The Epic Interactive Encyclopedia 1997/The_Epic_Interactive_Encyclopedia_97.iso/g/grenada/infotext

Text File | 1992-09-03 | 4KB | 88 lines

Island country in the Caribbean, the
southernmost of the Windward Islands.
government The constitution, which dates from
full independence in 1974, creates a system
modelled on that of Britain, with a resident
governor general, representing the British
monarch, as the formal head of state, and a
prime minister and cabinet drawn from and
collectively responsible to parliament.
Parliament consists of two chambers, a
15-member house of representatives, elected
by universal suffrage, and a senate of 13,
appointed by the governor general, seven on
the advice of the prime minister, three on
the advice of the leader of the opposition,
and three after wider consultation. history
Prior to the arrival of Christopher Columbus
in 1498, Grenada was inhabited by Carib
Indians. The island was eventually colonized
by France in 1650, and ceded to Britain in
1783. Grenada remained a British colony until
1958, when it joined the Federation of the
West Indies until its dissolution in 1962.
Internal self-government was achieved in 1967
and full independence within the Commonwealth
in 1974. The early political life of the
nation was dominated by two figures: Eric
Gairy, a trade-union leader who founded the
Grenada United Labour Party (GULP) in 1950,
and Herbert Blaize, of the Grenada National
Party (GNP). On independence, in 1974, Gairy
was elected prime minister. He was knighted
in 1977 but his rule became increasingly
autocratic and corrupt and in 1979 he was
replaced in a bloodless coup by the leader of
the left-wing New Jewel Movement (NJM),
Maurice Bishop. Bishop suspended the 1974
constitution, established a People's
Revolutionary Government (PRG) and announced
the formation of a people's consultative
assembly to draft a new constitution. He
promised a non aligned foreign policy but
became convinced that the USA was involved in
a plot to destabilize his administration.
This was strongly denied. Grenada's relations
with Britain and the USA deteriorated while
links with Cuba and the USSR grew stronger.
In 1983 Bishop tried to improve relations
with the USA and announced the appointment of
a commission to draft a new constitution. His
conciliatory attitude was opposed by the more
left-wing members of his regime, resulting in
a military coup, during which Bishop and
three of his colleagues were executed. A
Revolutionary Military Council (RMC), led by
General Hudson Austin, took control. In
response to the outcry caused by the
executions, Austin promised a return to
civilian rule as soon as possible but on 25
Oct about 1,900 US troops, accompanied by 300
from Jamaica and Barbados, invaded the
island. It was not clear whether the invasion
was in response to a request from the
governor general or on the initiative of the
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States
(OECS). In any event, concerned that Grenada
might become a Cuban base, the USA agreed to
take part. Neither Britain nor other members
of the Commonwealth appear to have been
consulted. The RMC forces were defeated and
Austin and his colleagues arrested. In Nov
the governor general appointed a
non-political interim council and the 1974
constitution was reinstated. Several
political parties emerged from hiding,
including Sir Eric Gairy's GULP and Herbert
Blaize's GNP. After considerable manoeuvring,
an informal coalition of centre and
left-of-centre parties resulted in the
formation of the New National Party (NNP),
led by Blaize. In the 1984 general election
the NNP won 14 of the 15 seats in the house
of representatives and Blaize became prime
minister. The USA withdrew most of its forces
by the end of 1983 and the remainder by July
1985. In Dec 1989 Blaize died and was
succeeded by a close colleague, Ben Jones.