Grenada


1885-1958:

Grenada acts as administrative headquarters of the British Windward Islands. [1]

1950:

Grenada United Labour Party founded by Eric Gairy. [1]

1958-62:

Grenada is part of the British-sponsored Federation of the West Indies. [1]

1967:

Grenada becomes autonomous, with foreign and defence affairs remaining under British control. [1]

1974:

Grenada becomes independent with Gairy as prime minister. [1]

The post-independence period is plagued by corruption, extremism and political thuggery. [6]

1979:

Gairy ousted in coup organised by the leftist New Jewel Movement and led by Maurice Bishop, who proceeds to strengthen ties with Cuba and the US. [1]

The policies of Maurice Bishop and his followers policies were not as revolutionary as Castro's, but Washington was again driven by its fear of "another Cuba," particularly when public appearances by the Grenadian leaders in other countries of the region met with great enthusiasm. U.S. destabilization tactics against the Bishop government began soon after the coup and continued until 1983, featuring numerous acts of disinformation and dirty tricks. [3] [4]

1983:

Bishop ousted and executed by former left-wing allies led by General Hudson Austin, who objected to his attempts to improve ties with the United States; coup provides pretext for an invasion by the US; Austin arrested; Interim Advisory Council reinstates 1974 constitution. [1] [5]

British government privately furious at US failure to consult in invasion of Commonwealth country, but publicly backs intervention. [2]

The American invasion met minimal resistance, although the U.S. suffered 135 killed or wounded; there were also some 400 Grenadian casualties, and 84 Cubans, mainly construction workers. [3]

1984:

At the end of 1984, a questionable election was held which was won by a man supported by the Reagan administration. One year later, the human rights organization, Council on Hemispheric Affairs, reported that Grenada's new U.S.-trained police force and counter-insurgency forces had acquired a reputation for brutality, arbitrary arrest, and abuse of authority, and were eroding civil rights. [3]

1989:

Blaize remains prime minister after being replaced as head of the NNP; he later dies and is replaced by Ben Jones. [1]

April - The government issued a list of more than 80 books which were prohibited from being imported. Four months later, the prime minister suspended parliament to forestall a threatened no-confidence vote resulting from what his critics called "an increasingly authoritarian style." [3]

1991:

Coalition government headed by Nicholas Braithwaite, of the centrist National Democratic Congress (NDC) takes office after an inconclusive general election. [1]

1995:

February - Agriculture Minister George Brizan becomes prime minister after resignation of Braithwaite. [1]

June - Keith Mitchell becomes prime minister after his NNP wins general elections with comfortable majority. [1]

1999:

Prime Minister Keith Mitchell's NNP wins landslide in general elections, taking all 15 seats in parliament. [1]

2000:

April - Truth and Reconciliation Commission set up with South African help to examine political upheavals of the "Revolutionary Years" between 1976 to 1983. [1]

September - Three Chinese diplomats on a private visit are deported for statements construed as interference in the internal affairs of Grenada. They were invited by the newly-formed Grenada-China friendship association of opposition leader Michael Baptiste. [1]

2001:

Grenada blacklisted by Paris-based Financial Action Task Force for not doing enough to tackle money-laundering. Government begins review of offshore banking. [1]

Opposition criticises government for establishing diplomatic ties with Libya and for Prime Minister Mitchell's trip to Tripoli. He went as part of an Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) delegation seeking economic help after a drop-off in aid from the US, UK. [1]

December - Canada imposes visa regime on holders of Grenada passports, which can be bought, over security fears following 11 September attacks. Grenada had earlier suspended sales to avoid awarding citizenship to terrorists. [1]

December - Underwater volcano Kick'em Jenny off the Grenada coast erupts, but does not break the water's surface. [1]

2002:

February - Paris-based Financial Action Task Force removes Grenada from blacklist of countries said to be insufficiently cooperative in fight against money-laundering. [1]

Major organic banana project launched in an effort to boost the industry; 150 acres are set aside for organic cultivation. [1]

2003:

June - US Treasury Department's financial crimes agency withdraws its 2002 advisory on Grenada as efforts continue to clean-up offshore banking. [1]

November - Prime Minister Keith Mitchell narrowly wins a third term in office. [1]

2004:

September - Grenada takes a direct hit from Hurricane Ivan - the country's worst hurricane in living memory. Prime Minister Mitchell declares a national disaster; he says the island is 90% devastated. [1]