There are approximately 1,350 fishermen and fishing is practised on all coasts. Although a variety of boats (744 in number) is used the traditional methods predominate and are by seine, trolling, banking and drifting with hand lines. In 1972 the estimated catch was 3,607,452 lbs. The territory has few manufacturing industries and they employ only 2,473 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, approximately 700 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 is presently undergoing a two-year training course at the Eastern Carribean Agricultural Farm Institute (E.C.A.F.I.) in Trinidad, West Indies. Principal domestic exports by quantity and value for 1970 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 5c to 65c in the dollar for individuals (on chargeable income for the year immediately preceding the year of assessment, except emoluments which are chargeable in the year of assessment on a Pay As You Earn System). Companies pay at the rate of 45%. There is a land tax of 50c per acre, with alien land owners paying at $5.00 per acre. House tax is levied on a sliding scale varying from $1.20 per house of rental value between $24.00 and $28.00 per annum, and at 8% in the case of houses with rental value over $144.00 per annum. Estate Duties are charged on all property with a principal value of over $480.00 on a sliding scale varying from 1% to 40% on estates valued over $288,000.00. In 1971 the territory's provisional revenue figures were as follows: In 1971 the total Revenue amounted to $18,219,682 made up as follows: Discovered by Christopher Columbus on 15th August 1498, the island now known as Grenada was given the name of Conception. In 1609 a company of London merchants attempted to form a settlement, but were so harassed by the Caribs that they were compelled to abandon the attempt. In 1650 Du Parquet, Governor of Martinique, purchased the island from a French company and established a settlement at St George's. Finding the venture did not pay, Du Parquet sold the island in 1657 to the Comte de Cerrillac and in 1674 it was annexed to France, the proprietors receiving compensation for their claims. Following surrender to a British squadron under Admiral Rodney in 1762, the island passed under British dominion, and was formally ceded to the British Crown by the Treaty of Paris on 10th February 1763. Sixteen years later it was retaken by the French under the Comte D'Estaing, only to be restored to Great Britain by the Treaty of Versailles in 1783. In 1795-6 it was the scene of a rebellion against the British rule by a French colonist. The Lieutenant-Governor and 47 other British subjects were massacred by the rebels. Sir Ralph Abercromby suppressed the uprising in June 1796 and the ringleaders were executed. Grenada joined the Federation of the West Indies as an independent member on its formation on 3rd January 1958, and remained a member until its dissolution following an Order in Council dated 23rd May 1962. CONSTITUTION Following decisions taken at a Conference in London in April and May 1966, subsequently endorsed by a Resolution of the Legislative Council, provision was made in the West Indies Act, 1967, under which Grenada assumed a status of association with the United Kingdom on 3rd March 1967. The association is a free and voluntary one, terminable by either country at any time. Grenada is fully self-governing in all its internal affairs. The United Kingdom is responsible for defence and external affairs. Agreement has been reached on close consultation over the discharge of these responsibilities and on the delegation of executive authority in a wide field of external relations. The British Government conduct their affairs with Grenada and the rest of the West Indies Associated States through the British Government Representative, whose headquarters are at Castries, St Lucia. Under the Constitution the Governor is Her Majesty's Representative. Except where otherwise provided the Governor is required to act in accordance with the advice of the Cabinet or a Minister acting under the general authority of the Cabinet. The Cabinet is collectively responsible to the Legislature for the government of Grenada. The Cabinet consists of the Premier, the other Ministers and, at any time when his office is a public office, the Attorney-General. The Governor appoints as Premier a member of the House of Representatives who appears to him likely to command a majority in that House. The other Ministers are appointed on the advice of the Premier from among the Senators and members of the House of Representatives. There is provision for the appointment of Parliamentary Secretaries from either House. The Legislature consists of Her Majesty, a Senate and a House of Representatives. The 13 Senators are appointed by the Governor, 7 on the advice of the Premier, 3 on the advice of the Leader of the Opposition and 3 on the advice of the Premier after he has consulted interests which he considers Senators should be selected to represent. The Senate elects a President from among those of its members who are not Ministers or Parliamentary Secretaries. The House of Representatives consists of the Speaker and members (at present fifteen) elected in single member constituencies under universal adult suffrage, one of whom may be the speaker. Parliament may make laws for the peace, order and good government of Grenada. 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. The headquarters of the West Indies Associated States Supreme Court (q.v.), established by Order in Council, is in Grenada. The appointment, dismissal and disciplinary control of public officers is, with certain exceptions, vested in the Public Service Commission, the Chairman and the four members of which are appointed by the Governor on the advice of the Premier-in the case of two members after the Premier has consulted the appropriate representative body. There is provision for appeals to a Public Service Board of Appeal. LAND POLICY All persons who are not British Commonwealth citizens wishing to own land or take shares in locally registered companies are required by law to obtain a licence. Before such licence is granted, however, each applicant must satisfy the Government as to his or her background, financial standing and general suitability. The Government imposes certain restrictions to protect the agricultural potential of the territory and to achieve balanced development. The Government Land Settlement Policy is aimed at providing peasants with agricultural lands ranging from 2 to 5 acres. There are at present 20 such settlements in Grenada and Carriacou. There are also housing settlements which have been established with the aim of providing smaller lots for peasants and other workers who do not own lands. There are at present 28 such settlements while some other lands already provided for additional housing and land settlements are still being prepared for distribution. GOVERNOR Her Excellency Dame Hilda Bynoe, DBE MINISTRY Premier and Minister of Planning, Development, Lands, Tourism, External and Minister of Finance, Trade and Production: The Hon. George F. Hosten Minister of Health, Housing and Labour: The Hon. David T. Sylvester Parliamentary Secretaries: Ministry of Communications and Works: The Hon. A. O. Forsyth Ministry of Youth, Development, Sport and Co-operatives: The Hon. Mrs W. Nedd Ministry of Education, Culture and Social Affairs: The Hon. Mrs Nadia Benjamin Permanent Secretaries: Cabinet Secretary: Franklyn Cherman, MBE BRITISH GOVERNMENT REPRESENTATIVE (resident in Castries, St Lucia) Deputy British Government Representative: G. Baker ST CHRISTOPHER, NEVIS AND ANGUILLA T HE three islands of St Christopher (St Kitts), Nevis and Anguilla, lie in the northern part of the Leeward group of the Lesser Antilles in the Eastern Caribbean. They were united by Federal Act in 1882 and became an independent state in association with Britain on 27th February 1967. St Kitts and Nevis are separated by a channel some two miles in width. Anguilla is approximately 65 miles N.N.W. of St Kitts and nine miles from its nearest neighbour St Maarten (St Martin)*. St Kitts (17° 20′ N., 62° 48′ W.) is roughly oval in shape, with a narrow neck of land extending like a handle from the south-eastern end. The total length of the island is 23 miles and its area is 65 square miles. The central part of the main body consists of a rugged mountain range, whose highest point is Mount Misery (3,792 feet). A branch of the range encloses a spacious and fertile valley, on the seaboard of which lies the capital, Basseterre, with a population of about 16,000. This valley and the circle of land formed by the skirts and lower slopes of the mountains constitutes most of the arable and cultivated portion of the island. The higher slopes are covered with short grass, affording excellent pasturage, and the summits of the range are crowned with dense forest. St Kitts is of volcanic formation and most of the beaches are of black volcanic sand but the best, fringing the peninsula (known as the Salt Ponds) which reaches out towards Nevis, are golden. Nevis (17° 10' N., 62° 35′ W.) has an area of 36 square miles. Like St Kitts, it was discovered by Columbus in 1493. It was first colonised by English settlers from St Kitts in 1628. The island's dominant central peak, its tip usually encircled by clouds, rises gradually in an almost perfect cone to 3,232 feet, giving Nevis a spectacularly beautiful appearance from the sea. There are long stretches of golden sandy beaches. Most of the inhabitants are peasant farmers. As on St Kitts, the main crops are sugar cane, sea island cotton, vegetables and coconuts, but whereas the soil of St Kitts (except in the mountains) is light and porous that of Nevis is stiff clay studded with volcanic boulders. The only township, Charlestown, has a population of about 2,500. Anguilla (18° 12′ N., 63° 05′ W.) is a flat, coralline island, rather less than 16 miles in length and about three and half miles across at its widest point. Its area is about 35 square miles and its highest point is only 213 feet above sea level. The island is covered with low scrub and fringed with some of the finest white coral-sand beaches in the Caribbean. Apart from sheep and goats, its chief product is salt. Crops are grown in bottoms of rich soil scattered across the island. Wells said to have been dug by the Caribs are still in use. The sea off Anguilla is remarkably clear and fish can be seen entering the bays. At many points the reef is close inshore, affording perfect conditions for diving and snorkling. The climate of St Christopher-Nevis-Anguilla is pleasant and healthy. The islands lie in the path of the north-east trade winds and there is a steady cooling breeze throughout the year. The highest temperature recorded in this century is 92°F and the lowest 62°F. Humidity is low and there is no rainy season. Average annual rainfall on St Kitts is about 55 inches. Tropical diseases are virtually non-existent. The southern part of this island belongs to the Netherlands Antilles, the northern part to France. |