U.S. Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices 1997 - Grenada
Publisher | United States Department of State |
Publication Date | 30 January 1998 |
Cite as | United States Department of State, U.S. Department of State Country Report on Human Rights Practices 1997 - Grenada, 30 January 1998, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/3ae6aa432c.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. |
Released by the Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor, January 30, 1998.
GRENADA
Grenada is a parliamentary democracy, with a Governor General as titular Head of State. In June 1995 parliamentary elections, Prime Minister Dr. Keith Mitchell's New National Party (NNP) won 8 of 15 seats and formed a majority government. The elections were openly and fairly contested, and were free of violence. The judiciary is independent. The 750-member Royal Grenada Police Force is responsible for maintaining law and order. It is controlled by and responsive to civilian authorities. Grenada has a free market economy based upon agriculture and tourism. The real economic growth rate was 3 percent for 1996, and the projected annual growth for 1997 was 4 percent. Citizens enjoy a wide range of civil and political rights. Human rights problems included allegations of police brutality in the course of criminal investigations, but there were no judicially confirmed cases. The Commissioner of Police has spoken out strongly against police use of unlawful force. Violence against women is common.