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 (apart from French occupation from 1778-1783). The island gained independence in 1979.
Last elections 2005. Next elections 2010.
Dr. the Hon. Ralph E. Gonsalves
Prime Minister
Date Of Birth: 8 August, 1946
Marital Status: Married
Education:
1966-69: B.Sc. Economics, UWI
1969-71: M.Sc. Government, UWI
1971-74: Ph.D. Government, Victoria Univ. of Manchester, England
1981: Degree of Utter Barrister, Gray's Inn, London, England
Professional/Political Career:
1974-76: Lecturer, Dept. of Government, UWI
1980: Visiting Professor, Queen's College, City University of New York
1981-2001: Barrister-at-Law and Solicitor, Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
1994: Member of Parliament
1998-present: Leader, Unity Labour Party
1999-2002: Leader, Opposition Party in Parliament
2001: Prime Minister
2005: Re-elected Prime Minister
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 (now of minor importance). 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.
Airport:
E.T. Joshua (St. Vincent); James Mitchell International
Area:
389 km2 (150 miles2)
Population:
100,596 (2004)
Currency
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$)
GDP
EC$1,489 Mn (2007)
Total Exports:
EC$102.9 Mn (2006)
Total Imports:
EC$733.0 Mn (2006)
Intra-Regional Exports:
EC$669 Mn (2006)
Intra-Regional Imports:
EC$239.0 (2006)
Business Hours:
Commercial: 8:00-12:00; 13:00-16:00 hrs Monday to Friday
Government: 8:30-12:00, 13:00-16:00 hrs Monday to Friday
New Year's Day (1 January); National Heroes' Day (14 March); Good Friday; Easter Monday; May Day (5 May); Whit Monday; CARICOM Day (first Monday in July); Carnival Tuesday (day after CARICOM Day); Emancipation Day (01 August); Independence Day (27 October); Christmas Day (25 December); Boxing Day (26 December)
Holidays that fall on Sunday are celebrated the following Monday
Date of CARICOM Membership:
1 May 1974
St. Vincent Land so beautiful
With joyful hearts we pledge to thee
Our loyalty and love, and vow
To keep you ever free.
Chorus:
Whate'er the future brings
Our faith will see us through.
May peace reign from shore to shore,
And God bless and keep us true.
Hairoun our fair and blessed isle,
Your mountains high, so clear and green,|
Are home to me, though I may stray,
A haven, calm, serene.
Our little sister islands are
T Those gems, the lovely Grenadines,
Upon their seas and golden sands,
The sunshine ever beams! iv>
Highest National Award:
Order of British Empire
Member of British Empire
National dish:
Fried Jack Fish and Roasted Breadfruit
Government web page:
