Population
124,610 (2021)
Official Language
English
Languages Spoken
While Grenada’s official language is English, others are spoken too including Grenadian Creole English and Grenadian Creole French or 'patois' which, although spoken less frequently, reflects the nation’s African, European and native heritage..
People
Approximately 91% of Grenadians are descendants of enslaved Africans, bought to the country by the French and British to work on colonial plantations. Indo-Grenadians are the largest minority group in Grenada, accounting for 2.2% of the population. A result of indenture, they were brought to Grenada between 1857 and 1885 and mainly hail from the states of Bihar and Uttar Pradesh. There is also a smaller community of French and English descendants. The rest of the population are of mixed descent.
Religion
Over half of the Grenadian population identify as Roman Catholic. The other half belong to Protestant denominations, which include Anglican, Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist and Baptist. The nation’s smaller Indian population is predominantly Hindu.
Holiday calendar
January 1: New Year’s Day
February 7: Independence Day
March 20: March Equinox
In late March to early April: Easter (from Good Friday to Easter Monday).
May 1: Labour Day
7th Monday after Easter: Whit Monday
June 16: Corpus Christi
August 1: Emancipation Day
Monday before second Tuesday in August: Carnival Monday and Tuesday
October 25: Thanksgiving
December 25: Christmas Day
December 26: Boxing Day
December 31: New Years Eve
Politics
Grenada is a Commonwealth realm where the current reigning monarch of the United Kingdom acts as head of state. It is also represented locally by a governor-general but executive power lies with the head of government, the prime minister. The governor-general role is largely ceremonial, while the prime minister is usually the leader of the largest party in parliament. Parliament consists of a senate made up of 13 members and a house of representatives of 15 members. Senators are then appointed by the government and the opposition, while representatives are elected by the population for five-year terms.
Geography and History
Grenada is a country island found in the West Indies in the Caribbean Sea at the southern end of the Grenadines Island chain. It’s also comprised of two smaller islands; Carriacou and Petite Martinique and several small islands, which lie to the north of the main island and are a part of the Grenadines. It may be small in size but Grenada certainly packs a punch. Known for its production of nutmeg and mace crops, it is often coined the ‘Island of Spice’. Its capital is St. George's, which before European rule was inhabited by indigenous peoples from South America. When Christopher Columbus sighted Grenada in 1498, during his third voyage to the Americas, he made several attempts to colonise the island. Resident Grenadians resisted until 1649 when French settlement and colonisation began and continued to rule for the next century.
It wasn’t until 1763 that Grenada was ceded to the British under the Treaty of Paris. British rule continued until 1974 (except for a brief French takeover between 1779 and 1783). However, in 1967 it was eventually granted full autonomy over its internal affairs and decreed an Associated State. From 1958 to 1962 Grenada was part of the Federation of the West Indies (a short-lived federation of British West Indian colonies). With independence finally granted in 1974, the country formed its own parliament and elected Eric Gairy as its first prime minister. In the same year, Grenada became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
Etiquette
Tipping is at your discretion, although it’s important to note that a service charge of around 18% will usually be added to your bill in hotels and restaurants. When service charge hasn’t been included, a tip of around 10% is expected. Local laws should be noted, like wearing camouflage clothing, which is an offence for anyone including children. It’s also known that the local attitudes towards the LGBT community are mostly conservative throughout the Caribbean, with public displays of affection often soliciting unwanted and negative attention.
Food
Grenada has a wealth of delicious traditional dishes and the freshest ingredients to match. Aptly named ‘Spice Island’ you can find everything from nutmeg, cinnamon, ginger and bay leaf to cloves, turmeric, thyme and lemongrass in its fields and on its street stalls. All grow in abundance and form flavourful bases for lots of the nation’s favourite meals. There are fiery stews, succulent and fresh seafood and lots of delicious desserts to tempt even the most sugar averse. You can sample the island’s iconic one pot stew known simply as Oil Down, that comes packed with salted meat, dumplings, lashings of coconut milk and breadfruit. Seafood fans can go to town on fried and baked saltfish, served with an array of side dishes like cheese or sausage. Or opt for the Lambie Souse (another name for conch) that comes tender, soupy and succulent. Cocoa Tea, Grenadian fudge and nutmeg ice cream are also firm favourites and well worth trying.
Drink
Tap water is safe to drink on all three islands, although most supermarkets and hotels sell bottled water. The signature drinks of the Caribbean are rum and rum punch and Grenada is no exception. Beer lovers needn’t worry either when Carib is on tap, which is brewed in the southwest, near Grand Anse
