Saint David Parish, Grenada

St. David Parish
Parish
Nickname(s): The Virgin Parish
Country Grenada
Area
 • Total 18 sq mi (47 km2)
Population
 • Total 11,486
 • Density 680/sq mi (261/km2)
ISO 3166 code GD-02

Saint David's Parish is the fourth largest of the parishes of Grenada. It is also the only one without a main town. Because of this fact, it is sometimes referred to as "The Virgin Parish". It is ringed by spectacular bays and inlets that help to provide the nation with a variety of small secluded beaches. With a rocky coastline that slopes up gently towards the central mountainous ridge, its beauty lies in its completely rural state.

History

The town of Megrin was established at St David's Point in 1609 and destroyed during the 1795–96 Fedon conflict and the town never rebuilt. In the 1721 the Catholic parish of Megrin was reopened by the French, but it was built down next to the sea. In 1747 Megrin in St David was one of the six churches and parishes in Grenada. In 1795 the Fedon Rebellion became a battle between Fedon and the English troops staying at the church over night. In Grenada lies the area of Perdmontempts which is a mountainous area which includes lots of valleys which bear rich fruit such as guava, cherries, plums, mangoes and sugar cane.

The parish was also the home to the New Jewel Movement, which culminated in the Grenada Revolution on 13 March 1979. Its founders, Theodore Victor, aka "Teddy", Sebastian Thomas, Unison Whiteman, and Wally Jeremiah, all discontented with the opposition party Grenada National Party (GNP) under Herbert Blaize decided to build a grass roots movement that would organize and educate the Grenadian masses, publishing a weekly newspaper, The New Jewel.

St David's become the hot bed of political activity in the late 1970s culminating in a confrontation with the Gary Regime over access to a popular beach LaSagess which had been bought by a British Lord, by the name of Lord Brownslow, denying natives access to the popular beach. St. David's had served the same purpose for Eric Gairy some twenty years earlier when he returned from Aruba to stake his political future. Being funded by rich natives in the St. David's parish Gairy burned plantations and estates in what came to be known as "Sky Red" in a rebellion against British Rule, eventually leading to Grenada's independence in 1974.

Coordinates: 12°03′46″N 61°39′38″W / 12.06278°N 61.66056°W / 12.06278; -61.66056


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