2011 Report on International Religious Freedom - Grenada

Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor
July 30, 2012

[Covers calendar year from 1 January 2011 to 31 December 2011]

Executive Summary

The constitution and other laws and policies protect religious freedom and, in practice, the government generally respected religious freedom. The government did not demonstrate a trend toward either improvement or deterioration in respect for and protection of the right to religious freedom.

There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.

The U.S. embassy regularly discussed social trends and issues with members of the country's religious communities. Embassy officials engaged in frequent public events and services with members of various religious groups as a part of its community outreach efforts.

Section I. Religious Demography

According to the 2001 census, 44 percent of the population is Roman Catholic, 12 percent Anglican, 11 percent Pentecostal, and 11 percent Seventh-day Adventist. Religious groups whose adherents number at least 2 percent of the population include Methodist, Presbyterian, Church of God, Baptist, and evangelical. Smaller groups include Jehovah's Witnesses, Brethren, the Baha'is, Hindus, Moravians, Muslims, Rastafarians, the Salvation Army, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and Mennonites. Approximately 4 percent of the population view themselves as nonbelievers. There are two mosques. There is no organized Jewish community. Saint George's University hosts Christian, Jewish, and Muslim student organizations; the government does not count its 3,700 foreign students in the census data.

Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom

Legal/Policy Framework

The constitution and other laws and policies protect religious freedom.

The government does not interfere with an individual's right to worship. Religion is not listed on national identity documents. Certain types of religious headdress are permissible on photographs for national identity documents provided that the face is visible and not shadowed.

The government funds secular schools as well as public schools administered by traditional denominations. Nonpracticing students at government-funded schools are not obliged to attend religion classes.

To qualify for customs tax exemptions and other privileges, religious groups must register with the Home Affairs Department, which is responsible for issuing licenses for religious groups, buildings, and events. There were no reports that the department denied any registrations.

Foreign missionaries require either a worker's permit or a waiver from the minister of labor. Foreign missionaries must demonstrate prior experience and be sponsored by a registered denomination. There were no reports that the government denied an application by a foreign missionary during the year.

The government observes the following religious holidays as national holidays: Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, and Christmas.

Government Practices

There were no reports of abuses of religious freedom.

Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom

There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.

The Conference of Churches in Grenada facilitated closer relations among various religious organizations.

Section IV. U.S. Government Policy

The U.S. embassy regularly discussed social trends and issues with members of the Grenada Conference of Churches. The embassy facilitated a flight organized by an American nongovernmental organization to support the social work of Catholic and non-Catholic charities.