2009 Report on International Religious Freedom - Grenada
| Publisher | United States Department of State |
| Author | Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights and Labor |
| Publication Date | 26 October 2009 |
| Cite as | United States Department of State, 2009 Report on International Religious Freedom - Grenada, 26 October 2009, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/4ae8613cc.html [accessed 19 May 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, 2008, to June 30, 2009]
The Constitution provides for freedom 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 in 2004 a population of 105,000. 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 2 percent or more of the population include Methodist, Presbyterian, Church of God, Baptist, and evangelical. Religious groups with 1 percent or less of the population include Jehovah's Witnesses, Brethren, Baha'i, Hindu, Moravian, Muslim, Rastafarian, and Salvation Army. In addition, there are small communities of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (Mormons) and Mennonites. Approximately 4 percent of the population view themselves as nonbelievers. There is one mosque. The Government does not count the 3,700 foreign university students in its census data. Reportedly, more than 60 percent of the population regularly participates in formal religious services.
Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom
Legal/Policy Framework
Article 9 of the Constitution provides for freedom of religion.
The Government is secular and does not interfere with an individual's right to worship.
The Government observes Good Friday, Corpus Christi, Easter, Whit Monday, and Christmas as national holidays.
To qualify for customs tax exemptions, religious groups must register with the Prime Minister's Office, which is responsible for issuing licenses for religious groups, buildings, and events.
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.
There were no reports of religious detainees or prisoners in the country.
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 who had not been allowed to be returned to the United States.
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; none of the three main churches in St. George's that lost their roofs had succeeded in replacing them.
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.
