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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

 
Dictionary: Saint Vincent and the Gren·a·dines   (grĕn'ə-dēnz') pronunciation
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St. Vincent and the Grenadines
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St. Vincent and the Grenadines
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An island country in the central Windward Islands of the West Indies. It comprises St. Vincent Island and the northern islets of the Grenadines. Part of the West Indies Federation from 1958 to 1962, the country gained self-governing status in 1969 and full independence in 1979. Kingstown, on St. Vincent, is the capital. Population: 118,000.

 

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Britannica Concise Encyclopedia: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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Island country, Windward Islands, in the eastern Caribbean Sea. It is composed of Saint Vincent island and the northern Grenadines. Area: 150 sq mi (389 sq km). Pop. (2005 est.): 119,000. Capital: Kingstown. Most of the population is of African descent. Language: English (official). Religions: Christianity (mostly Protestant; also other Christians, Roman Catholic); also Hinduism, Islam. Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar. The islands are composed of volcanic rock. Thickly wooded volcanic mountains run north-south and are cut by many swift streams. Soufrière (4,048 ft [1,234 m]), the highest of the mountains, has had devastating volcanic eruptions. Agriculture is the mainstay of the economy, and export crops include bananas and arrowroot. Tourism is also important. The country is a constitutional monarchy with one legislative house; its chief of state is the British monarch represented by the governor-general, and the head of government is the prime minister. The French and the British contested for control of Saint Vincent until 1763, when it was ceded to England by the Treaty of Paris. The original inhabitants, the Caribs, recognized British sovereignty but revolted in 1795. Most of the Caribs were deported; many who remained were killed in volcanic eruptions in 1812 and 1902. In 1969 Saint Vincent became a self-governing state in association with the United Kingdom, and in 1979 it achieved full independence.

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Columbia Encyclopedia: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, island nation (2005 est. pop. 118,000), 150 sq mi (388 sq km), West Indies, in the Windward Islands. It comprises the island of Saint Vincent (140 sq mi/363 sq km) and about two thirds of the small Grenadine islands to the south. The capital is Kingstown.

Saint Vincent island is mountainous, rising to 4,048 ft (1,234 m) at Soufrière volcano, which erupted in 1902 and 1979, causing considerable damage to the island. The people are mainly descendants of Africans who were brought as slaves during the colonial period; there are also people of European, Asian Indian, and Carib descent. English is the predominant language, and a French patois is also spoken. The main religions are Anglicanism, Methodism, and Roman Catholicism.

The climate is well-suited to agriculture, which is an important part of Saint Vincent's economy. Bananas, taro, and arrowroot are the chief agricultural exports. There is light industry and offshore banking. Tourism is also economically important. The main trading partners are the United States and France.

The country, a parliamentary democracy, is governed under the constitution of 1979. The unicameral legislature, the House of Assembly, has of 15 elected and 6 appointed members; the members all serve five-year terms. The government is headed by the prime minister. The monarch of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, represented by a governor-general, is the head of state. Administratively, the country is divided into six parishes.

History

Presumably visited by Columbus in 1498, Saint Vincent remained uncolonized by Europeans until a British settlement was made in 1762. The French captured it in 1779 but it was restored to Britain in 1783. Attempts at overwhelming the native Caribs and black Caribs (or Garifuna, persons of mixed Carib and African descent) failed for many years, but the British deported most of them in 1797. Portuguese and Asian Indian laborers were introduced there in the 19th cent. after the emancipation of African slaves. Saint Vincent was part of the British colony of the Windward Islands (1880-1958) and of the West Indies Federation (1958-62). In 1979 it gained full independence. The islands were governed by the centrist New Democratic party under prime ministers James Mitchell and Arnhim Eustace from 1984 to 2001, when the center-left United Labor party (ULP), led by Ralph Gonsalves, won control of parliament in the March elections. Gonsalves and the ULP were returned to office in Dec., 2005.

Local Time: Saint Vincent and The Grenadines
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It is 5:16 AM, November 9, in Saint Vincent and The Grenadines.

Statistics: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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Click to enlarge flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Introduction
Background:Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on St. Vincent until 1719. Disputed between France and the United Kingdom for most of the 18th century, the island was ceded to the latter in 1783. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.
Geography
Map of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Location:Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:13 15 N, 61 12 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)
land: 389 sq km
water: 0 sq km
Area - comparative:twice the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:84 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm
Climate:tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
Terrain:volcanic, mountainous
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m
Natural resources:hydropower, cropland
Land use:arable land: 17.95%
permanent crops: 17.95%
other: 64.1% (2005)
Irrigated land:10 sq km (2003)
Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):total: 0.01
per capita: 83 cu m/yr (1995)
Natural hazards:hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
Environment - current issues:pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
Environment - international agreements:party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays
People
Population:104,574 (July 2009 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 25.9% (male 13,637/female 13,425)
15-64 years: 66.4% (male 35,693/female 33,701)
65 years and over: 7.8% (male 3,659/female 4,459) (2009 est.)
Median age:total: 28.9 years
male: 29 years
female: 28.9 years (2009 est.)
Population growth rate:-0.344% (2009 est.)
Birth rate:15.27 births/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Death rate:5.96 deaths/1,000 population (2008 est.)
Net migration rate:-11.8 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2009 est.)
Urbanization:urban population: 47% of total population (2008)
rate of urbanization: 1.3% annual rate of change (2005-10 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.82 male(s)/female
total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2009 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 15.14 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 16.48 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 13.76 deaths/1,000 live births (2009 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 73.65 years
male: 71.82 years
female: 75.54 years (2009 est.)
Total fertility rate:1.98 children born/woman (2009 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
Ethnic groups:black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, European 4%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 3%
Religions:Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%
Languages:English, French patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96% (1970 est.)
School life expectancy (primary to tertiary education):total: 12 years
male: 12 years
female: 12 years (2005)
Education expenditures:8.1% of GDP (2005)
Government
Country name:conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Government type:parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
Capital:name: Kingstown
geographic coordinates: 13 09 N, 61 14 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Independence:27 October 1979 (from the UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
Constitution:27 October 1979
Legal system:based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002)
head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001)
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Legislative branch:unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and six appointed senators; representatives are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: last held 7 December 2005 (next to be held in 2010)
election results: percent of vote by party - ULP 55.3%, NDP 44.7%; seats by party - ULP 12, NDP 3
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consisting of a High Court and Court of Appeals; based on Saint Lucia; two judges of the Supreme Court reside in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Political parties and leaders:New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; Unity Labor Party or ULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador La Celia A. PRINCE
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736
consulate(s) general: New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Flag description:three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern
Economy
Economy - overview:Economic growth slowed in 2008 after reaching a 10 year high of nearly 7% in 2006, and will likely slow in 2009 with the global economic downturn, though it will be above average for Latin America. Success of the economy hinges upon seasonal variations in agriculture, tourism, and construction activity as well as remittance inflows. Much of the workforce is employed in banana production and tourism, but persistent high unemployment has prompted many to leave the islands. This lower-middle-income country is vulnerable to natural disasters - tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002. In 2007, the islands had more than 200,000 tourist arrivals, mostly to the Grenadines. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore banking sector and has moved to adopt international regulatory standards. The government's ability to invest in social programs and respond to external shocks is constrained by its high debt burden - 25% of current revenues are directed towards debt servicing. An agreement with Italy to write-off debt reduced the public debt-to-GDP ratio to about 70%. The GONSALVES administration is directing government resources to infrastructure projects, including a new international airport that is expected to be completed in 2011.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.103 billion (2008 est.)
$1.05 billion (2007)
$984.9 million (2006)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP (official exchange rate):$597 million (2008 est.)
GDP - real growth rate:5% (2008 est.)
6.6% (2007 est.)
6.9% (2006 est.)
GDP - per capita (PPP):$10,500 (2008 est.)
$10,000 (2007 est.)
$9,300 (2006 est.)
note: data are in 2008 US dollars
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 10%
industry: 26%
services: 64% (2001 est.)
Labor force:41,680 (1991 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 26%
industry: 17%
services: 57% (1980 est.)
Unemployment rate:15% (2001 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Budget:revenues: $94.6 million
expenditures: $85.8 million (2000 est.)
Fiscal year:calendar year
Inflation rate (consumer prices):6.1% (2007 est.)
Central bank discount rate:6.5% (31 December 2007)
Commercial bank prime lending rate:9.61% (31 December 2007)
Stock of money:$155.5 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of quasi money:$280.2 million (31 December 2007)
Stock of domestic credit:$387.8 million (31 December 2007)
Agriculture - products:bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish
Industries:food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
Electricity - production:129 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - consumption:120 million kWh (2006 est.)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2007 est.)
Electricity - production by source:fossil fuel: 69.3%
hydro: 30.7%
nuclear: 0%
other: 0% (2001)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
Oil - consumption:1,570 bbl/day (2006 est.)
Oil - exports:0 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - imports:1,460 bbl/day (2005)
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2006 est.)
Natural gas - production:0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - consumption:0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - exports:0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - imports:0 cu m (2007 est.)
Natural gas - proved reserves:0 cu m (1 January 2006 est.)
Current account balance:-$149 million (2007 est.)
Exports:$193 million (2006)
Exports - commodities:bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennis racquets
Exports - partners:Greece 28.4%, Italy 14.6%, France 12%, UK 7.5%, Trinidad and Tobago 4.8%, Spain 4.6%, Germany 4.3%, Saint Lucia 4.2% (2007)
Imports:$578 million (2006)
Imports - commodities:foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
Imports - partners:Singapore 15.9%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.9%, Italy 13.3%, US 13%, China 5% (2007)
Debt - external:$223 million (2004)
Currency (code):East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code:XCD
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar - 2.7 (2007), 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003)
Communications
Telephones - main lines in use:22,800 (2007)
Telephones - mobile cellular:104,000 (2007)
Telephone system:general assessment: adequate system
domestic: islandwide, fully automatic telephone system; VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to the other islands of the Grenadines; mobile-cellular teledensity roughly 100 telephones per 100 persons
international: country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables carry international calls; connectivity also provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
Radio broadcast stations:AM 1, FM 6, shortwave 0 (2004)
Radios:77,000 (1997)
Television broadcast stations:1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2004)
Televisions:18,000 (1997)
Internet country code:.vc
Internet hosts:124 (2008)
Internet Service Providers (ISPs):15 (2000)
Internet users:57,000 (2007)
Transportation
Airports:6 (2008)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 5
914 to 1,523 m: 4
under 914 m: 1 (2008)
Airports - with unpaved runways:total: 1
under 914 m: 1 (2008)
Roadways:total: 829 km
paved: 580 km
unpaved: 249 km (2003)
Merchant marine:total: 525
by type: barge carrier 1, bulk carrier 83, cargo 315, carrier 20, chemical tanker 2, liquefied gas 6, passenger 3, passenger/cargo 17, petroleum tanker 17, refrigerated cargo 20, roll on/roll off 18, specialized tanker 2, container 21
foreign-owned: 476 (Austria 2, Barbados 1, Belgium 8, Bulgaria 15, Canada 1, China 94, Croatia 7, Cyprus 1, Czech Republic 1, Denmark 16, Egypt 3, Estonia 16, France 6, Germany 3, Gibraltar 1, Greece 71, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 6, Iceland 7, India 7, Iran 1, Israel 2, Italy 17, Japan 3, Kenya 2, Latvia 17, Lebanon 6, Lithuania 9, Monaco 5, Montenegro 1, Namibia 1, Netherlands 3, Norway 13, Poland 1, Puerto Rico 1, Romania 1, Russia 21, Singapore 4, Slovenia 5, South Africa 1, Sweden 2, Switzerland 6, Syria 13, Turkey 20, Ukraine 11, UAE 9, UK 14, US 18, Venezuela 1) (2008)
Ports and terminals:Kingstown
Military
Military branches:no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast Guard (2007)
Manpower available for military service:males age 16-49: 34,373 (2008 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 16-49: 22,975
females age 16-49: 22,250 (2009 est.)
Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:male: 1,020
female: 1,009 (2009 est.)
Military expenditures:NA
Transnational Issues
Disputes - international:joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation

Wikipedia: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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 This article's introduction section may not adequately summarize its contents. To comply with Wikipedia's lead section guidelines, please consider expanding the lead to provide an accessible overview of the article's key points. (September 2009)
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Flag Coat of arms
Motto: "Pax et justitia"  (Latin)
"Peace and justice"
Anthem: St Vincent Land So Beautiful
Capital
(and largest city)		 Kingstown
13°10′N 61°14′W / 13.167°N 61.233°W / 13.167; -61.233
Official languages English
Demonym Vincentian
Government Parliamentary democracy and constitutional monarchy
 -  Monarch Queen Elizabeth II
 -  Governor-General Sir Frederick Ballantyne
 -  Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves
Independence
 -  from the United Kingdom 27 October 1979 
Area
 -  Total 389 km2 (201st)
150 sq mi 
 -  Water (%) negligible
Population
 -  2008 estimate 120,000 (182nd)
 -  Density 307/km2 (39th)
792/sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2008 estimate
 -  Total $1.087 billion[1] 
 -  Per capita $10,163[1] 
GDP (nominal) 2008 estimate
 -  Total $601 million[1] 
 -  Per capita $5,615[1] 
HDI (2007) ▲ 0.761 (medium) (93rd)
Currency East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Time zone (UTC-4)
Drives on the left
Internet TLD .vc
Calling code +1-784

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a nation in the Lesser Antilles chain, which lies at the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea where it meets the Atlantic Ocean. Its 389-square-kilometre (150 sq mi) territory consists of the main island of Saint Vincent and the northern two-thirds of the Grenadines, which are a chain of smaller islands stretching south from Saint Vincent to Grenada. To the north of St. Vincent lies St. Lucia, to the east Barbados, and to the south Grenada. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has an estimated population of 120,000 and the capital is Kingstown. The country has a French and British colonial history and is now part of the Commonwealth of Nations and CARICOM.

Contents

History

Main article: History of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

The island now known as Saint Vincent was originally named "Hairouna" by the Carib Indians. Carib Indians aggressively prevented European settlement on St. Vincent until the 18th century. At that time, formerly enslaved Africans, who had either been shipwrecked or who had escaped from Barbados, St. Lucia and Grenada and sought refuge in mainland St. Vincent, intermarried with the Caribs and became known as Garifuna or Black Caribs. Beginning in 1719, French settlers gained control of the island and began cultivating coffee, tobacco, indigo, cotton, and sugar on plantations. These plantations were worked by enslaved Africans. In 1763, France ceded control of St. Vincent to Britain. However, France re-invaded the island in 1779. The French regained control after landing at Calliaqua, near Fort Duvernette. The British then finally regained St. Vincent under the Treaties of Versailles (1783). These treaties were ancillary treaties to the Treaty of Paris (1783), through which Great Britain officially recognised the end of the American Revolution.

Between 1783 and 1796, there was conflict between the British and the Black Caribs, who were led by defiant Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer. In 1796 British General Sir Ralph Abercromby put an end to the open conflict by crushing a revolt which had been fomented by the French radical Victor Hugues. More than 5,000 Black Caribs were eventually deported to Roatán, an island off the coast of Honduras.

Slavery was abolished in Saint Vincent 1834. An "apprenticeship period" followed which ended in 1838. After its end, labour shortages on the plantations resulted, and this was initially addressed by the immigration of "indentured servants". In the late 1840s many Portuguese immigrants arrived from Madeira and between 1861 and 1888 shiploads of East Indian labourers arrived. Conditions remained harsh for both former slaves and immigrant agricultural workers, as depressed world sugar prices kept the economy stagnant until the turn of the century.

From 1763 until its independence in 1979, St. Vincent passed through various stages of colonial status under the British. A representative assembly was authorised in 1776, Crown Colony government was installed in 1877, a legislative council was created in 1925, and universal adult suffrage was granted in 1951.

During the period of its control of St. Vincent, the British made several unsuccessful attempts to affiliate the island with other Windward Islands. This would have simplified Britain's control over the region through a unified administration. In the 1960s, several regional islands under British control, including St. Vincent, also made an independent attempt to unify. The unification was to be called the West Indies Federation and was driven by a desire to gain freedom from British rule. The attempt collapsed in 1962.

St. Vincent was granted "associate statehood" status by Britain on October 27, 1969. This gave St. Vincent complete control over its internal affairs but was short of full independence. On October 27, 1979, following a referendum under Milton Cato, St. Vincent and the Grenadines became the last of the Windward Islands to gain independence. Independence came on the 10th anniversary of St. Vincent's associate statehood status.

Natural disasters have featured in the country's history. In 1902, La Soufrière volcano erupted, killing 2,000 people. Much farmland was damaged, and the economy deteriorated. In April 1979, La Soufrière erupted again. Although no one was killed, thousands had to be evacuated, and again there was extensive agricultural damage. In 1980 and 1987, hurricanes compromised banana and coconut plantations. 1998 and 1999 also saw very active hurricane seasons, with Hurricane Lenny in 1999 causing extensive damage to the west coast of the island.

See also: Treaty of Paris (1763)

Politics

Main article: Politics of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth of Nations. Queen Elizabeth II is head of state and is represented on the island by a governor general, Sir Frederick Ballantyne. The office of Governor General has mostly ceremonial functions. Control of the government rests with the prime minister and the cabinet. There is a parliamentary opposition made of the largest minority stakeholder in general elections, headed by the leader of the opposition. The current Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is the Honourable Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.

The country has no formal armed forces, although the Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force includes a Special Service Unit.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are a full & participating member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Geography

Main article: Geography of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Map of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Mustique in the Grenadines.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lies between Saint Lucia and Grenada in the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, an island arc of the Caribbean Sea. The islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines include the main island of Saint Vincent (344 km2/133 sq mi) and the northern two-thirds of the Grenadines (45 km2/17 sq mi). The Grenadines are a chain of small islands stretching south from Saint Vincent to Grenada.

Administrative divisions

Main article: Parishes of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Administratively, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is divided into six parishes. Five are on Saint Vincent, and the sixth is made up of the Grenadines. Kingstown is located in the Parish of St. George and is the capital city and central administrative centre of the nation.

Economy

Main article: Economy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most important sector of this lower-middle-income economy. The services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also important. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at introducing new industries, and a high unemployment rate of 22% continues. The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the biggest obstacle to the islands' development. Tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995. The tourism sector has considerable potential for development over the next decade. The recent filming of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies on the island has also helped to increase tourism and expose the country to the wider world. Recent growth has been stimulated by strong activity in the construction sector and an improvement in tourism. A further boost is expected to be provided by the new international airport which is currently under construction. There is a small manufacturing sector and a small offshore financial sector whose particularly restrictive secrecy laws have caused some international concern. In addition, the natives of Bequia are permitted to hunt up to four Humpback Whales per year under IWC subsistence quotas.

Demographics

Main article: Demographics of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Port Elizabeth, Bequia.

Population: 118,149 (June 2008 est). Ethnic groups: Black 66%, East Indian 6%, Mixed Race 19%, Carib Amerindian 2%, White (including Portuguese) 4%, Other 3% (CIA handbook, last updated 9 October 2008). Most Vincentians are the descendants of African people brought to the island to work on plantations. There are other ethnic groups such as Portuguese, East Indian and Syrians living on the island. There is also a growing Chinese population and a sizable minority of mixed race.

St. Vincent has a high rate of emigration. With extremely high unemployment and underemployment, population growth remains a major problem.

Languages

Main article: Vincentian Creole

While the official language is English most Vincentians speak dialect called Vincentian Creole.[2][3][4] English is used in education, government, religion, and other formal domains, while Creole (or 'dialect' as it is referred to by locals) is used in informal situations such as in the home and among friends.

Sport

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have their own football league, and also a national football team.

See also: Cricket in the West Indies

Music

Main article: Music of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines music includes big drum, calypso, soca, steelpan and also reggae. String band music, quadrille and bele music and traditional storytelling are also popular. The national anthem of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is "St Vincent Land So Beautiful", adopted upon independence in 1979; it was written by Phyllis Joyce McClean Punnett with music by Joel Bertram Miguel. The most popular international singer from St. Vincent is Marlon Roudette, lead singer from the band Mattafix. The band is famous for their hit single "Big City Life" which reached the number 1 spot on the charts in Austria, Germany, Italy, New Zealand, Poland and Switzerland. Other singers include Kevin Lyttle ("Turn Me On") and Alston "Becket" Cyrus ("Teaser"), Bomani, Maddzart, Skarpyon, and Jamesy P. Most recently, Problem Child became the local carnival Road March winner in July 2007 with his hit song "Party Animal", which propelled him to Trinidad and Tobago's 2008 carnival Soca monarch finals. St. Vincent's recording studios include Skakes Studio, JR Studios, Sky studio and Non-fiction Recordings.

Communications

In 2005, St. Vincent and the Grenadines had 22,500 telephone land lines. Its land telephone system is fully automatic and covers the entire island and all of the inhabited Grenadine islands. In 2004, there were 57,000 mobile phones. There is mobile phone coverage for most of St. Vincent as well as the Grenadines.

The country has only nine FM radio stations, one of which also operates on an AM frequency. It has one television broadcast station and one cable television provider.

The country has two ISPs: Cable and Wireless[5] and Karib Kable.

See also

Flag of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.svg Caribbean portal

References

  1. ^ a b c d "Saint Vincent and the Grenadines". International Monetary Fund. http://www.imf.org/external/pubs/ft/weo/2009/02/weodata/weorept.aspx?sy=2006&ey=2009&scsm=1&ssd=1&sort=country&ds=.&br=1&c=364&s=NGDPD%2CNGDPDPC%2CPPPGDP%2CPPPPC%2CLP&grp=0&a=&pr.x=50&pr.y=9. Retrieved 2009-10-01. 
  2. ^ Gordon, Raymond G., Jr. (ed.) (2005). "Ethnologue: Languages of the World, 15th edition". Dallas, TX: SIL International. http://www.ethnologue.com/show_country.asp?name=VC. 
  3. ^ "St. Vincentians". everyculture.com. http://www.everyculture.com/wc/Rwanda-to-Syria/St-Vincentians.html. 
  4. ^ "Country Fact Sheet on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines". Research Directorate of the Immigration and Refugee Board of Canada. http://www.irb-cisr.gc.ca/en/research/publications/index_e.htm?docid=306&cid=0&version=printable&disclaimer=show. 
  5. ^ Cable & Wireless (St. Vincent and the Grenadines) at www.candw.vc

Further reading

  • Bobrow, Jill & Jinkins, Dana. 1985. St. Vincent and the Grenadines. 4th Edition Revised and Updated, Concepts Publishing Co., Waitsfield, Vermont, 1993.
  • CIA Factbook entry
  • Gonsalves, Ralph E. 1994. History and the Future: A Caribbean Perspective. Quik-Print, Kingstown, St. Vincent.
  • US Dept of State Profile
  • Williams, Eric. 1964. British Historians and the West Indies, Port-of-Spain.

External links

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Translations: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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Home > Library > Literature & Language > Translations

Français (French)
n. - Saint-Vincent-et-les Grenadines

Português (Portuguese)
n. - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Español (Spanish)
n. - Saint Vincent y las Granadinas

中文（简体）(Chinese (Simplified))
圣文森特和格瑞那丁

中文（繁體）(Chinese (Traditional))
n. - 聖文森特和格瑞那丁

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Dictionary. The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2007. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved.  Read more
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