OTHER CENTRAL GOVERNMENT COMMISSIONERS

(Together with members of the NRC forming the Executive Council).

M

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 at 31st December 1973 was 106,219 (male 50,765; female 55,454) with a birth rate of 27-42 per cent. The number of births was 2,933 (male 1,518; female 1,415). The number of deaths was 726 (male 325; female 401), of which 54 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 6,634. The other towns are Gouyave, Victoria, Grenville, Sauters, and Hillsborough in Carriacou.

Located in St George's and operated by the Ministry of Health 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 five main health centres at St George's, Gouyave, Sauteurs and Grenville and St David's. Maternity and Child Welfare work is carried out at 32 District Medical Stations, each of which is in charge of a Nurse-Midwife and is visited by one of the territory's 10 District Medical Officers who hold Clinics. There is also a midwifery unit attached to the Gouyave Health Centre.

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. This is proving successful as reflected in the lowering of the aegypti index. The WHO-UNICEF programme for the improvement of sanitation is making good progress.

A PAHO/WHO Adviser on Rabies Eradication arrived in the State in October 1972. A revised programme aimed at elimination of the reservoir of infection in the mongoose was put into operation in 1973 and is progressing satisfactorily. Although school attendance is not compulsory, a total of 28,129 children received primary education in 1974 at 15 Government schools and 47 denominational schools. The island has 3 Government and 11 aided secondary schools with a total enrolment of 4,767 pupils at the end of 1974. Technical Centres have been set up in each parish and there is a Technical and Vocational Institute in St George's.

The island has 18 Housecraft Centres. There is a free public library in St George's.

Among other awards the Government grants two annual 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. A modern marina is operated by the Grenada Yacht Services with Syncro lifts capable of lifting ships up to 230 tons. 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 HS 748 AVRO aircraft. Leeward Islands Air Transport operate daily scheduled services 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, restricted to aircraft of maximum permissible weight not exceeding 12,000 lbs has been constructed at Lauriston, Carriacou. Leeward Islands Air Transport operate

daily scheduled services through Lauriston Airport linking Carriacou with Grenada and Palm Island and St. Vincent.

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 roads, one of which is a first-class road, 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 (W.I.) Ltd, provide cable and radio-telephone facilities with most parts of the world. Telephone services are operated by the Grenada Telephone Co. Ltd in which the Government is a shareholder. There are seven fully automatic exchanges connected by trunk lines.

Following the demise of the Windward Islands Broadcasting Service on 31st December 1971, Radio Grenada came into being on 1st January 1972. The station is located at Morne Rouge, St George's. In addition there is a television booster station which relays Trinidad & Tobago television programmes. A scheme is now under way to produce two hours of local programmes nightly. 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.

The total acreage in Grenada is 75,370 (1974) and the major crops are cocoa, nutmegs, bananas and coconuts. A wide variety of other crops can be grown and efforts are being made to increase the production of fruit and vegetables for local consumption. The total acreage of Carriacou is 8,550.

Although livestock production is an important part of the island's economy, animal rearing is largely a peasant undertaking and local requirements of meat and milk are not fully met. The livestock population in 1974 is estimated at cattle 6,000, horses 50, donkeys 2,735, sheep and goats 15,000. Poultry numbers 320,000. There are approximately 1,500 fishermen and fishing is practised on all coasts. Fishing boats number 850. In 1974, the estimated catch was 4,801,038 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 Caribbean Agricultural Farm Institute (E.C.A.F.I.) in Trinidad, West Indies.

Principal domestic exports by quantity and value for 1974 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 seale varying from 1% to 40% on estates valued over $288,000.00.

In 1974 the territory's provisional revenue figures were 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.