The beautiful island of Grenada is bountiful with white sand beaches, lush tropical vegetation and aromatic spices. Blessed with an unrivaled natural beauty, Grenada is also an island rich in history, with a diverse culture that has evolved from the influence of the many different people who have arrived on her shores.

The first inhabitants of Grenada were the Arawak Indians, who were a tranquil and hardworking people. The Arawaks existed peacefully until the arrival of the warlike Carib Indians, who killed all the men and took the women as their wives. However, the combative nature of the Carib Indians proved beneficial when English colonial forces took interest in the Island. They fended off colonial influence until 1650, with the arrival of the French who bribed them into peace. Unfortunately, the peace was short lived. In 1651, the French and Caribs broke out into full out war for control of the Island. The final battle took place in Le Morne des Sauteurs in the north of Grenada where the last of the Caribs, unwilling to submit to colonial rule, leapt to their deaths at what is now known as ‘Leapers Hill’.   

Over the next century, Grenada’s fortunes followed the political power struggles of the European powers, with Britain and France exchanging possession of the Island frequently. Finally in 1783, the Treaty of Versailles awarded Grenada to Britain, but the French influence lives on to this day in many of the village names and in the African-French ‘patois’ still spoken by Grenadians.

In 1967, Grenada became an associated state within the British Commonwealth. With this, the island nation gained control of its internal affairs, while the government of Britain continued to control external matters. Complete independence was achieved in 1974 under the leadership of the late Sir Eric Gairy -- a charismatic and controversial figure who had been in the public eye since the early 1950s.

While Gairy was away from the island in 1979, his key political opponent, Maurice Bishop, seized control of the government. An avowed radical, Bishop set about establishing strong ties with the Soviet Union and Cuba. Then, in 1983, a faction within Bishop’s New Jewel Movement placed Bishop under house arrest and took control of Grenada. This served as the catalyst for the famed "rescue mission" by U.S. forces a short time later.

The overwhelming support for the action by the Grenadian population was evident from the start and has barely subsided today. Since then, North America has been financially involved in assisting Grenada to reinvigorate its agricultural reputation. Light manufacturing and tourism are the sound economic base for Grenada, which now thrives as an independent state.

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Island News

Grenada to Host New Regatta:
The Grenada Board of Tourism in association with West Indies Events, the organizers of the St. Maarten – St. Martin Classic Yacht Regatta, are proud to announce a new regatta to their prestigious festival line-up. The ‘Grenada Classic Yacht Regatta’ is set to premier February 21, 2008 in St. George’s, Grenada. The regatta will consist of three days of racing and four days of festivities. For more information, visit www.classicregatta.com

Recognizing Lewis Hamilton:
The Grenada Board of Tourism would like to applaud Mr. Lewis Hamilton, Formula 1 Racer. Mr. Hamilton celebrated his first Grand Prix race in Montreal on Sunday June 10, 2007. His hard work and determination has served as inspiration for the youth of Grenada. A young British driver of Grenadian descent (his grandfather is from Concord in St. John), he has placed among the top three in all six of his seasonal races. We would like to take this time to wish Mr. Hamilton continued success in his racing career.

Spice Island Beach Resort Revamps Website:
In order to create a stronger Internet presence that better reflects its luxurious vacation experience, Spice Island Beach Resort has revamped its website. The new website has a more streamlined, cleaner appearance with a new elegant look and expanded content. While the resort's website has been significantly enhanced, the address remains the same at www.spiceislandbeachresort.com

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Caribbean Week 2007

From September 26 – 30, 2007, Toronto will see a celebration of sights, sounds and culture as Caribbean Week takes over. Arranged by the Caribbean Tourism Association in conjunction with the Caribbean Hotel Association, the week will feature Caribbean fashion, food and entertainment with special presentations from tourism officials, celebrity chefs, sponsors, artists and various media members.

The Caribbean Week schedule will include:

• Launch Event – Wednesday September 26, 2007 – Corner of Yonge and Dundas Streets (Dundas Square);
• Caribbean Media Marketplace – Thursday September 27, 2007 – One King West;
• Ryerson University International World Tourism Day – Thursday September 27, 2007 – One King West;
• CTO Travel Agent Training/Toronto Travel Show – Friday September 28, 2007 – Toronto International Centre;
• First Annual Governments of the Caribbean Gala and Awards Presentations – Friday September 28, 2007 – The Liberty Grand Governor’s Room;
• Toronto Travel Show – Saturday September 29/Sunday September 30, 2007 – Toronto International Centre. 

Hotel Spotlight: Morne Fendue Plantation House

Nestled in the heart of St. Patrick, Grenada’s most northern parish, sits the Morne Fendue Plantation House. Built in 1908 with river stones and a mortar of lime and molasses, this charming property is a piece of history set among some of Grenada’s most romantic scenery.

The picturesque landscape of Morne Fendue is dappled with brilliant poinsettias, palm trees, bougainvilleas and flamboyant trees. Visitors will be thrilled by the breathtaking views from the guesthouse balconies of majestic Mt. St. Catherine’s and the surrounding sea. In 2003, Morne Fendue added a two-storey guesthouse with eight double-rooms including an ensuite bathroom, highlighted by the expansive balconies overlooking the property. All the rooms are tastefully decorated to offer a comfortable yet romantic atmosphere.

When visiting Morne Fendue guests can enjoy a variety of activities including a tour of the on-property museum. Dedicated to the history of the estate, it contains displays from the early sugar cane industry, mementos of the late Betty Mascoll (who founded the guest house) and pictures of famous guests such as Princess Margaret, who stayed an evening during her 1950 visit, and U.S President Ronald Reagan, who had lunch at the establishment during his 1983 tour. Morne Fendue Plantation House is conveniently close to Levera Beach & National Park, Leaper’s Hill Historical Site, the Grenada Chocolate Factory, Sulfurous Spring, and Mount Rich.

Not to be missed when visiting Morne Fendue is the outstanding food fare. Their daily buffet (excluding Sundays) is famous for its authentic West Indies flare, serving such local favorites as callaloo soup, chistophene, plantains, garden fresh vegetables, fish, pepper pot and a variety of Creole dishes.

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Non-Stop Flights with Air Canada Vacations

Air Canada Vacations offers packages at eight fabulous resorts for winter 2007/08, with a non-stop flight from Toronto to Grenada starting in December 2007 until April 2008 (Saturday departure). The flight connects with most major Canadian cities.  Air Canada Vacation's Packages include roundtrip airfare, accommodations, airport-hotel transfers and Aeroplan Miles, plus Executive Class service upgrades starting at $299. To locate a Travel Agent and book online, visit www.aircanadavacations.com

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