History

The recorded history of Grenada begins in 1498, when Christopher Columbus first sighted the island. After a failed British settlement attempt, the French purchased the island from the Carib indians in 1650. The island was again ceded to Britain in 1783. Grenada was made a Crown Colony in 1877.

In 1974, full Independence was achieved under the leadership of Sir Eric Matthew Gairy. In 1979, after an unstable political period, power was seized by the New Jewel Movement under the charismatic and popular left-wing leader Maurice Bishop. In 1983, when Bishop and several aides were arrested and later executed by a faction within his party, the Governor General, Sir Paul Scoon, called for military intervention. The United States, Jamaica, and the Eastern Caribbean States responded with the now famous "rescue mission" that restored order. An interim administration was appointed until general elections were held in 1984, reestablishing a democratic system of government.

Politics

As a Commonwealth nation, the British monarch is the formal Head of State of Grenada. She is represented by a governor general but real executive power lies with the head of government, the prime minister. The Prime Minister is appointed by the Governor General, and commands the largest faction of members in the House of Representatives.

The parliament consists of a Senate (13 members) and a House of Representatives (15 members). The senators are appointed by the government and the opposition, while the representatives are elected by the population for 5-year terms. The composition of the House of Representatives following the 2003 election, is the New National Party (8 seats) and the National Democratic Congress (7 seats).

Information from Wikipedia.org, the Free Encyclopedia.

Coat-of-Arms

Our Coat-of-Arms, like our flag, represents the distillation of a national effort to produce armorial bearings for an independent Grenada, incorporating important historical and indigenous features of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petit Martinique, in a design approved by the College of Arms.

It should be mentioned that what is commonly known as a Coat-of-Arms is more likely called an Achievement of Arms which comprises:

The Livery Coat or colour on a Shield;
Charges or Devices on the Shield;
The Helm of Special Design;
The Mantle which covers the Helm;
The Wreath to hold the mantle in place;
The Crest;
Supporters;
The Motto;

It will be noted that our national colours of red, gold, and green, which comprises our Flag, are used on the Shield where the same symbolism is attached to them. The ship Santa Maria at the centre point of the Shield and golden cross represents Grenada's discovery by Christopher Columbus, and our continuing link with yachting and tourism. The golden cross itself is significant of God consciousness which underlines our national effort. The Lion is the first quarter of the Shield and repeated in the fourth, symbolizes strength, and our unswerving determination to face the challenges of nationhood with courage and resourcefulness. The Madonna Lily resting between the horns of a Crescent, (inspired by Murillo's famous painting of the Immaculate Conception) indicates that Grenada has since its discovery by Columbus been dedicated to Mary of the Immaculate Conception and in whose honour the Island was named Conception Island; the Shield itself rests in a valley between two mountains, representing the spectacularly picturesque topography of our islands. The Grand Etang Lake is also represented amid luxuriant green vegetation in the foreground of which is placed a sprig of Nutmeg also showing the ripe fruit. Growing from the vegetation on the right side of the shield is a stalk of Maize flowering and beating three ears of ripened cobs and on the left a Banana tree bearing a full bunch. These fruits all represent our traditional link with an agricultural economy; the cradle of our heritage.

The helm is a Royal Helm, a gold Helmet facing front and having seven gold bars across the visor; the interior lined purple. A star symbolic of our hopes, aspirations, and ideals is placed to the forefront. The crest is made up of seven roses, representative of our seven parishes and set between two sprays of Bougainvillea, our national flower.

Our Motto - ever conscious of God, we aspire, build and advance as one people, itself sufficiently eloquent on the subject of those high ideals and principle upon which on our Nation is founded.

Flag

The national flag of Grenada, like our Coat-of-Arms, represents the distillation of a national effort to produce an emblem of our Nation which is to stand for all time and which incorporates simplicity of form, a pleasing cisual quality and not least, is symbolic of the confidence, hopes, and aspirations of our couragrous people accepting the challenge of nationhood.

The components of our Flag have the following significance:

Red: represents for us the fervour of our people, our courage and vitality, our burning aspiratio to be free. The red border is indicative of our dedication to preserve our harmony and unity of spirit.

Gold: the colour representative of wisdom also holds significance of us as a representation of hte sun, our islands in the sun, the warmth and friendliness of the people.

Green: symbolizes the fertility of our land, our lush vegetation, and our islands agriculture.

The seven Golden Stars: represents the seven parishes of our Country and the hopes, aspirations, and ideals upon which our Nation is founded.

The Nutmeg: represents our reputation as the Isle of Spice and its traditional link with our economy.