Changes

'''Grenada''' is an [[island]] [[nation]] in the southeastern [[Caribbean Sea]].  Located north of [[Trinidad and Tobago]], it is the second-smallest independent country in the [[Western Hemisphere]].  It was a British colony until 1974.

'''Grenada''' is an [[island]] [[nation]] in the southeastern [[Caribbean Sea]].  Located north of [[Trinidad and Tobago]], it is the second-smallest independent country in the [[Western Hemisphere]].  It was a British colony until 1974.

In October of 1983<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/25/newsid_3207000/3207509.stm 1983: US troops invade Grenada.]</ref>, US forces invaded Grenada in Operation Urgent Fury.

In October 1983,<ref>[http://news.bbc.co.uk/onthisday/hi/dates/stories/october/25/newsid_3207000/3207509.stm 1983: US troops invade Grenada.]</ref> US forces invaded Grenada in Operation Urgent Fury.

{{cquote|'''Grenada, we were told, was a friendly island paradise for tourism.  ''Well, it wasn't.''  It was a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]-[[Cuba|Cuban]] colony, being readied as a major military bastion to export terror and undermine democracy.  We got there just in time. <small>-- [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|President Ronald Reagan]]</small>'''}}  

{{cquote|'''Grenada, we were told, was a friendly island paradise for tourism.  ''Well, it wasn't.''  It was a [[Soviet Union|Soviet]]-[[Cuba]]n colony, being readied as a major military bastion to export terror and undermine democracy.  We got there just in time. <small>-- [[Ronald Wilson Reagan|President Ronald Reagan]]</small>'''}}  

==Geography==

==Geography==

*Religions: Roman Catholic, various Protestant denominations, Islam, Rastafarianism.

*Religions: Roman Catholic, various Protestant denominations, Islam, Rastafarianism.

*Languages: English (official).

*Languages: English (official).

*Education: Years compulsory--10 grades or age 16. Literacy--95% of adult population.

*Education: Years compulsory—10 grades or age 16. Literacy—95% of adult population.

*Health (2005): Infant mortality rate--16/1,000. Life expectancy--men 63.1 years; women 66.7 years.

*Health (2005): Infant mortality rate—16/1,000. Life expectancy—men 63.1 years; women 66.7 years.

*Work force (2006): 48,000.

*Work force (2006): 48,000.

*Unemployment (2005): 18%.

*Unemployment (2005): 18%.

===Principal Government Officials===

===Principal Government Officials===

*Head of State--Queen Elizabeth II

*Head of State—Queen Elizabeth II

*Governor General--Cécile La Grenade

*Governor General—Cécile La Grenade

*Prime Minister--Tillman Thomas

*Prime Minister—Tillman Thomas

*Minister of Foreign Affairs--Peter David

*Minister of Foreign Affairs—Peter David

*Ambassador to the United Nations--Angus Friday

*Ambassador to the United Nations—Angus Friday

===Foreign Relations===

===Foreign Relations===

*Services: Tourism and education.

*Services: Tourism and education.

*Construction: Housing development and tourism renovations.

*Construction: Housing development and tourism renovations.

*Trade (2005): Exports--$39 million (merchandise) and $126 (commercial services). Major markets--European Union (39.4%), United States (23.3%), Saint Lucia (6.3%), Saint Kitts and Nevis (5.2%), and Barbados (4.6%). Imports--$319 million (merchandise) and $93 million (commercial services). Major suppliers--United States (42.6%), Trinidad and Tobago (18.9%), European Union (12.2%), Japan (4.9%), and Barbados (3.3%).

*Trade (2005): Exports--$39 million (merchandise) and $126 (commercial services). Major markets—European Union (39.4%), United States (23.3%), Saint Lucia (6.3%), Saint Kitts and Nevis (5.2%), and Barbados (4.6%). Imports--$319 million (merchandise) and $93 million (commercial services). Major suppliers—United States (42.6%), Trinidad and Tobago (18.9%), European Union (12.2%), Japan (4.9%), and Barbados (3.3%).

*Official exchange rate: EC$2.70 = U.S. $1.

*Official exchange rate: EC$2.70 = U.S. $1.

*Total debt outstanding and disbursed (2005): $437 million.

*Total debt outstanding and disbursed (2005): $437 million.

After obtaining independence, Grenada adopted a modified Westminster parliamentary system based on the British model, with a governor general appointed by and representing the British monarch (head of state) and a prime minister who is both leader of the majority party and the head of government. Sir Eric Gairy was Grenada's first Prime Minister.

After obtaining independence, Grenada adopted a modified Westminster parliamentary system based on the British model, with a governor general appointed by and representing the British monarch (head of state) and a prime minister who is both leader of the majority party and the head of government. Sir Eric Gairy was Grenada's first Prime Minister.

On March 13, 1979, the New Joint Endeavor for Welfare, Education, and Liberation Movement (New Jewel Movement--NJM), ousted Gairy in a coup and established a People's Revolutionary Government (PRG) headed by Maurice Bishop, who became Prime Minister. His Marxist-Leninist government established close ties with Cuba, the Soviet Union, and other communist bloc countries.

On March 13, 1979, the New Joint Endeavor for Welfare, Education, and Liberation Movement (New Jewel Movement—NJM), ousted Gairy in a coup and established a People's Revolutionary Government (PRG) headed by Maurice Bishop, who became Prime Minister. His Marxist-Leninist government established close ties with Cuba, the Soviet Union, and other communist bloc countries.

In October 1983, a power struggle within the government resulted in the arrest and execution of Bishop and several members of his cabinet and the killing of dozens of his supporters by elements of the People's Revolutionary Army (PRA).

In October 1983, a power struggle within the government resulted in the arrest and execution of Bishop and several members of his cabinet and the killing of dozens of his supporters by elements of the People's Revolutionary Army (PRA).

{{reflist}}

{{reflist}}

==External Links==

==External links==

*[http://www.grenadagrenadines.com/index2.html Grenada Tourism Information]

*[http://www.grenadagrenadines.com/index2.html Grenada Tourism Information]

*[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_159.shtml Grenada, 1983: Operation "Urgent Fury"]

*[http://www.acig.org/artman/publish/article_159.shtml Grenada, 1983: Operation "Urgent Fury"]

|}

|}

[[Category: Caribbean Countries]]

[[Category:Caribbean Countries]]

[[Category: United States History]]

[[Category:United States History]]

[[Category: Reagan Era]]

[[Category:Reagan Era]]