Bill Text: NY J00365 | 2019-2020 | General Assembly | Introduced

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Bill Title: Commending Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique upon the occasion of its 45th Anniversary of Independence

Spectrum: Moderate Partisan Bill (Democrat 7-1)

Status: (Passed) 2019-02-05 - ADOPTED [J00365 Detail]

Download: New_York-2019-J00365-Introduced.html

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Senate Resolution No. 365

BY: Senator PERSAUD

        COMMENDING  Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique
        upon  the  occasion  of  its  45th  Anniversary   of
        Independence

  WHEREAS,  It is the sense of this Legislative Body to pay tribute to
those of true purpose and worthy accomplishment who foster a  spirit  of
community  and  service and, simultaneously, work diligently to preserve
their rich cultural heritage; and

  WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and  in  full  accord  with  its
long-standing  traditions,  this  Legislative  Body  is  justly proud to
commend Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique upon the occasion of  its
45th Anniversary of Independence; this momentous occasion was celebrated
on  Thursday,  January 10, 2019, at the Ministerial Complex, and will be
followed by a myriad of events throughout the year; and

  WHEREAS, The theme of the 2019 Independence Ball is "Celebrating  45
years   building   Resilience   and   enhancing   Social   and  Economic
Transformation"; and

  WHEREAS, The State of Grenada consists of  three  islands-  Grenada,
Carriacou  and  Petite  Martinique  which  form  the southern end of the
Windward Islands; with  a  population  over  100,000,  it  lies  between
Trinidad  and  Tobago to the south and St. Vincent and the Grenadines to
the north in the Eastern Caribbean;  it  is  also  100  miles  north  of
Venezuela and 158 miles southwest of Barbados; and

  WHEREAS,  Formerly colonized for many years, first by the French and
then by the British, the islands of Grenada still retain traces of these
European influences in their culture, architecture and place names;  its
capital,  St. George's, is located on the southwest coast of Grenada and
is the seat of government and the main commercial center; and

  WHEREAS, Before the 14th Century, the Carib  Indians  who  displaced
the earlier population of Arawak Indians settled in Grenada; Christopher
Columbus  during  his  third  voyage to the new world in 1498, sited the
island and named it Concepcion; and

  WHEREAS, The origin of the name "Grenada" is  ambiguous  but  it  is
likely  that  Spanish sailors renamed the island for the City of Granada
in Spain; the French then adapted Granada to Grenade,  and  the  British
followed suit, changing Grenade to Grenada; and

  WHEREAS,  European  settlement  was slow to follow due to the fierce
resistance  of  the  warlike  Carib   Indians;   the   island   remained
un-colonized  for more than 150 years although Britain and France fought
for control; the French gained control of the island in 1672,  and  held
onto it until the British successfully invaded the island in 1762 during
the  Seven  Years'  War  and  acquired Grenada by the Treaty of Paris in
1763; although the French regained  control  in  1779,  the  island  was
restored to Britain in 1783 by the Treaty of Versailles; and

  WHEREAS,  During  the  18th  Century,  the British established sugar
plantations and slave labor was brought in from Africa to  work  on  the
estates;  natural disasters in the late 18th century destroyed the sugar
fields and paved the way for the introduction  of  other  crops;  cacao,
cotton,  nutmeg  and  other  valuable spices were introduced and Grenada
assumed a new importance to European traders; and

  WHEREAS, Slavery was outlawed in 1834, at which the slave population
had  reached  24,000;  national  political  consciousness   took   shape
throughout  the  labor movement and Grenada joined the Federation of the
West Indies in 1958; and

  WHEREAS, When the Federation was dissolved in 1962, Grenada  evolved
first  into  an  Associated State with internal self-government in 1967;
Grenada's  independence  was  attained  in  1974,  and   it   became   a
constitutional monarchy, with a Prime Minister and Queen Elizabeth II as
Head of State, represented by the Governor General; and

  WHEREAS, Through their long and sustained commitment to freedom, the
people  of  Grenada,  Carriacou  &  Petite Martinique have so heroically
advanced that spirit of united purpose and shared concern which  is  the
unalterable manifestation of our shared humanity; now, therefore, be it

  RESOLVED,  That  this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commend Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique upon the occasion of  its
45th Anniversary of Independence; and be it further

  RESOLVED,  That  copies  of  this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be
transmitted to H.E. Dame Ceceile  LaGrenade,  GMCMG,OBE,  PhD,  Governor
General  of  Grenada;  Dr.  The  Right  Honorable  Keith Mitchell, Prime
Minister of Grenada; and The Honorable Rosemary Welsh, Consulate General
of New York.