Senate Resolution No. 1545

BY: Senator PERSAUD

COMMENDING Grenada upon the occasion of its 50th
Anniversary of Independence

WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those of true purpose and worthy accomplishment who foster a spirit of
community and service and, simultaneously, work diligently to preserve
their rich cultural heritage; and

WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its
long-standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to
commend Grenada upon the occasion of its 50th Anniversary of
Independence; and

WHEREAS, The State of Grenada consists of three islands-Grenada,
Carriacou and Petite Martinique which form the southern end of the
Windward Islands; with a population over 100,000, it lies between
Trinidad and Tobago to the south and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to
the north in the Eastern Caribbean; it is also 100 miles north of
Venezuela and 158 miles southwest of Barbados; and

WHEREAS, Formerly colonized for many years, first by the French and
then by the British, the islands of Grenada still retain traces of these
European influences in their culture, architecture and place names; its
capital, St. George's, is located on the southwest coast of Grenada and
is the seat of government and the main commercial center; and

WHEREAS, Before the 14th Century, the Carib Indians who displaced
the earlier population of Arawak Indians settled in Grenada; Christopher
Columbus, during his third voyage to the new world in 1498, sited the
island and named it Concepcion; and

WHEREAS, The origin of the name "Grenada" is ambiguous but it is
likely that Spanish sailors renamed the island for the City of Granada
in Spain; the French then adapted Granada to Grenade, and the British
followed suit, changing Grenade to Grenada; and

WHEREAS, European settlement was slow to follow due to the fierce
resistance of the warlike Carib Indians; the island remained uncolonized
for more than 150 years although Britain and France fought for control;
the French gained control of the island in 1672, and held onto it until
the British successfully invaded the island in 1762 during the Seven
Years' War and acquired Grenada by the Treaty of Paris in 1763; although
the French regained control in 1779, the island was restored to Britain
in 1783 by the Treaty of Versailles; and

WHEREAS, During the 18th Century, the British established sugar
plantations and slave labor was brought in from Africa to work on the
estates; natural disasters in the late 18th century destroyed the sugar
fields and paved the way for the introduction of other crops; cacao,
cotton, nutmeg and other valuable spices were introduced and Grenada
assumed a new importance to European traders; and

WHEREAS, Slavery was outlawed in 1834, at which the slave population
had reached 24,000; national political consciousness took shape
throughout the labor movement and Grenada joined the Federation of the
West Indies in 1958; and

WHEREAS, When the Federation was dissolved in 1962, Grenada evolved
first into an Associated State with internal self-government in 1967;
Grenada's independence was attained in 1974, and it became a
constitutional monarchy, with a Prime Minister and Queen Elizabeth II as
Head of State, represented by the Governor General; and

WHEREAS, Through their long and sustained commitment to freedom, the
people of Grenada have so heroically advanced that spirit of united
purpose and shared concern which is the unalterable manifestation of our
shared humanity; now, therefore, be it

RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Grenada upon the occasion of its 50th Anniversary of
Independence; and be it further

RESOLVED, That copies of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to H.E. Dame Ceceile LaGrenade, GMCMG,OBE, PhD, Governor
General of Grenada; The Honorable Dickon Mitchell, Prime Minister of
Grenada; Ambassador Tarlie Francis, Ambassador Extraordinary General &
Plenipotentiary of Grenada to the United States of America; and the
Grenada Cultural Festival Group.