State of Grenada

Political Status: Independent member of the Commonwealth since February 7, 1974; constitution suspended following coup of March 13, 1979; restored November 9, 1984.

Area: 133 sq. mi. (344 sq. km.).

Population: 100,895 (2001C); 109,000 (2007E).

Major Urban Center (2005E): ST. GEORGE'S (3,600).

Official Language: English.

Monetary Unit: East Caribbean Dollar (official rate November 1, 2008: 2.70 EC dollars = $1US).

Sovereign: Queen ELIZABETH II.

Governor General: Sir Daniel WILLIAMS; assumed office on August 8, 1996, upon the retirement of Sir Reginald Oswald PALMER.

Prime Minister: Tillman THOMAS (National Democratic Congress); sworn in on July 9, 2008, succeeding Dr. Keith C. MITCHELL (New National Party), following legislative election of July 8.

The Country

Grenada, located close to St. Kitts-Nevis, encompasses the southernmost of the Caribbean's Windward Islands, about 90 miles north of Trinidad. The ...