public office, the Attorney-General ex-officio. Transitionally, the Speaker and other members of the Legislative Council became the Speaker and members of the first House of Assembly. Parliament may make laws for the peace, order and good government of Dominica. The Constitution contains safeguards for fundamental rights and freedoms. Special provisions relate to a Bill to alter the Constitution or the law establishing the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court or the law relating to appeals to the Privy Council. A puisne Judge of the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court (q.v.), established by Order in Council, is resident in Dominica. The appointment, dismissal and disciplinary control of public officers is, with certain exceptions, vested in the Public Service and Police Service Commissions, the members of which are appointed by the Governor in accordance with the advice of the Premier, one from amongst persons selected by the appropriate representative body. There is provision for appeal in disciplinary cases to a Public Service Board of Appeal. LAND POLICY The freehold system remains the predominant form of land tenure. Alienated Crown Lands have been sold to residents without any preconditions since 1962. Aliens must first obtain a licence from the Government, to which certain conditions are attached, before being able to purchase lands in the territory. The leasehold system still exists on estate lands and the relations between landlords and tenants are governed by the Agricultural Small Tenancy Ordinance, 1953 (Cap. 74). The Crown occupies approximately 50 per cent of the total land area. GOVERNOR His Excellency Sir Louis Cools-Lartigue, OBE CABINET Premier and Minister of Finance: The Hon. E. O. Le Blanc Minister of Education and Health: The Hon. W. S. Stevens Secretary to the Cabinet: C. A. Seignoret, OBE Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Trade and Industry: J. J. Robinson BRITISH GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE 427 GRENADA OST Southerly of the Windward Islands, Grenada lies approximately 90 miles north of Trinidad and 68 miles south-south-west of St Vincent. The island is about 21 miles in length and 12 miles in breadth at its extremes and has an area of 120 square miles. Between it and St Vincent lie the islets known as the Grenadines, some of which are included in the territory of St Vincent and some in that of Grenada. The largest of the latter is Carriacou, 13 square miles in area. Grenada is mountainous and very picturesque, its ridges of hills covered with thick forest and brushwood. The mountains are chiefly volcanic, running off in spurs from a central backbone range which extends along the entire length of the island. The highest peak is Mount St Catherine, 2,756 feet. The terrain slopes gradually to the east and south-east coast. The island contains a number of mineral and other springs and is well watered by quick-flowing streams. A small lake, the Grand Etang, lies at a height of 1,740 feet above sea level in an old crater near the summit of a mountain and is one of the most remarkable features of the island. The climate is good with a dry season which extends from January to May and a wet season which occupies the rest of the year. During the dry season when the trade winds prevail the climate is especially agreeable, the temperature falling as low as 65°F at night. During the wet season, when the temperature rises to as high as 90°F on the low lands, there is little variation between night and day. Although this season is oppressive, it is not unhealthy. The rainfall varies considerably, the average for the coastal districts being about 60 inches and in the mountainous interior as much as 150 to 200 inches. The average for Carriacou is about 50 inches. The estimated population in 1969 was 106,182 with a birth rate of 2,649. The number of deaths in 1969 was 772 of which 108 were infants under one year. The majority of the population are of African and mixed descent. There is a small European population, a number of Indians and a small community of the descendants of early European settlers. The people are predominantly Roman Catholic, although there is a substantial Anglican minority. English is universally spoken, but a French patois survives in some of the villages among the old peasants. St George's, the principal town, lies in the south-west of the island and has a fine natural harbour. The town of St George's has an estimated population of 8,866. The other towns are Gouyave, Victoria, Grenville, Sauteurs, and Hillsborough in Carriacou. Located in St George's and operated by the health Services are the General Hospital (240 beds), mental and isolation hospitals, a sanatorium and homes for handicapped children, the chronically sick and the aged. At St Andrew's the Princess Alice Hospital provides 40 beds as does the Princess Royal Hospital at Carriacou. There are three main health centres at St Georges', Gouyave and St David's. Maternity and child welfare work is carried out at 30 district medical visiting stations, each of which is in the charge of a nurse-midwife and is visited by one of the territory's eleven Medical Officers, who hold clinics. The insect control programme, launched in 1953, has completely eradicated malaria in the island. In 1956 aedes aegypti (the yellow fever mosquito) was eradicated in the island, but in Carriacou it developed a resistance to DDT. As a result the World Health Organisation was asked to carry out a survey, and a new plan for the eradication of these insects was implemented in 1964. There was a recent reinfestation on the mainland. Following susceptibility studies suitable insecticides have been selected and a programme prepared with the assistance of PAHO for the eradication of the Aedes Aegypti Mosquito began in June 1970. The WHO-UNICEF programme for the improvement of sanitation is making good progress. Although school attendance is not compulsory, a total of 28,402 was receiving primary education at 11 Government and 45 denominational schools on 31st December 1966. The territory has one Government, eight aided and two private secondary schools which had a total roll of 2,703 pupils at the end of 1966. All secondary schools teach up to G.C.E. 'O' level standard. A Technical Training Centre has been established as an integral part of the Grenada Boys' Secondary School and a Commercial and Domestic Arts Institute has been built. The Island has five housecraft centres and four handicraft centres. There is a free public library in St George's and branch libraries in three of the six Parishes and the Dependency of Carriacou. Among other awards the Government grants two biennial island scholarships, a Grenada Scholarship and an Agricultural Scholarship, tenable at the University of the West Indies or in the case of the Grenada Scholarship at any other recognised University within the Commonwealth if the candidates wish to study a subject which is not available at the University of the West Indies. There is a Teachers' Training College. The well-sheltered natural harbour of St George's is the territory's chief port. The inner harbour possesses an 800 feet long pier with a minimum depth of 30 feet alongside. The eastern side of the pier can accommodate two oceangoing vessels with a length of 400-500 feet, whilst the western side provides berths for small craft. The portion of the harbour known as the Lagoon affords ideal facilities for repairs and careenage. Several international shipping lines provide regular cargo services from British, European, Canadian and U.S. ports. The ships of Geest Industries carry a limited number of passengers to Britain, but passengers for Canada and the U.S.A. have to travel via Trinidad or Barbados. Passenger and cargo services between the territory and neighbouring islands are provided by ships of the West Indies Shipping Company, together with numerous small motor vessels and auxiliary powered schooners. Pearls Airport is located at the north-eastern corner of the island and can accommodate Viscount aircraft. British West Indian Airways Ltd. operate daily schedules from Pearls to other parts of the Caribbean. The schedules vary with the seasons and are adjusted to ensure regular connections with major world airlines at Trinidad and Barbados. A small airstrip is planned for early construction in Carriacou. The island has a good network of approximately 566 miles of roads, which are divided into four classes according to the standard of construction. Grenada is crossed by two first-class roads and a further first-class road runs completely round the island. About 356 miles have an oiled surface and in recent years a programme of widening surfaces and improving corners has been carried out. There are no railways in the territory. Cable and Wireless (West Indies) Ltd. operate on behalf of the Government an automatic telephone network covering the whole island and in addition provide cable and radio-telephone facilities with most parts of the world. The Windward Islands Broadcasting Service has its headquarters at St George's and has made considerable advances in the scope of its programmes and technical efficiency since its inauguration in 1955. The capital outlay and initial running costs were provided from Colonial Development and Welfare Funds, but since 1959 the service has been maintained by the four Windward Islands Governments. There is a medium-wave relay station on each island of the Windwards group for local programmes, whilst short-wave transmissions reach a wide audience in the eastern Caribbean. All towns on the island and many villages are served by a piped water supply. The island's electricity is generated and distributed by Grenada Electricity Service Ltd., a company formed in 1961 between the Government and the Commonwealth Development Corporation. In 1960 the labour force numbered 25,170 with over 9,300 employed in agriculture, forestry and hunting. The total acreage of Grenada is 76,548 and the major crops are cocoa, nutmegs, mace, limes and bananas. A wide variety of fine quality tropical fruits is available and efforts are being made to increase production of pigeon peas, yams, pumpkins and green and yellow vegetables for local consumption. The total acreage of Carriacou is 8,467, and lime oil and cotton are the main exports, although production of the latter has shown a marked decrease in recent years. Although livestock production is an important part of the territory's economy, local requirements of meat and milk are not met and animal rearing remains largely a peasant undertaking, with few large operators. The Livestock Division of the Department of Agriculture operate an artificial insemination service for cattle. The livestock population is estimated at: cattle 6,100; horses 1,500; sheep and goats 7,000. The poultry population numbers 90,000 and meets much of the local demand. There are approximately 1,700 fishermen and fishing is practised on all coasts. Although a variety of boats is used the traditional methods predominate and are by seine, trolling, banking and drifting with hand lines. In 1965 the estimated catch was 2,943,967 pounds. The territory has few manufacturing industries and they employ only 2,600 people out of the total labour force. The Grenada Sugar Factory Ltd., produces unrefined sugar for local consumption, but supplies are inadequate to meet the island's requirements. In addition, this factory, together with a number of estates, supplies the local demand for uncured rum. There is a copra mill which produces soap and edible fats, a modern cigarette factory, a lime oil factory, a brewery and in Carriacou a government-owned cotton ginnery. There are seventeen registered trade unions and numerous marketing co-operatives. The Government owns approximately 75 per cent of Grenada's estimated 10,000 acres of rain forest. The Government reserves are located chiefly in the water catchment area in the Central highlands and exploitation is confined to not more than 50 acres annually. Since 1957, approximatley 510 acres of Government forest lands have been reafforested with Blue Mahoe, Teak and Honduras Mahogany. Pinus Caribara var. Hondurensis is undergoing intensive research with good promise. A road construction project was incorporated into the scheme but was suspended due to unavailability of funds. One forester attended the Overseas Foresters' Six Months Training Course run by the Forestry Commission, U.K., during February to July 1969. Principal domestic exports by quantity and value for 1966 are as follows: Principal domestic exports by quantity and value for 1968 are as follows: Forms of direct taxation include income tax, estate duties and property tax. Income tax is based on a graduated scale, varying from 5 cents to 65 cents in the $ for individuals (on chargeable income for the year immediately preceding the year of assessment). Companies pay at the rate of 40 per cent. There is a land tax of 25 cents per acre and house tax is levied on a sliding scale varying from $1.20 per house of rental value between $24.00 and $28.80 per annum, and at 8% in the case of houses with rental value over $144.00 per annum. Other forms of taxation include import, export and excise duties and motor vehicle tax. In 1968 the territory's provisional revenue figures were as follows: |