Grenada's bicameral parliamentary democracy is governed by the Prime Minister and Cabinet. The Governor General is head of state. Elections in 2003 gave the New National Party 8 out of 15 parliamentary seats in free and fair elections held on the basis of universal suffrage and secret ballot. There are 4 women in the 15-seat elected House, 4 in the 12-seat appointed Senate and 6 in the Cabinet, and women hold the majority of the highest civil service positions. The judiciary is independent.

Discrimination is prohibited on the basis of race, place of origin, political opinion, colour, creed or sex, and the law is enforced.

Flogging is a legal form of punishment, but is rarely used and then as a punishment for sex crimes. Some members of the security forces are accused of violations of rights. Access to government information legislation has not been enacted, but requests for unclassified information are usually met.

Freedom of speech and of the press are guaranteed and respected. The media are active, and a wide variety of views are expressed. The Association of Caribbean Media Workers and the Committee to Protect Journalists criticised the Government for trying to intimidate the media over an allegation of misuse of funds. Access to the Internet is not restricted.

The transit of drugs through Grenada has led to the formation of a plan to address drug use and trafficking.

Extensive damage by Hurricane Ivan resulted in the destruction of 40% of homes and 91% of the rain forest; the agricultural sector was also seriously harmed. Schools were flattened and materials rendered unusable. EI members helped colleagues rebuild in the education sector. The economy contracted by 3.6%. Soldiers and police officers from other Caribbean countries assisted during the aftermath of the hurricane.

Education is modelled on the British system, and it is compulsory, free and universal for ages 5 to 16. There are 57 primary schools and 19 public secondary schools. There are several postsecondary institutions and an extra-mural department of the University of the West Indies. Destruction of schools during Hurricane Ivan has required extensive rebuilding.

A 2-year programme begins at age 3. 32% of ECE is private. The Net Enrolment Rate (NER) is 80%. Of the 228 teachers working at this level, 99% are women. The pupil/teacher ratio (PTR) is 15 : 1.

Education is compulsory for ages 5 to 16. Primary school begins at age 5 and continues for 7 years. The NER is 84% (43% female). Of students who enrol in Grade 1, 83% reach the last grade of primary school. 3% of students repeat grades. 895 teachers (76% female) work at this level, and 68% of them are trained. The PTR is 18 : 1.

Secondary education begins at age 12 and is completed in 5 years. 16% of students in upper secondary education study in technical vocational programmes. The NER is 78%. 8% of students repeat grades. There are 740 secondary teachers, 500 (64% female) in lower secondary school and 240 (61% female) in upper secondary. The PTR is 19 : 1 in lower secondary and 22 : 1 in upper secondary.

Grenadian students study overseas in the USA (229), Cuba (93), the United Kingdom (43), Trinidad and Tobago (40) and Canada (16).

Probationary and rehabilitation services are provided for youth, children's day care and financial assistance to 6 children's homes run by private organisations. Disabled persons are not protected from discrimination in employment hiring. Education is provided for disabled children. NGOs provided additional programmes for education and training.

Grenada has not acceded to the 1951 Convention or the 1967 Protocol relating to the Status of Refugees, nor has it enacted relevant legislation governing the protection of refugees. While Grenada does not currently host any refugees, the lack of legal and institutional arrangements for refugee protection is a cause for concern

Small minorities of East Indians as well as descendants of the old French and British settlers and more recent immigrants from North America and Europe co-exist in Grenada. Although English is the accepted language, a form of patois is still spoken by some.

Reports do not indicate any restriction of academic freedom, and Internet access is not restricted.

Women have the same legal rights as men, but they still earn less than men for work of equal value, though the wage differential is lower in highly paid jobs. The law prohibits sexual harassment. Domestic violence is prohibited in law but is still a problem. Security service personnel are alleged to have abused women following the hurricane by trading relief supplies for sex.

Child labour is illegal; children work in the agricultural sector on family farms. The minimum age for employment is 18, and this is enforced in the formal sector; enforcement in the informal sector is problematic.

Workers can form and join trade unions, and 45% of the work force is unionised. The umbrella federation, the Grenada Trades Union Council, includes all major unions as members. Collective bargaining is practised. Workers have the right to strike. Forced or compulsory labour is prohibited, and the law is enforced.

A tripartite Wages Advisory Committee regulates minimum wages for various categories of workers; the minimum wage does not provide a decent standard of living for a worker and family. Most workers receive benefits set by collective bargaining agreements between employers and labour unions that improve their standard of living. A 40-hour maximum work week is standard.