Advanced search
image
Travel & living abroad

North & Central America and Caribbean

Grenada

 Flag of Grenada

Last reviewed: 04 June 2009

Country information

HISTORY

Grenada was discovered by Christopher Columbus in 1498 and named Concepcion.  Grenada was later colonised by the French and, in 1763, ceded to Great Britain in the Treaty of Versailles. Grenada became a self-governing Associated State in 1967 and gained independence on 7 February 1974. In 1979 the then elected government was overthrown by the New Jewel Movement led by Maurice Bishop, who formed a People's Revolutionary Government (PRG). Disagreements within the PRG resulted in the arrest and subsequent assassination of Bishop in October 1983. The PRG was replaced briefly by a Revolutionary Military Council. These events led to an intervention by US and Caribbean forces in late 1983 and a return to democracy. The current Prime Minister, the Hon Tillman Thomas, was elected in July 2008.

BBC News Country Timeline: Grenada

Country information

Pick Another Country :

Share this with: