| Motto:
|
Peace
and Justice |
|
|
|
Coat
of Arms |
National
Flower (Soufriere tree Spachea Perforata)
|
Flag |
|
| Location: |
St. Vincent is situated in the Windward Islands
at the lower end of the Caribbean chain; the Grenadines
comprise a chain of little islands and rocks between
St Vincent and Grenada |
| History: |
St. Vincent was originally settled by Amerindians.
Struggle for possession by the French and British
ended with British control in 1783 (apart from
French occupation from 1778-83). The island gained
independence in 1979. |
| Elections: |
Last elections 2001. Next elections 2006. |
| Ruling
Party: |
Unity Labour Party (ULP) |
| Major
Political Parties: |
United
Labour Party (ULP), New Democratic Party (NDP),
United Progressive Movement (UPM). |
| Head
of State: |
Sir
F N Ballantyne |
| Head
of Government: |
|
| |
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
|
| Economic
Summary: |
Economic
activity is predominantly in Agriculture, with
bananas being the main export crop. It is the
world's main supplier of arrowroot (now of minor
importance).
Flowers and foliage plants are also exported.
Other fruits and vegetables, including 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 markets. 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: |
Ebenezer Joshua; James Mitchell International |
| Status: |
Independent - 27 October 1979 |
| Capital: |
Kingstown |
| Area: |
389 km2 (150 miles2) |
| Population: |
112,014 (1999) |
| Currency: |
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) |
| GDP
Per Capita (at current prices): |
EC$7,920.5
million (1999) |
| Total
Exports: |
EC$133.4 million (1999) |
| Total
Imports: |
EC$542.3 million (1999) |
| Intra-Regional
Exports: |
EC$68.7
million (1999) |
| Intra-Regional
Imports: |
EC$126.5 million (1999) |
| 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 |
| National
Holidays: |
New
Year's Day (1 January); National Heroes' Day (22
January); Good Friday; Easter Monday; May Day
(5 May); Whit Monday; CARICOM Day (first Monday
in July); Carnival Tuesday (day after CARICOM
Day); August Monday (first Monday in August);
Independence Day (27 October); Christmas Day (25
December); Boxing Day (26 December).
Holidays that fall on Sunday are celebrated the
Monday following |
| National
Anthem: |
St. Vincent Land so beautiful
with joyful hearts we pledge to thee
Our loyalty and love, and vow to keep you ever
free.
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 these gems, the lovely
Grenadines,
Upon their seas and golden sands, the sunshine
ever beams!
|
| Highest
National Award: |
Order of British Empire; Member of British Empire |
| Favourite
Dish: |
Pickled
Flying or Jack Fish |
| Date
of CARICOM Membership: |
1 May 1974 |
|