U.S. Department of State Annual Report on International Religious Freedom for 2003 - Grenada

Released by the U.S. Department of State Bureau for Democracy, Human Rights and Labor on December 18, 2003, covers the period from July 1, 2002, to June 30, 2003.

The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice.

There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom during the period covered by this report, and government policy continued to contribute to the generally free practice of religion.

The generally amicable relationship among religions in society contributed to religious freedom.

The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government in the context of its overall dialog and policy of promoting human rights.

Section I. Religious Demography

Grenada and 2 smaller islands, Carriacou and Petit Martinique, has a total area of 133 square miles, and a population of approximately 98,000. The population is of African, East Indian, and European descent. Approximately 90,000 persons live on the island of Grenada, 7,000 live on Carriacou and 900 on Petit Martinique. Roman Catholics account for 64 percent of the population; Anglicans 22 percent; Methodists 3 percent, and Seventh-day Adventists 3 percent. Additional denominations include Presbyterians, Church of God, Baptists, and Pentecostals. All the major religious denominations are represented in most towns and villages except Petit Martinique, where the population is 98 percent Roman Catholic and 2 percent Seventh-day Adventist. There are no synagogues or mosques in Grenada.

Section II. Status of Religious Freedom

Legal/Policy Framework

The Constitution provides for freedom of religion, and the Government generally respects this right in practice. The Government at all levels strives to protect this right in full, and does not tolerate its abuse, either by governmental or private actors.

The Government is secular and does not interfere with an individual's right to worship. Most government officials are Christians. Christian holy days, such as Good Friday, Corpus Christi, Easter, Whit Monday, and Christmas are national holidays. The Government does not take any particular steps to promote interfaith understanding.

The Constitution prohibits discrimination based on race, place of origin, political opinion, color, creed, or sex, and the Government generally adheres to these provisions.

Restrictions on Religious Freedom

Government policy and practice contributed to the generally free practice of religion.

There were no reports of religious prisoners or detainees.

Forced Religious Conversion

There were no reports of forced religious conversion, including of minor U.S. citizens who had been abducted or illegally removed from the United States, or of the refusal to allow such citizens to be returned to the United States.

Section III. Societal Attitudes

Relations between the various religious communities are generally amicable. There are no known activities to promote greater mutual understanding and tolerance among adherents of different religions.

Section IV. U.S. Government Policy

The U.S. Government discusses religious freedom issues with the Government in the context of its overall dialog and policy of promoting human rights. U.S. Embassy representatives discussed issues or events involving religious freedom with government officials when soliciting support for international organization resolutions regarding broader human rights concerns.