Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

QUICK FACTS

Capital: Kingstown

Official Language: English

Status: Independent 27 October 1979

Area: 389 sq Km, 150 sq Mi

Population: 101,352 (2010)

Currency: East Caribbean dollar

Motto: Peace and Justice

 

Jewels of the Caribbeans

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is an island country in the Lesser Antilles chain, in the southern portion of the Windward Islands, which lie at the southern end of the eastern border of the Caribbean Sea where the latter meets the Atlantic Ocean. Its 389 km 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 Island to Grenada.

MINISTRY AND MINISTER

 

Hon. Julian Francis

Minister of Urban Development, Energy, Airports, Seaport, Grenadine Affairs and Local Government

 

Ministry of Urban Development, Energy, Airports, Seaport, Grenadine Affairs and Local Government

4th Floor Administrative Centre,

Bay Street, Kingstown

Tel: 784 451 2610

Email: office.urbandev@gov.vc

CARICOM ENERGY FOCAL POINT

 

Mrs. Yvette Pompey

Tel: 784 451 2610

Email: office.urbandev@gov.vc

 

DATE OF CARICOM MEMBERSHIP

 

1 May, 1974

Energy Policy

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Energy Report Card

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Location

St. Vincent is situated in the Windward Island at the lower end of the Caribbean chain; the Grenadines comprise a chain of little islands and cays between St. Vincent and Grenada. It is volcanic and densely forested.

 

History

St. Vincent and the Grenadines was originally settled by Amerindians. Struggle for possession by the French and the British ended with the British in control in 1783. The island gained independence in 1979.

 

Economic Summary

Economic activity is predominantly in agriculture, with bananas being the main export crop, and the country is the world’s main supplier of arrowroot. Flowers and foliage plants are among the export commodities. Plantains and sweet potatoes are exported to Barbados, Trinidad and Tobago, and other regional markets.

There is a small manufacturing sector catering primarily for the Regional market. A brewery and a rice and flour mill are in full operation, along with electronic components assembly ventures.

Tourism is concentrated mainly on the Grenadines island chain where there are high quality beaches featuring luxury villas, hotels and yachts.

A small offshore financial sector came on stream from about the mid-1990s.

 

Airports

Argyle International Airport, St. Vincent

James F. Mitchell, Bequia

Canouan Airport

Mustique Airport

Union Island Airport- Union Island

 

Business Hours

Commercial: 8:00 a.m. to 12:00 noon, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday

Government: 8:30 a.m. to 12:00 noon, 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Monday to Friday

 

National Holidays

New Year’s Day, January 1; National Heroes’ Day, March 14; Good Friday; Easter Monday; National Workers Day, May 1; Whit Monday; Carnival Monday and Tuesday (either the first or second weed in July) Emancipation Day, August 1; Independence Day October 27; Christmas Day, December 25; Boxing Day December 26.  Holidays that fall on a Sunday are observed the following Monday.

 

Date of CARICOM Membership

1 May, 1974

 

The Flag

Green diamonds  – Gems of the Antilles