Honor Grenada's Independence Anniversary

Senate Resolution No. 134 BY: Senator PERSAUD COMMENDING Grenada upon the occasion of its 51st 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 51st 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 51st 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.