Senate Resolution No. 2498

BY: Senator PERSAUD

        COMMENDING  Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique
        upon  the  occasion  of  its  46th  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, Carriacou & Petite Martinique upon the occasion of  its
46th  Anniversary  of  Independence;  this  momentous  occasion  will be
celebrated with an event hosted by the Grenada Cultural  Festival  Group
on Saturday, February 1, 2020; 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, Carriacou &  Petite  Martinique  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, Carriacou & Petite Martinique upon the occasion of its
46th 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;  Dr.  The  Right  Honorable  Keith  Mitchell,  Prime
Minister  of Grenada; The Honorable Rosemary Welsh, Consulate General of
New York; and the Grenada Cultural Festival Group.