LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commending Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique
upon the occasion of its 40th 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, Carriacou & Petite Martinique upon the occasion of its 40th
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 Wind-
ward 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 like-
ly 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 un-colon-
ized 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 plan-
tations 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 through-
out 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 constitu-
tional 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, Carriacou & Petite Martinique 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, Carriacou & Petite Martinique upon the occasion of its
40th Anniversary of Independence.