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Fort Young Hotel

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Fort Young Hotel is a hotel on the quayside of Roseau , Dominica , in the southern part of the capital next to Garraway Hotel , Dominica Museum , the Roseau Public Library , just south of the Governor's Residence and Roseau Cathedral . Located within the ramparts of the old colonial military Fort Young of 1770s vintage and built in the backdrop of a quay overlooking the Caribbean Sea, the 71-room hotel was established in 1964 and hosts a diving centre.

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70-613: The hotel location was once the Fort Young, the major military installation of Dominica, built in 1770 and named after the first British Governor, William Young , who ordered its construction during the American Independence War Years. In the late 19th century it was used as the headquarters of the Dominican police force. The fort became a hotel in 1964. In 1979, the devastating Hurricane David destroyed

140-523: A People's Revolutionary Government (PRG), headed by Maurice Bishop , who declared himself prime minister. His Marxist–Leninist government established close ties with Cuba , Nicaragua , and other communist bloc countries. All political parties except for the New Jewel Movement were banned and no elections were held during the four years of PRG rule. Some years later, a dispute developed between Bishop and certain high-ranking members of

210-519: A 2018 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 4.22/10, ranking it 131st globally out of 172 countries. The climate is tropical: hot and humid in the dry season and cooled by the moderate rainfall in the rainy season . Temperatures range from 22–32 °C (72–90 °F) and are rarely below 18 °C (64 °F). Grenada lies at the southern edge of the Main Development Region for tropical cyclone activity, though

280-593: A 48 hour period. Like much of the Caribbean, Grenada is depauperate of large animals . However, native opossums , armadillos , and introduced mona monkeys and mongooses are common. As of June 2024, the avifauna of Grenada included a total of 199 species according to Bird Checklists of the World . Of these, one is endemic ( Grenada dove ), one has been introduced by humans ( Rock Pigeon ), and 130 are rare or accidental . Approximately 2 million years ago, in

350-534: A brief period until the June 1995 election which was won by the New National Party under Keith Mitchell , who went on to win the 1999 and 2003 elections , serving for a record 13 years until 2008. Mitchell re-established relations with Cuba and also reformed the country's banking system, which had come under criticism over potential money laundering concerns. In 2000–02, much of the controversy of

420-520: A debt of around £110,000 (£17,533,957 in 2024 pounds ) for his first son to pay off. Sir William Young, 2nd Baronet also inherited four plantations and 896 slaves in the colonies at that time, but was unable to save them from bankruptcy. Young Island in the Grenadines is named in his honour. Grenada Grenada ( / ɡ r ə ˈ n eɪ d ə / grə- NAY -də ; Grenadian Creole French : Gwenad , [ɡweˈnad] )

490-592: A diving centre on the quay, a private jetty and duty-free shopping . The hotel was substantially refurbished in 2010-2011, at a cost of EC 1.5 million. Sir William Young, 1st Baronet Sir William Young, 1st Baronet ( c.  1724 – c.  1788 ) was a British colonial administrator and planter. He served as President of the Commission for the Sale of Lands in the Ceded Islands, and

560-429: A four-day total curfew, during which anyone leaving their home without approval would be shot on sight. US President Ronald Reagan stated that particularly worrying was the presence of Cuban construction workers and military personnel building a 10,000-foot (3,000 m) airstrip on Grenada. Bishop had stated the purpose of the airstrip was to allow commercial jets to land, but some US military analysts argued that

630-514: A landslide and the NNP returned to power, winning again by another landslide in 2018 . In March 2020, Grenada confirmed its first case of COVID-19 and, as of 17 March 2022 , 13,921 cases and 217 deaths had been recorded. On 23 June 2022, the NDC won the general election under Dickon Mitchell , who became prime minister the following day. The island of Grenada is the southernmost island in

700-501: A multi-party system, with the largest parties being the centre-right New National Party (NNP) and the centre-left National Democratic Congress (NDC). In February 2013, the governing National Democratic Congress (NDC) lost the election . The opposition New National Party (NNP) won all 15 seats in the general election. Keith Mitchell , leader of NNP, who had served three terms as prime minister between 1995 and 2008, returned to power. Mitchell subsequently led NNP to win all 15 seats in

770-572: A new and participative constitutional dispensation for the Grenadian people. Due to Marryshow's lobbying, the Wood Commission of 1921–22 concluded that Grenada was ready for constitutional reform in the form of a modified Crown colony government. This modification granted Grenadians the right to elect five of the 15 Legislative Council members on a restricted property franchise, enabling the wealthiest 4% of adult Grenadians to vote. Marryshow

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840-412: A research project into the era and specifically into the fact that Maurice Bishop's body was never discovered. On 7 September 2004, after being hurricane-free for 49 years, the island was directly hit by Hurricane Ivan . Ivan struck as a Category 3 hurricane , resulting in 39 deaths and damage or destruction to 90% of the island's homes. On 14 July 2005, Hurricane Emily , a Category 1 hurricane at

910-578: A result of the 1763 Peace of Paris . The commission was under instructions to create model colonies, which would learn from the success of others but which would avoid their problems of depleted fertility and environmental degradation . In late 1764, Young and his group sailed for Barbados , spending eight years away from his family during the period of 1764 to 1773, though in fact he made at least two return journeys in 1767 and 1770. James Harris reports on attending concerts at Young's residence in those years. Of particular note during this time, Young employed

980-542: A significant part of the remains of the fort. The courtyard of the hotel retains the original flagstone walkways. Ruins of the old fort, however, still remain and cannons are located in the foyer and the courtyard at the entrance. The hotel is often used as a venue for important regional and international conferences, such as the 41st meeting of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States in June 2005. It has also hosted

1050-534: A similar resolution, which was supported by 11 countries. However, the United States vetoed the motion. After the invasion, the pre-revolutionary Grenadian constitution came into operation once again. Eighteen members of the PRG/PRA were arrested on charges related to the murder of Maurice Bishop and seven others. The 18 included the top political leadership of Grenada at the time of the execution, along with

1120-510: Is Mount St. Catherine , rising to 840 m (2,760 ft) above sea level. Other major mountains include Mount Granby and South East Mountain . Several small rivers with waterfalls flow into the sea from these mountains. The coastline contains several bays, most notably on the southern coast, split into numerous thin peninsulas. Grenada is home to four ecoregions: Windward Islands moist forests, Leeward Islands dry forests, Windward Islands dry forests, and Windward Islands xeric scrub. It had

1190-665: Is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean Sea . The southernmost of the Windward Islands , Grenada is directly south of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and about 100 miles (160 km) north of Trinidad and the South American mainland. Grenada consists of the island of Grenada itself, two smaller islands, Carriacou and Petite Martinique , and several small islands which lie to

1260-473: Is painted in peach and cream Typical rooms, as of 2011, feature square tile floors, pin-striped bed spreads and wooden closets and almost a Tibetan Buddhist -look saffron/mustard yellow and deep red/maroon design behind the beds, featuring mirrors. Some rooms differ in layout and design, but as of 2011 the colours of saffron and maroon are common throughout many of the rooms and throughout the hotel. The bathrooms contain oversized sunken baths. The swimming pool

1330-788: Is reported to have renamed the island "Mayo", although this is the only map where the name appears. The indigenous Arawak who once lived on the island before the arrival of the Europeans gave the name Camajuya . Grenada is thought to have been first populated by peoples from South America during the Caribbean Archaic Age , although definitive evidence is lacking. The earliest potential human presence comes from proxy evidence of lake cores, beginning c.  3600 BC . Less ephemeral, permanent villages began c.  100–200 . The population peaked between 750 and 1250, with major changes in population afterward, potentially

1400-618: Is sunk in the former parade grounds, overlooking the sea. Numerous cannons remain from the old fort, including two flanking the entrance, one in the lobby, and another in the courtyard. Indeed, the logo of the hotel features a cannon. The hotel contains the Waterfront Restaurant, the Balas Bar & Courtyard, noted for its cocktails and the Boardwalk Cafe Bar, noted for its Friday night live music, including by

1470-616: The 2022 election to the National Democratic Congress, with the NDC winning 9 seats to the NNP’s 6. Dickon Mitchell , a political newcomer who had only taken over as leader of the National Democratic Congress less than a year before the election and never held elected office, was subsequently appointed prime minister. Grenada is a full and participating member of both the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and

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1540-459: The Antilles archipelago, bordering the eastern Caribbean Sea and the western Atlantic Ocean, and roughly 140 km (90 mi) north of both Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago. Its sister islands make up the southern section of the Grenadines, which include Carriacou , Petite Martinique , Ronde Island , Caille Island , Diamond Island , Large Island , Saline Island , and Frigate Island ;

1610-652: The New National Party under Herbert Blaize, who served as prime minister until his death in December 1989. Ben Jones briefly succeeded Blaize as prime minister and served until the March 1990 election . This election was won by the National Democratic Congress under Nicholas Brathwaite, who served as prime minister until he resigned in February 1995. He was succeeded by George Brizan for

1680-460: The Pliocene era, the area of what is nowadays Grenada emerged from a shallow sea as a submarine volcano. In recent times, volcanic activity has been non-existent, except for some of its hot spring and underwater volcano Kick 'em Jenny . Most of Grenada's terrain is made up of volcanic activity that took place 1–2 million years ago. There would have been many unknown volcanoes responsible for

1750-623: The Real Mas beauty contest, amongst many other events. In 2005 the hotel staff were crowned winners of the annual Kubuli Carib Canoe Race . In November 2007, the hotel passed management to Fazl Khan, a Sri Lankan national and is currently listed as a 3.5 diamond hotel. As of 2011, the hotel has 71 rooms and suites, is the largest facility in Dominica Island. It is said to be built above the “mosquito line” in an otherwise mosquito infested area, with 18 ocean front rooms. The hotel exterior

1820-587: The Virgin Mary . It is said that he may have actually named it "Assumpción", but it is uncertain, as he is said to have sighted what are now Grenada and Tobago from a distance and named them both at the same time. However, it became accepted that he named Tobago "Assumpción" and Grenada "La Concepción". The year after, Italian explorer Amerigo Vespucci travelled through the region with the Spanish explorer Alonso de Ojeda and mapmaker Juan de la Cosa . Vespucci

1890-455: The arrival of Europeans in the Americas , Grenada was inhabited by the indigenous peoples from South America. Christopher Columbus sighted Grenada in 1498 during his third voyage to the Americas. Following several unsuccessful attempts by Europeans to colonise the island due to resistance from resident Island Caribs , French settlement and colonisation began in 1649 and continued for

1960-530: The Fanatik band. As of 2011, the main restaurant is decorated with a peachy pink ceiling, pink table cloths, wooden floors and colonial style chairs, whilst the Boardwalk Cafe Bar is decorated in brown, tan, and olive-drab colours with a white ceiling and the Balas bar has wooden ceilings and floors, maroon table cloths and pin-striped chairs. The high beamed main dining room was originally a dormitory. The hotel hosts

2030-518: The GULP won the 1976 Grenadian general election , albeit with a reduced majority; however, the opposition deemed the results invalid due to fraud and the violent intimidation performed by the so-called ' Mongoose Gang ', a private militia loyal to Gairy. On 13 March 1979, whilst Gairy was out of the country, the NJM launched a bloodless coup which removed Gairy, suspended the constitution, and established

2100-500: The Grenadian Army, led a coup against the government of Maurice Bishop and placed Bishop under house arrest . These actions led to street demonstrations in various parts of the island because Bishop had widespread support from the population. Because Bishop was a widely popular leader, he was freed by impassioned supporters who marched en masse to his guarded residence from a rally in the capital's central square. Bishop then led

2170-517: The House of Representatives again in 2018 , marking three separate occasions on which he had achieved this feat. In November 2021, Prime Minister Keith Mitchell said that the upcoming general elections which were constitutionally due no later than June 2023, was to be the last one for him. Mitchell advised the governor-general on 16 May 2022 to dissolve Parliament a year earlier than the constitutional requirement. The New National Party subsequently lost

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2240-571: The Improvement of Arts and Sciences ". He was the author of Considerations which may tend to promote the settlement of our new West-India colonies: by encouraging individuals to embark in the undertaking, published in 1764. Early in 1764, Prime Minister George Grenville nominated Young and he was appointed in the same year to be President of the Commission for the Sale of Lands in the Ceded Islands. The islands included Grenada , Tobago , Dominica , and St Vincent , acquired from France as

2310-487: The NJM. Though Bishop cooperated with Cuba and the USSR on various trade and foreign policy issues, he sought to maintain a non-aligned status . Hardline Marxist party members, including communist Deputy Prime Minister Bernard Coard , deemed Bishop insufficiently revolutionary and demanded that he either step down or enter into a power-sharing arrangement. On 16 October 1983, Bernard Coard and his wife, Phyllis, backed by

2380-615: The St. George's Anglican Church and the St Andrew’s Presbyterian Church (Scots Kirk) were restored in 2021). On July 1, 2024, Hurricane Beryl slammed into Grenada, causing damage throughout the country but especially in Carriacou and Petite Martinique, where the eye of the storm passed. Beryl gained international attention, in part, because of its rapid intensification from a tropical storm to Category 4 hurricane within just

2450-532: The United States for assistance. On 25 October 1983, combined forces from the United States and the Regional Security System (RSS) based in Barbados invaded Grenada in an operation codenamed Operation Urgent Fury . The US stated this was done at the behest of Barbados, Dominica and Governor-General Paul Scoon . Scoon had requested the invasion through secret diplomatic channels, but it

2520-438: The artist Agostino Brunias to record Young's progress and the visual context of his Commission's work. Young was also a diarist and illustrator and documented his own time in the Caribbean islands. He recorded "110 voyages of a like nature performed in the course of nine years amongst the ceded islands on the service of the Commission for the sale of lands." In 1768, Young was made Lieutenant Governor of Dominica . In 1769 he

2590-451: The crowd to the island's military headquarters to reassert his power. Grenadian soldiers were dispatched in armoured vehicles by the Coard faction to retake the fort. A confrontation between soldiers and civilians at the fort ended in gunfire and panic. Three soldiers and at least eight civilians died in the tumult that also injured 100 others, a school-sponsored study later found in 2000. When

2660-725: The eight seats contested. From 1958 to 1962, Grenada was part of the Federation of the West Indies . After the federation's collapse, Grenada was granted full autonomy over its internal affairs as an Associated State on 3 March 1967. Herbert Blaize of the Grenada National Party (GNP) was the first Premier of the Associated State of Grenada from March to August 1967. Eric Gairy served as Premier from August 1967 until February 1974. Independence

2730-609: The entire military chain of command directly responsible for the operation that led to the executions. Fourteen were sentenced to death , one was found not guilty, and three were sentenced to 45 years in prison. The death sentences were eventually commuted to terms of imprisonment. Those in prison have become known as the " Grenada 17 ". When US troops withdrew from Grenada in December 1983, Governor-General Scoon appointed an interim advisory council chaired by Nicholas Brathwaite to organise new elections. The first democratic elections since 1976 were held in December 1984 , and were won by

2800-414: The formation of Grenada including Grenada's capital St. George's with its horseshoe-shaped harbour, the carenage. Two extinct volcanoes, which are now crater lakes, Grand Etang Lake and Lake Antoine , would have also contributed to the formation of Grenada. Grenada is a constitutional monarchy with Charles III as head of state , represented locally by a governor-general . Executive power lies with

2870-516: The head of government, the prime minister . The governor-general role is mainly ceremonial, while the prime minister is usually the leader of the largest party in Parliament . The Parliament of Grenada consists of a Senate (13 members) and a House of Representatives (15 members). The government and the opposition recommend appoints of senators to the governor-general, while the population elect representatives for five-year terms. Grenada operates

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2940-538: The indigenous peoples there. The first known settlement attempt was a failed venture by the English in 1609, but they were massacred and driven away by the native "Carib" peoples. In 1649, a French expedition of 203 men from Martinique , led by Jacques Dyel du Parquet , founded a permanent settlement on Grenada. They signed a peace treaty with the Carib chief Kairouane , but within months conflict broke out between

3010-499: The initial shooting ended with Bishop's surrender, he and a group of seven of his closest supporters were taken prisoner and executed by firing squad. Besides Bishop, the group included three of his cabinet ministers, a trade union leader, and three service-industry workers. After the execution of Bishop, the People's Revolutionary Army (PRA) formed a military Marxist government with General Hudson Austin as chairman. The army declared

3080-411: The island has suffered only four landfalling hurricanes in the last several decades. Hurricane Janet passed over Grenada on 23 September 1955, with winds of 185 km/h (115 mph), causing severe damage. The most recent storm to hit Grenada was Hurricane Beryl on 1 July 2024, a strong category 4 hurricane which set the record for the earliest forming Category 5 Hurricane in recorded history and

3150-403: The island of Carriacou, causing widespread damage across all of Grenada and Carriacou. On Carriacou, there was no electricity and limited communication. Throughout the rest of the country, 95% of customers had no power and telecommunications were also damaged. Mitchell was defeated in the 2008 election by the NDC under Tillman Thomas ; however, he won the 2013 Grenadian general election by

3220-553: The late 1970s and early 1980s was once again brought into the public consciousness with the opening of the truth and reconciliation commission . The commission was chaired by a Roman Catholic priest , Father Mark Haynes, and was tasked with uncovering injustices arising from the PRA, Bishop's regime, and before. It held a number of hearings around the country. Brother Robert Fanovich, head of Presentation Brothers' College (PBC) in St. George's, tasked some of his senior students with conducting

3290-653: The main island of Grenada, mainly on the windward and northern portions of the island. Grenada was also impacted by Hurricane Ivan on 7 September 2004, which caused severe damage and thirty-nine deaths, and Hurricane Emily on 14 July 2005, which peaked as a category 5 hurricane on July 16 over the greater Caribbean region. Hurricane Emily caused serious damage in Carriacou and in the north of Grenada, which had been relatively lightly affected by Hurricane Ivan; Grenada has had to be put on Tropical Storm Watch several times since. It took over five years to officially recover from Ivan, although recovery continued for decades after (e.g.,

3360-559: The name "Grenada" is obscure, but it is likely that Spanish sailors named the island for the Andalusian city of Granada . The name "Granada" was recorded by Spanish maps in the 1520s and referred to the islands to the north as Los Granadillos ("Little Granadas"); although those named islands were deemed the property of the King of Spain , there are no records to suggest the Spanish ever attempted to settle Grenada. The French maintained

3430-606: The name (as "La Grenade" in French) after settlement and colonisation in 1649. On 10 February 1763, the island of La Grenade was ceded to the British under the Treaty of Paris . The British renamed it "Grenada", one of many place-name anglicisations they made there. The island was given its first European name by Christopher Columbus who sighted it on his third voyage to the region in 1498 and named it "La Concepción" in honour of

3500-516: The next century. On 10 February 1763, 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, on 3 March 1967, it was granted full autonomy over its internal affairs as an Associated State , and from 1958 to 1962, Grenada was part of the Federation of the West Indies , a short-lived federation of British West Indian colonies . Independence

3570-416: The north of the main island and are a part of the Grenadines. Its size is 348.5 square kilometres (134.6 sq mi), with an estimated population of 114,621 in 2024. Its capital is St. George's . Grenada is also known as the "Island of Spice" due to its production of nutmeg and mace crops. 12°07′N 61°40′W  /  12.117°N 61.667°W  / 12.117; -61.667 Before

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3640-476: The oil painting, The Family of Sir William Young, Baronet (ca.1766) by Johann Zoffany . His eldest son, Sir William Young, 2nd Baronet (1749–1815), was the Governor of Tobago from 1807-1815 as well as serving as a Member of Parliament. Sir William purchased some of the best pieces of real estate on Antigua, St Vincent, and Tobago. Despite this, he was seriously in debt and after his death in 1788 he left

3710-704: The only reason for constructing such a long and reinforced runway was so that it could be used by heavy military transport planes. The contractors, American and European companies, and the EEC , which provided partial funding, all claimed the airstrip did not have military capabilities. Reagan asserted that Cuba, under the direction of the Soviet Union, would use Grenada as a refuelling stop for Cuban and Soviet airplanes loaded with weapons destined for Central American communist insurgents. The Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), Barbados , and Jamaica all appealed to

3780-532: The remaining islands to the north belong to St Vincent and the Grenadines. Most of the population lives in Grenada, and major towns there include the capital, St. George's, Grenville and Gouyave . The largest settlement on the sister islands is Hillsborough on Carriacou. Grenada is of volcanic origin, as evident in its soil, mountainous interior, and several explosion craters, including Lake Antoine, Grand Etang Lake , and Levera Pond . Grenada's highest point

3850-552: The result of either the "Carib Invasion" (although highly contested), regional droughts, or both. In 1498, Christopher Columbus was the first European to report sighting Grenada during his third voyage, naming it 'La Concepción', but Amerigo Vespucci may have renamed it 'Mayo' in 1499. Although it was deemed the property of the King of Spain, there are no records to suggest the Spanish attempted to settle. However, various Europeans are known to have passed and both fought and traded with

3920-723: The strongest hurricane to develop within the Main Development Region (MDR) of the Atlantic before the month of July. While all three inhabited Grenadian islands were impacted, it passed directly over the island of Carriacou causing total devastation and the damage and destruction of many vessels (both in water and ashore) in Tyrrel Bay and the Carriacou Mangroves. Petit Martinique also suffered considerable damage with much more limited damage occurring on

3990-464: The time, struck the northern part of the island with 80-knot (150 km/h; 92 mph) winds, killing one person and causing an estimated US$ 110 million (EC$ 297 million) worth of damage. Agriculture, and in particular the nutmeg industry, suffered serious losses, but that event caused changes in crop management and it is hoped that as new nutmeg trees mature, the industry will gradually rebuild. On July 1, 2024, Hurricane Beryl (2024) struck

4060-505: The two communities. This lasted until 1654 when the island was completely subjugated by the French. Warfare continued during the 1600s between the French on Grenada and the Caribs of present-day Dominica and St. Vincent and the Grenadines . Chocolate was brought to Grenada in 1714 with the introduction of cocoa beans . The French named their new colony La Grenade, and the economy

4130-739: Was appointed the first non-military governor of Dominica in 1768. William Young was born in the British colony of Antigua c.  1724 . He was the son of William Young, a doctor who had fled from Scotland after the suppression of the Jacobite rising of 1715 as a result of his pro- Jacobite sympathies. He was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1748, his candidature citation reading " Residing at Chalton near Canterbury, A Gentleman well versed in Natural and Experimental knowledge, and alwaies ready to promote whatever may tend to

4200-526: Was back in England at the end of 1773, and his office of Receiver and Governor ended, and it was concluded by his family that "the adventure in the ceded islands had proved so expensive and indeed ruinous" to him. Young and his second wife, Elizabeth (1729–1801), the daughter of the mathematician Brook Taylor , had several children, including Sarah Elizabeth, William, Portia, Elizabeth, Mary , Henry, John, and Olivia. He and ten family members were featured in

4270-618: Was formally ceded to Britain by the Treaty of Paris in 1763. The French re-captured the island during the American Revolutionary War , after Comte d'Estaing won the bloody land and naval Battle of Grenada in July 1779. However, the island was restored to Britain with the Treaty of Versailles in 1783. A decade later, dissatisfaction with British rule led to a pro-French revolt in 1795–96 led by Julien Fédon , which

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4340-625: Was granted on 7 February 1974 under the leadership of Eric Gairy , who became the first prime minister of Grenada as a sovereign state . The new country became a member of the Commonwealth of Nations , with Queen Elizabeth II as head of state. In March 1979, the Marxist–Leninist New Jewel Movement overthrew Gairy's government in a bloodless coup d'état and established the People's Revolutionary Government (PRG), headed by Maurice Bishop as prime minister. Bishop

4410-492: Was granted on 7 February 1974 under the leadership of Eric Gairy, who became the first prime minister of Grenada . Grenada opted to remain within the Commonwealth , retaining Queen Elizabeth as Monarch , represented locally by a governor-general . Civil conflict gradually broke out between Eric Gairy's government and some opposition parties, including the Marxist New Jewel Movement (NJM). Gairy and

4480-473: Was initially based on sugar cane and indigo , worked by African slaves. The French established a capital known as Fort Royal (later St. George's). To shelter from hurricanes, the French navy would often take refuge in the capital's natural harbour, as no nearby French islands had a natural harbour to compare with that of Fort Royal. The British captured Grenada in the Seven Years' War in 1762. Grenada

4550-614: Was introduced to Grenada in 1843 when a merchant ship called in on its way to England from the East Indies. The ship had a small quantity of nutmeg trees on board, which they left in Grenada, and this was the beginning of Grenada's nutmeg industry that now supplies nearly 40% of the world's annual crop. In 1877, Grenada was made a Crown colony . Theophilus A. Marryshow founded the Representative Government Association (RGA) in 1918 to agitate for

4620-556: Was later arrested and executed by members of the People's Revolutionary Army (PRA), which was used to justify a U.S.-led invasion in October 1983. Since then, the island has returned to a parliamentary representative democracy and has remained politically stable . A Governor General represents the Head of State. The country is currently headed by King Charles III , King of Grenada , and 14 other commonwealth realms . The origin of

4690-574: Was made Baronet Young of North Dean. In 1770 he was chosen to be the first Governor of the new government, being sworn in on 17 November 1770. He was responsible for building the main military stronghold of Dominica in Roseau , Fort Young (now a hotel ) in 1770 and for Government House, Dominica , his residence near the fort. He left Dominica in 1772, rushing to St Vincent to "assist with the Carib War" and to protect his estates there. Sir William Young

4760-505: Was named a Commander of the Order of the British Empire (CBE) in 1943 . In 1950, Eric Gairy founded the Grenada United Labour Party (GULP), initially as a trade union, which led to the 1951 general strike for better working conditions. This sparked great unrest, and so many buildings were set ablaze that the disturbances became known as the "sky red" days. On 10 October 1951, Grenada held its first general elections based on universal adult suffrage, with Gairy's party winning six of

4830-435: Was not made public for his safety. Progress was rapid, and within four days the Americans had removed the military government of Hudson Austin. The invasion was criticised by the governments of Britain, Trinidad and Tobago , and Canada. The United Nations General Assembly condemned it as "a flagrant violation of international law" by a vote of 108 to 9, with 27 abstentions. The United Nations Security Council considered

4900-422: Was successfully defeated by the British. As Grenada's economy grew, more and more African slaves were forcibly transported to the island. Britain eventually outlawed the slave trade within the British Empire in 1807. Slavery was completely outlawed in 1833, leading to the emancipation of all enslaved by 1838. To ease the subsequent labour shortage, migrants from India were brought to Grenada in 1857. Nutmeg

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