Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines(/ˌɡrɛn.əˈdiːnz/GREN-ə-DEENZ), sometimes known simply asSaint VincentorSVG,is anisland countryin the easternCaribbean. It is located in the southeastWindward Islandsof theLesser Antilles, which lie in theWest Indies, at the southern end of the eastern border between theCaribbean Seaand theAtlantic Ocean. To the north liesSaint Lucia, to the east isBarbados, andGrenadalies to the south.
Spanning a land area of 369 km(142 sq mi), most of its territory consists of the northernmost island ofSaint Vincent, which includes the capital and largest city,Kingstown. To the south lie two-thirds of the northern part of theGrenadines, a chain of 32 smaller islands; the remaining southern third make up Grenada. Seven of the islands are inhabited,of which the largest and most populous areBequia,Mustique,Canouan, andUnion Island.
With an estimated population of 110,872, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has a population density of over 300 inhabitants/km(700 per sq mi).The majority of its people are descendants of African slaves brought by France and later Great Britain, which contested the islands during the 18th century. SVG remained a colony of the British Empire from 1783 until 1979, when it peacefully achieved independence; the country's culture, language, government, and legal system reflect the long legacy of British rule, and it is part of theCommonwealth of Nations, with the United Kingdom's monarch as its head of state.
Saint Vincent is a member of theOrganisation of Eastern Caribbean States,CARICOM, theBolivarian Alliance for the Americas, and theCommunity of Latin American and Caribbean States(CELAC).
In April 2021, theLa Soufrièrevolcanoeruptedseveral times with "explosive events" continuing for two weeks, resulting in the evacuation of 16,000 residents.Assistance and emergency financial support was provided by several nearby islands, theUnited Kingdom, and agencies such as theUnited Nations. The first significant offer of long-term funding of US$20 million, was announced on 13 April 2021 by theWorld Bank.
Christopher Columbus, the first European to reach the island, named it afterSt. Vincent of Saragossa(San Vicente de Zaragoza) whosefeast daywas on the day Columbus first saw it (22 January 1498). The name of the Grenadines refers to the Spanish city ofGranada, but to differentiate it fromthe island of the same name, the diminutive was used. Before the arrival of the Spaniards, theKalinagonatives who inhabited the island of St. Vincent called it Youloumain, in honour of Youlouca, the spirit of the rainbows, who they believed inhabited the island.
Before the arrival of Europeans and Africans in the 16th century, variousAmerindiangroups passed through or settled on St. Vincent and the Grenadines, including theCiboney,Arawak, andKalinagopeople.The island now known as Saint Vincent was originally named Youloumainby the nativeIsland Caribswho called themselves Kalina.
It is thought thatChristopher Columbussighted the island in 1498, giving it the name St Vincent.TheKalinagopeople aggressively opposed European settlement on Saint Vincent.
Various attempts by the English and Dutch to claim the island proved unsuccessful, and it was the French who were first able to colonise the island, settling in the town ofBarrouallieon theleewardside of St Vincent in 1719.The French imported Black slaves to work on plantations producing sugar, coffee, indigo, tobacco, cotton and cocoa.
The British captured the island and drove out the French from Barrouallie during theSeven Years' War, a claim confirmed by theTreaty of Paris (1763).On taking control of the island in 1763, the British laid the foundations ofFort Charlotteand also continued the importation of slaves to work on the island's plantations. TheGarifuna, an Afro-Indigenous creole people on the island, were opposed to the British presence and entered into open conflict against the British, starting theFirst Carib War, which lasted from 1772 to 1773.
During theAnglo-French War (1778–1783), the Frenchrecaptured St Vincentin 1779. However, the British regained control under theTreaty of Versailles (1783).
The uneasy peace between the British and the Garifuna led to theSecond Carib War, which lasted from 1795 to 1797.The Garifuna were led by paramount chiefJoseph Chatoyerand supported by the French, notablyVictor Hugueswho was based on the island ofMartinique. They were eventually defeated in 1797 by British forces under the command SirRalph Abercromby; a peace treaty agreement was made which resulted in almost 5,000 Garifuna being deported toRoatán, an island off the coast ofHonduras, and toBelizeandBaliceauxin the Grenadines.
In 1806, the construction of Fort Charlotte was completed.
TheLa Soufrièrevolcano erupted in 1812, resulting in considerable destruction.
The Britishabolishedslavery in Saint Vincent (as well as in all otherBritish West Indiescolonies) in 1834, and an apprenticeship period followed which ended in 1838.After its end, labour shortages on the plantations resulted, and were initially addressed by the immigration of indentured servants; starting from 1845, manyPortuguese Catholicsettlers arrived fromMadeira, with around 2,100 arrivals fromPortugalrecorded from 1845 to 1850.Between 1861 and 1888, a new wave of immigration occurred, with shiploads ofIndian labourersarrived.
In 1902, theLa Soufrièrevolcano erupted again, killing 1,500–2,000 people; much farmland was damaged, and the economy deteriorated.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines passed through various stages of colonial status under the British. A representative assembly was authorised in 1776, Crown Colony government was installed in 1877, alegislative councilwas created in 1925 with a limited franchise,anduniversal adult suffragewas granted in 1951.During the period of its control of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, Britain made several attempts to unify the island with the other Windward Islands as a single entity, to simplify British control in the sub-region through a single unified administration.In the 1960s, the British again tried to unify all of its regional islands, including Saint Vincent, into a single politically unified entity under British control. The unification was to be called theWest Indies Federationand was driven by a desire to gain independence from the British government. However, the attempt collapsed in 1962.
Saint Vincent was granted "associate statehood" status by Britain on 27 October 1969.This gave Saint Vincent complete control over its internal affairs but fell short of full independence in law.
In April 1979,La Soufrièreerupted once more. Although no one was killed, thousands were evacuated and extensive agricultural damage occurred.
On 27 October 1979, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines gained full independence;the date is now the country'sIndependence Day, apublic holiday.The country opted to remain within theCommonwealth of Nations, retaining the then-QueenElizabeth IIasMonarch, represented locally by aGovernor-General.
Milton Catoof the centre-leftSaint Vincent Labour Party(SVLP) was the country's first Prime Minister (he had been Premier since 1974), ruling until his defeat in the1984 Vincentian general electionbyJames Fitz-Allen Mitchellof the centre-rightNew Democratic Party(NDP).During Cato's time in office, there was a brief rebellion onUnion Islandin December 1979 led byLennox 'Bumba' Charles. Inspired by the recent revolution on Grenada, Charles alleged neglect of the Union by the central government. However, the revolt was swiftly put down and Charles was arrested.There were also a series of strikes in the early 1980s.James Mitchell remained Prime Minister for 16 years until 2000, winning three consecutiveelections.Mitchell was at the forefront of attempts to improve regional integration.In1980and 1987, hurricanes damaged many banana and coconut plantations. Hurricane seasons were also very active in 1998 and 1999, withHurricane Lennyin 1999 causing extensive damage to the west coast of the island.
In 2000,Arnhim Eustacebecame Prime Minister after taking over the leadership of the NDP following Mitchell's retirement; he wasdefeateda year later byRalph Gonsalvesof theUnity Labour Party(successor party to the SVLP).Gonsalves—a left-winger known in the country as "Comrade Ralph"—argued that European nations owe Caribbean nationsreparationsfor their role in the Atlantic slave trade.Gonsalves won a second term in 2005,a third in 2010,and a fourth in 2015.
In 2009,a referendum was held on a proposal to adopt a new constitutionthat would make the country arepublic, replacing QueenElizabeth IIas head of state with a non-executive President, a proposal supported by Prime Minister Gonsalves. A two-thirds majority was required, but the referendum was defeated 29,019 votes (55.64 per cent) to 22,493 (43.13 per cent).
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was elected as a non-permanent member of theUnited Nations Security Council2020–21.
In November 2020, Ralph Gonsalves, Prime Minister of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines since 2001, made history by securing the fifth consecutive victory of hisUnity Labour Party(ULP) in general election.
In 2021, on 9 April, theLa Soufrièrevolcano erupted, sending ash several miles into the atmosphere. Approximately 16,000 people were evacuated in the days leading up to the eruption.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lies to the west ofBarbados, south ofSaint Luciaand north ofGrenadain theWindward Islandsof theLesser Antilles, anisland arcof theCaribbean Sea. The islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines include the main island ofSaint Vincent344 km(133 sq mi) and the northern two-thirds of theGrenadines45 km(17 sq mi), which are a chain of smaller islands stretching south from Saint Vincent to Grenada.
There are 32 islands andcaysthat make up St Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG). Nine are inhabited, including the mainland St Vincent and the Grenadines islands: Young Island,Bequia,Mustique,Canouan,Union Island,Mayreau, Petit St Vincent and Palm Island. Prominent uninhabited islands of the Grenadines includePetit Nevis, used bywhalers, andPetit Mustique, which was the centre of a prominent real-estate scam in the early 2000s.
The capital of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines isKingstown, Saint Vincent.The main island of Saint Vincent measures 26 km (16 mi) long, 15 km (9.3 mi) in width and 344 km(133 sq mi) in area. From the most northern to the most southern points, the Grenadine islands belonging to Saint Vincent span 60.4 km (37.5 mi), with a combined area of 45 km(17 sq mi).
The island of Saint Vincent is volcanic and heavily forested and includes little level ground.The windward side of the island is very rocky and steep, while the leeward side has more sandy beaches and bays.Saint Vincent's highest peak isLa Soufrièrevolcano at 1,234 m (4,049 ft).Other major mountains on St Vincent are (from north to south) Richmond Peak,Mount Brisbane, Colonarie Mountain,Grand Bonhomme, Petit Bonhomme and Mount St Andrew.
The country is home to two terrestrialecoregions:Windward Islands moist forestsand theLesser Antillean dry forests.It had a 2019Forest Landscape Integrity Indexmean score of 6.95/10, ranking it 61st globally out of 172 countries.
Most of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lies within theMain Development Regionfor Atlantictropical cyclones. Recently, in 2023, the islands were directly impacted byTropical Storm Bret.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is aparliamentary democracyandconstitutional monarchy, withCharles IIIasKing of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.He does not reside in the islands and is represented ashead of statein the country by theGovernor-General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, currentlySusan Dougan(since 1 August 2019).
The office of Governor-General has mostly ceremonial functions including the opening of the islands'House of Assemblyand the appointment of various government officials. Control of the government rests with the electedPrime Ministerand their cabinet. The current Prime Minister isRalph Gonsalves, elected in 2001 as head of theUnity Labour Party.
The legislative branch of government is the unicameralHouse of Assembly of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, seating 15 elected members representing single-memberconstituenciesand six appointed members known as Senators. The parliamentary term of office is five years, although the Prime Minister may call elections at any time.
The judicial branch of government is divided into district courts, theEastern Caribbean Supreme Courtand thePrivy Council of the United Kingdomin London being the court of last resort.
The two political parties with parliamentary representation are theNew Democratic Party(NDP) and theUnity Labour Party(ULP). The parliamentary opposition is made up of the largest minority stakeholder in the general elections, headed by theLeader of the Opposition. The current opposition leader isGodwin Friday.
Saint Vincent has no formal armed forces, although theRoyal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Forceincludes a Special Service Unit as well as a militia that has a supporting role on the island.
In 2017, Saint Vincent signed the UNtreaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons.
Administratively, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is divided into sixparishes. Five parishes are on Saint Vincent, while the sixth is made up of the Grenadine islands.Kingstownis located in the Parish of Saint George and is the capital city and central administrative centre of the country.
"Acts of gross indecency", which may be defined to includehomosexual activity, are illegal in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.Section 148 of the Criminal Code states:
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines maintains close ties toCanada, theUnited Kingdomand theUS, and cooperates with regional political and economic organisations such as theOrganisation of Eastern Caribbean States(OECS) andCARICOM.The island nation's sixth embassy overseas was opened on 8 August 2019 in Taipei, Taiwan, after Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves's official visit to theRepublic of China (Taiwan);the other five are located in London (a High Commission as Commonwealth countries have high commissions rather than embassies in each other's countries), Washington D.C., Havana, Caracas and Brussels.
On 6 July 1994 at Sherbourne Conference Centre, St Michael, Barbados, as a representative of the Government of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, then (James Mitchell, who was subsequently knighted) signed theDouble Taxation Relief (CARICOM) Treaties.There were seven other signatories to the agreement on that day. The countries which were represented were Antigua and Barbuda, Belize, Grenada, Jamaica, St Kitts and Nevis, St Lucia, and Trinidad and Tobago.
An eighth country signed the agreement on 19 August 2016, Guyana.
This treaty covered taxes, residence, tax jurisdictions, capital gains, business profits, interest, dividends, royalties and other areas.
On 30 June 2014, St. Vincent and the Grenadines signed a Model 1 agreement with the United States of America with respect to Foreign Account Tax Compliance (Act) or FATCA.
According to the updated site as of 16 January 2017, on 13 May 2016 the agreement went to "In Force" status.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member of theUnited Nations, theCommonwealth of Nations, theOrganization of American States, and theAssociation of Caribbean States(ACS).
In September 2017, at the72nd Session of the UN General Assembly, the Prime Ministers of the Solomon Islands, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines called for UN action on alleged human rights abuses committed byIndonesiaonWestern New Guinea'sindigenous Papuans.
In2019, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines became the smallest country to ever be elected to theUN Security Council.
St Vincent and the Grenadines joined theOrganisation of American Stateson 27 October 1981.It participates in theSummits of the Americasand theIndigenous Leaders Summits of Americas.
In June 2022, St Vincent and the Grenadines boycotted the9th Summit of the Americas.
In 2013, Saint Vincent called for European nations to pay reparations for theslave trade.Upon a visit in April 2022, the BritishDukeandDuchess of Edinburghwere confronted with protesters calling for reparations for Britain's participation in the slave trade. Among the protesters was Jomo Thomas, former chair of the St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Reparations Committee, who called for reparations from the former colonial power.
Saint Vincent protests againstVenezuela's claim to give full effect toAves (Bird) Island, which creates a VenezuelanEEZ/continental shelfextending over a large portion of theCaribbean Sea.
Agriculture, dominated bybananaproduction, 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 theunemployment rateremains high at 19.8% in the 1991 censusto 15% in 2001.The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the biggest obstacle to the islands' development as tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of bananas in many years.
There is a small manufacturing sector and a small offshore financial sector serving international businesses; its secrecy laws have caused some international concern. There are increasing demands for international financial services like stock exchange and financial intermediaries financial activities in the country. In addition, the natives ofBequiaare permitted to hunt up to fourhumpback whalesper year underIWCsubsistence quotas.
The tourism sector has considerable potential for development. The filming of thePirates of the Caribbeanmovies on the island has helped to expose the country to more potential visitors and investors. Recent growth has been stimulated by strong activity in the construction sector and an improvement in tourism.
Argyle International Airportis the country's new international airport.The new facility opened on 14 February 2017,replacing the existingE.T. Joshua Airport. The airport is on the island's east coast about 8.3 km (5.17 miles) from Kingstown.
In 2010, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had 21,700 telephone land lines. Its land telephone system is fully automatic, covering the entire island and all of the inhabited Grenadine islands.In 2002, there were 10,000 mobile phones.By 2010, this number had increased to 131,800.Mobile phone service is available in most areas of Saint Vincent as well as the Grenadines.
Saint Vincent has two ISPs (Digicel,Flow) that provide cellular telephone and internet service.
The population as estimated in 2021 was 104,332.The ethnic composition was 66%African descent, 19% of mixed descent, 6% East Indian, 4%Europeans(mainly Portuguese), 2%Kalinagoand 3% others.Most Vincentians are the descendants of West-Central African people brought to the island to work onplantations. There are other ethnic groups, such asPortuguese(fromMadeira) andEast Indians, both brought in to work on the plantations after the abolishing of slavery by the British living on the island. There is also a growing Chinese population.
English is the official language. Most Vincentians speak Vincentian Creole.English is used in education, government, religion, and other formal domains, while Creole (or 'dialect' as it is referred to locally) is used in informal situations, such as in the home and among friends.
According to the 2001 census, 81.5% of the population of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines identified themselves asChristian, 6.7% had a different religion and 8.8% had no religion, or did not state one (1.5%).
Anglicanismconstitutes the largest religious category, adhered to by 17.8% of the population.Pentecostalsare the second largest group (17.6%). The next largest group areMethodists(10.9% of the population), followed bySeventh-day Adventists(10.2%) andBaptists(10.0%). Other Christians includeRoman Catholics(7.5%),Evangelicals(2.8%), Church of God (2.5%),Brethren Christian(1.3%),Jehovah's Witnesses(0.6%) and theSalvation Army(0.3%).
Between 1991 and 2001 the number of Anglicans, Brethren, Methodists and Roman Catholics decreased, while the number of Pentecostals, Evangelicals and Seventh-day Adventists increased.
The number of non-Christians is small. These religious groups include theRastafari(1.5% of the population),HindusandMuslims(1.5%).
Cricket,association football, and athletics are most popular among men whereasnetballis most popular among women. Basketball, volleyball, rugby and tennis are also very popular.
The country's primefootballleague is theNLA Premier League, which provides itsnational (association) football teamwith most players. A notable Vincentian footballer isEzra Hendrickson, former national team captain who played at several Major League Soccer clubs in the United States and was head coach with theChicago Fire FCfrom 2021–23.
The country regularly participates at theCaribbean Basketball Championshipwhere amen's teamand awomen's teamcompete. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines also has its ownnational rugby union teamwhich is ranked 84th in the world. Other notable sports played at the regional level include track and field. Natasha Mayers won a gold medal in the100mat the2010 Commonwealth Games.Kineke Alexanderwon a bronze medal in the women's [400m] at the2015 Pan American Games.Eswort Coombsgot a bronze medal in the 400m at the1995 Pan American Games.
At the Olympics Games France 2024, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines had two athletes, Shafiqua Maloney and Handal Roban.Maloney became the first Vincentian athlete to reach the final stage of an Olympic eventwhen she placed 4th in the women's 800m.
Music popular in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines includes big drum,calypso,soca,steelpanandreggae. String band music, quadrille and traditional storytelling are also popular. One of the most successful St Vincent natives isKevin Lyttle. He was named Cultural Ambassador for the Island 19 September 2013.The national anthem of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is "Saint Vincent, Land so beautiful", adopted upon independence in 1979.
Saint Vincent has twelve FM radio stations: 88.9 Adoration Fm,89.1 Jem Radio, 89.7 NBC Radio, 95.7 and 105.7Praise FM, 96.7 Nice Radio, 97.1 Hot 97, 98.3 Star FM, 99.9 We FM, 103.7 Hitz, 102.7 EZee radio, 104.3 Xtreme FM and 106.9 Boom FM. There are several Internet radio stations including Chronicles Christian Radio.It has one television broadcast station ZBG-TV (SVGTV)and one cable television provider.
St Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation is the parent company for SVGTV, Magic 103.7.
13°15′N61°12′W﻿ / ﻿13.250°N 61.200°W﻿ /13.250; -61.200