Carriacou Caribbean Connection
Re-visit the Original Caribbean
Ever thought you waited too long... before travelling to the Caribbean Islands?
Then come visit Petite Martinique

HOW DO I GET THERE?
Welcome Message Dr. Keith C. Mitchell Prime Minister Grenada, Carriacou & Petite Martinique	Welcome Message Dr. Ralph E. Gonsalves Prime Minister St. Vincent and The Grenadines

Petite Martinique, a dependency of Grenada, is one of the many small islands of The Grenadines which make up the Tri-Island State of Grenada, Carriacou and Petite Martinique.  Uniquely, Petite Martinique is always known for its tranquility (a writer's haven.) The island is volcanic in origin, about 586 acres and dominated by a 750-foot high mountain in the middle.  One can walk or hike around the island in less than one hour.  Atop the mountain one can get a bird's eye view of all the neighboring Grenadine islands or the coastline right around Petite Martinique.  The island is so accessible, that during colonial times more than 450 of the 586 acres were suitable for cultivation.  The island was owned by a Frenchman, his wife ('Madame Pierre'), their children and their slaves.  Hence the largest village was named Madame Pierre after the wife of the French owner.

There are no real white sand beaches on Petite Martinique, when compared to those of neighboring Grenadine Islands.  The only beach, situated on the northwest coast of the island, however, is quite good for "bathing", as the locals refer to swimming. Petite Martinique is in very close proximity to the other Grenadine islands which makes it easy to visit via speedboats in as little as two minutes, in the case of nextdoor Petit St. Vincent.

The people of Petite Martinique share avery rich cultural heritage and its residents are ranked as with highest per capita income in the entire East caribbean region. If you're lucky, you may get a chance to see some of our traditional ceremonies such as the famous Big Drum Dance, witness the occassional tombstone fest, the launching of a locally built wooden boat (Petite Martinique is known for its boat building), or, even a traditional wedding ceremony featuring cake dancing and flag dancing (rituals unique only to the Petite Martinique wedding.)

Petite Martinique is mainly a sea faring community.  Most of the island's men folk are either fishermen or sailers on bulk cargo ships where they rank from ordinary crewman to top officers.  As a matter of fact, the seamen of this island are so good at seamanship that they are constantly on demand by large cargo ship companies.  Very few of the women folk work; they mostly stay home to tend to the children.

Roman Catholic is the main religion on the island.  A very small group of Seventh Day Adventist account for only about one percent of the population.  There is one church, one school (elementary), one bank, a post office, a health center, gas station, a few grocery stores and good telephone and electricity service all in close proximity to the main pier.

Petite Martinique is reachable only by boat. One can get to Petite Martinique by taking the Osprey High-Speed Catamaran Service (owned by entrepreneurs from Petite Martinique) which makes daily trips from Grenada at 09:00 and 17:00 or from Carriacou at 11:00 and 20:00.

Truely, because of its uniqueness, a visit to Grenada or Carriacou is not complete without a visit to lovely Petite Martinique.