20 February 2013 Last updated at 09:32 ET

Grenada profile

Head of state: Queen Elizabeth II, represented by a governor

Prime Minister: Keith Mitchell

Veteran Grenadan leader Keith Mitchell returned to office in February 2013 after a five-year gap, when his centre-right New National Party swept the board in parliamentary elections.

The liberal National Democratic Congress had won the 2008 election, bringing Tillman Thomas to power and ending 13 years of rule by Keith Mitchell. The New National Party had been reduced to just four seats.

Mr Thomas was unable to revive Grenada's financial fortunes, hard hit by the 2004 Hurricane Ivan's devastation of the island's agriculture and infrastructure. His government coincided with the world economic crisis, which undermined the vital tourism industry. Unemployment reached 30%, and the debt burden prompted the Caribbean Development Bank to demand urgent measures to boost investor confidence.

Mr Mitchell swept back into office on a campaign on attracting investors to boost jobs.

Born in 1946 and a statistician by training, Keith Mitchell was elected to parliament in 1984 and took over the New National Party leadership in 1989. He led the party to three successive election wins in 1995, 1999 and 2003, before losing in 2008.