drinks, paint and paper. Tourism (particularly stopover and cruise-ship visitors) has developed gradually since the mid 1980s but the industry is now the island’s leading foreign exchange earner. This has, to some extent, eased the depressed condition of the economy which has suffered from the general low level of world commodity prices during the last ten years or so. Grenada has also developed a sizeable financial services industry in recent years, but has fallen foul of global efforts to tighten regulation. The other main source of income for the island has been remittances from the estimated 100,000 Grenadians working abroad, mainly in the USA, Canada and Europe. Grenada also relies on foreign aid from the USA, the UK, Canada and the EU. This has declined in recent years and the Government has been looking elsewhere (including Libya) for financial support. The UK and the USA are the island’s main trading partners. Grenada is a member of the Caribbean trade bloc, CARICOM, and the Organisation of East Caribbean States. Business: All correspondence and trade literature is in English. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1300-1600. Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: Grenada Chamber of Industry and Commerce, PO Box 129, Decaul Building, Mount Gay, St George’s (tel: 440 2937 or 440 8858; fax: 440 6627; e-mail: gcic@caribsurf.com; website: www.spiceisle.com). Conferences/Conventions: Eight hotels offer meeting facilities, seating from 25 to 300 persons. For details, contact Grenada Board of Tourism (see Contact Addresses section). Climate Tropical. The dry season runs from January to May. The rainy season runs from June to December. The average temperature is 28°C (82°F). Required clothing: Tropical lightweights and cool summer clothing. History and Government History: For a small island, Grenada has had a turbulent history. The earliest known inhabitants were Arawak Indians, who were then displaced by Caribs some time before AD 1300. The first serious attempt at settlement by Europeans was in 1609, but the Caribs resisted fiercely and it was not until 1650 that the French were able to claim the island. It remained a French colony until taken by the British in 1783. Grenada was an important centre in the slave trade between Africa and the sugar plantations of the West Indies. With the emancipation of slaves and the disintegration of the plantation system, the majority of islanders came to depend on a few local industries and their own smallholdings. Radical politics have been a hallmark of Grenadian society since the early 1950s when trade union organisation, promoted by Eric Gairy, a firebrand ex-teacher, took root among the workforce. Gairy ultimately led Grenada into independence from the UK in February 1974, and subsequently won three elections for the premiership. Not all were content with Gairy’s regime, however, and among his opponents was the New JEWEL Movement (Joint Endeavour for Welfare, Education and Liberation), a group of mainly young, educated left-wingers led by Maurice Bishop. In the spring of 1979, the NJM deposed Gairy in a bloodless coup. The USA believed that the NJM was determined to turn Grenada into a mini-Cuba, and from 1980 onwards increased political pressure against the Government. The question of how to respond to this, and other issues, split the NJM leadership, and led to the military coup of October 1983 in which Bishop was killed. The coup provided a pretext for the US invasion and the restoration of the pre-NJM system of government under the tutelage of the USA. Four existing political parties allied to form the New National Party (NNP), under the leadership of the veteran politician Herbert Blaize, to keep out Eric Gairy who was still on the scene. At the general election in December 1984, the NNP won handsomely. The NNP has dominated Grenadian politics ever since, and won the most recent election held in January 1999, where it swept the board for the House of Representatives. Party leader Keith Mitchell is now into his second term as Prime Minister. Mitchell’s government continues the NNP tradition of very close relations with the USA, although a sharp drop in financial support led Mitchell, along with other East Caribbean leaders, to visit Libya in 2001 in search of economic assistance. The Organisation of East Caribbean States plays an important part in Grenada’s foreign policy. A proposed political union comprising the member of the organisation has aroused fierce opposition because of historic inter-island rivalries, although its supporters (who include the Mitchell government) feel it essential to the future prosperity and security of the region. Government: Grenada is a Dominion within the British Commonwealth; the head of state is the British monarch, represented locally by a Governor. Executive power rests with the Cabinet while responsibility for legislation rests with a bicameral parliament comprising the 13-member Senate and the 15-member House of Representatives. Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.