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› Visas
1. In most cases, visas are not required for travelling to Grenada.
2. Canadian and American citizens do not require visas to visit Grenada provided they are in possession of the following:
? Proof of Citizenship
? Return ticket or tickets to an onward destination
3. Citizens of Commonwealth countries are similarly visa exempt provided they are in possession of the following:
? Valid Passport
? Return tickets or tickets to an onward destination
4. The "Visa Exempt" conditions listed in section (3) also apply to citizens of several other countries. Please refer to your latest issue of Travel Information Manual for a listing of these countries. Citizens of all other countries should contact this office for further information.
5. Visitors may stay in the country for periods up to three (3) months
6. Non-Grenadians wishing to work in Grenada must first obtain a work permit from the Ministry of Labour, St. George's, Grenada.
7. Non-Grenadians wishing to purchase land in Grenada are required to apply to the Government for an Aliens Land Holding Permit.
» Grenada History
The recorded history of Grenada begins in 1498, when Christopher Columbus first sighted the island and named it - Conception. At the time of settlement, the island was occupied by Island Caribs (Kalinago) and their mainland cousins, the Kariña. After a failed English settlement attempt, the French 'purchased' the island from the indigenous people in 1650, which resulted in warfare with the Caribs of Dominica and St. Vincent, who feared losing their trade routes to the mainland. The island was ceded to the United Kingdom in 1763 by the Treaty of Paris. Grenada was made a Crown Colony in 1877.
The island was a province of the short-lived West Indies Federation from 1958 to 1962. In 1967 Grenada attained the position of "Associated State of the United Kingdom", which meant that Grenada was now responsible for her own internal affairs, and the UK was responsible for her defence and foreign affairs. Independence was granted in 1974 under the leadership of the then Premier Sir Eric Matthew Gairy, who became the first Prime Minister of Grenada. Eric Gairy's government became increasingly authoritarian and dictatorial, prompting a coup d'état in March 1979 by the charismatic and popular left-wing leader of the New Jewel Movement, Maurice Bishop. Bishop's failure to allow elections, coupled with his Marxist-Leninist socialism and cooperation with communist Cuba did not sit well with the country's neighbours, including Trinidad and Tobago, Barbados, Dominica and the United States. A power struggle developed between Bishop and a majority of the ruling People's Revolutionary Government (PRG), including the co-founder of the NJM, Bernard Coard. This led to Bishop's house arrest; he and many others were eventually d at Fort George on October 19, 1983.
Six days later, the island was invaded by forces from the United States purportedly at the behest of Dame Eugenia Charles, of Dominica. Five other Caribbean nations participated with Dominica and the USA in the campaign, called Operation Urgent Fury. The forces quickly captured the ringleaders and hundreds of Cuban "advisors" (most of whom were labourers working on the construction of a major airport for the island). A publicised tactical concern of the United States was the safe recovery of U.S. nationals enrolled at St. George's University. However, it should be noted that the island of Grenada could have become a corner of a triangle comprised also of Cuba and Nicaragua, both also declared enemies of US interests at that time. These three countries could have militarily controlled the deep water passages, thereby controlling the movement of oil from Venezuela and Trinidad and Tobago (supplies then considered vital by US military planners). But this supposed rationale was not even asserted as a justification of armed invasion.
In 2000-2002 much of the controversy of the late 1970s and early 1980s was once again brought into the public consciousness with the opening of the truth and reconciliation commission.
In 2004, the island was directly hit by Hurricane Ivan (September 7). Ivan struck as a Category 3 hurricane and caused 90 percent of the homes to be damaged or destroyed. The following year, 2005, Hurricane Emily (July 14) struck the island, causing an estimated USD $110 million (EC$ 297 million) worth of damage.
Grenada has recovered with remarkable speed, due to her climate and the resilience of her people combined with much needed help from her neighbours and financing from the world at large. By December 2005, 96% of all hotel rooms were to be open for business and to have been upgraded in facilities and strengthened to an improved building code. The agricultural industry and in particular the nutmeg industry suffered serious losses, but that event has begun changes in crop management and the nutmeg industry may be returning to its pre-Ivan position as a major supplier in the western world.
