Sir Eric Matthew Gairy was the first Prime Minister of Grenada, serving as Prime Minister February 7th 1974. He also served as Chief Minister from 1961 to 1962, and as Premier from 1967 to 1974. Gairy led the struggle in 1951 against the British bringing social changes to the poor estate workers and later Independence.

The opposition GNP and the NJM opposed independence and with the support of some unions brought the country to it knees by shutting off power and closing down to port. I was a rough time for all Grenadians who had to depend on traffickers from Trinidad for food stuff.

The independence ceremony took place on Fort George using cars to provide lights.