2010 Report on International Religious Freedom - Grenada
| Publisher | United States Department of State |
| Publication Date | 17 November 2010 |
| Cite as | United States Department of State, 2010 Report on International Religious Freedom - Grenada, 17 November 2010, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4cf2d09769.html [accessed 6 June 2023] |
| Disclaimer | This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. |
[Covers the period from July 1, 2009, to June 30, 2010]
The constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion.
The government generally respected religious freedom in practice. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the government during the reporting period.
There were no reports of societal abuses or discrimination based on religious affiliation, belief, or practice.
The U.S. government discusses religious freedom with the government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights.
Section I. Religious Demography
The country, including the islands of Grenada, Carriacou, and Petite Martinique, has an area of 133 square miles and a population of 105,000 (as of 2004). There are 96,000 persons on the island of Grenada, 8,000 on Carriacou, and 900 on Petite Martinique. 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, Baha'i, Hindu, Moravian, Muslim, Rastafarian, Salvation Army, The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons), and Mennonite. Approximately 4 percent of the population view themselves as nonbelievers. There are two mosques and an Islamic prayer center. There is no organized Jewish community. The government does not count the 3,700 foreign university students in the census data.
Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom
Legal/Policy Framework
Article 9 of the constitution provides for freedom of religion, and other laws and policies contributed to the generally free practice of religion.
The government is secular and 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.
The government observes the following religious holidays as national holidays: Good Friday, Easter Monday, Whit Monday, and Christmas.
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 during the reporting period.
Restrictions on Religious Freedom
The government generally respected religious freedom in practice. There was no change in the status of respect for religious freedom by the government during the reporting period.
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 reporting period.
There were no reports of religious prisoners or detainees in the country.
Forced Religious Conversion
There were no reports of forced religious conversion.
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 Grenada facilitated closer relations among various religious organizations. Faith-based organizations continued their collaboration to repair churches damaged during the 2004 and 2005 hurricanes. Of the three historic churches in St. George's that lost roofs in the hurricanes, reconstruction started only on the Catholic cathedral.
Section IV. U.S. Government Policy
The U.S. government discusses religious freedom with the government as part of its overall policy to promote human rights.
