Motto

Pax et Justitia (Peace and Justice)

Brief History

The first settlers were the Arawaks who were largely displaced by the Caribs, who fiercely resisted settlement by the Europeans. In 1719 the Caribs joined forces with the French to oust the British. In 1783, under the Treaty of Versailles, St.Vincent was ceded to the British. The island was originally known as “Hairoun” – home of the blessed. In 1969 the island gained autonomy and was granted independence on 27 October 1979.

In November 2009, a constitutional referendum was held in St. Vincent and the Grenadines, which would have replaced the constitution in force since independence in 1979. The proposed constitution would have abolished the monarchy of St.Vincent and the Grenadines, and would have given more power to the opposition. The referendum was the first of its kind to be held by a member of the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States.

General Information

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is made up of thirty-two (32) islands and cays, nine (9) of which are inhabited.

Geographic Coordinates

13 15 N, 61 12 W

Area

386 sq km / 150 sq miles

Population

118,432 [0-14 years 25.1%; 15-64 years: 68.4%; 65 years and over: 6.5%.]

Language

English

Religions

Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, other

Capital

Kingstown

Government Type

Constitutional Monarchy with Unicameral elected Parliament.

Last elections: 7 December 2005.

Next in 2010

Opposition

Hon. Arnhim Eustace, New Democratic Party

Independence

27 October 1979

Constitution

27 October 1979

Legal System

Based on English common law

Governor General

Sir Frederick N. Ballantyne

Airport(s)

E.T. Joshua on St.Vincent (SVD)
J.F. Mitchell on Bequia (BQU)
Canouan (CIW)
Mustique (MQS)
Union (UNI)

Currency

Eastern Caribbean dollar. Exchange rate of EC$2.70 – US$1.00

Literacy

96% of population

Suffrage

18 years of age

National Flower

Soufriere Tree (Spachea Perforata)

National Bird

St.Vincent Parrott (Amazona Guildingii)

National Dish

Fried Jacks and Roasted Breadfruit

National Holidays

New Year’s Day – 1/01

National Heroes Day – 14/03

Good Friday

Easter Monday

Labour Day

Whit Monday

Corpus Christi

Carnival Monday - /07

Carnival Tuesday- /07

Emancipation Day – 03/08

Independence Day 27/10

Christmas Day – 25/12

Boxing Day – 26/12

National Anthem

Saint Vincent Land so Beautiful

Working Hours

Business: Mon-Fri : 0830 – 1600, Sat : 0830 – 1200

Govt. : Mon-Fri : 0800 - 1600

Economy

GDP (2009)

XCD 1,011.29 M

GDP per capita (2009)

XCD 10,024.00

Agriculture

Fruit and vegetables including bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, yams, eddoes, tannia; spices, herbs and teas; livestock such as cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fishing.

Industry

Food Processing, Cement, Furniture, Clothing, arrowroot, tennis racquets

Services

Tourism, Construction

External Debt (Dec.2008)

XCD 631.36M

Government

Ministry / Office

Name of Officer

Contact Details

Prime Minister, Finance, Economic Planning, National Security, Legal Affairs, Grenadines Affairs, Public Service, Energy

Dr. the Hon. Ralph Gonsalves

4th Floor Administrative Building,
Bay Street, Kingstown, VC 0100
Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel.: 784 456 1703
Fax : 784 457 2152

Minister of State

Conrad Sayers

P.O. Box 608, Kingstown
Tel.: 784 456 1667
Fax : 784 457 2943

DG Finance/Planning

Maurice Edwards

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PS

Godfred Pompey

Deputy PM, Foreign Affairs, Commerce, Trade

Hon. Louis Straker

Administrative Building, 3rd Floor
Bay Street, Kingstown,VC 0100
Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it
Tel.: 784 456 2060
Fax : 784 456 2610

PS

Mr. Andreas Wickham

National Mobili-sation, Social Devt., NGO Relations, Family, Gender Affairs, Persons with Disabilities, Local Govt., Youth, Sport

Hon. Mike Browne

Egmont Street, Kingstown, VC 0100
Tel.: 784 456 1111 /457 1401
Fax : 784 457 2476
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PS

Ms. Rosita Snagg

Director Trade

Mr. Clarence Henry

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Education

Hon. Girlyn Miguel

Halifax Street, Kingstown, VC 0100
Tel.: 784 456 1111 x 440/457 1104
Fax : 784 457 1114
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PS

Mrs. Laura Browne

Agriculture, Forestry, Fisheries

Hon. Montgomery Daniel

Public Works Building, Richmond Hill, Kingstown, VC 0100
Tel.: 784 457 3031 / 456 1111 x 321 Fax : 784 457 1688
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PS

Mr. Allan Hendrickson

Transport, Works

Hon. Clayton Burgin

Grenville Street, Kingstown, VC 0100
Tel.: 784 456 1111 x 452 / 457 2031 Fax : 784 456 2168
Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

PS

Mr. Leon Snagg

Health, Environment

Hon. Douglas W. Slater

New Ministerial Building, Kingstown, VC 0100

Tel.: 784 457 2586 Fax : 784 457 2684

Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

PS

Mr. Lancelot Weekes

Telecommuni-cations, Science, Technology, Industry

Dr. the Hon. Jerrol Thompson

Egmont Street, Kingstown, VC 0100

Tel. : 784 456 1223 Fax : 784 457 2880

PS

Mrs. Shirla Francis

Tourism

Hon. Glen Beache

Cruise Ship Terminal, P.O. Box 834, Bay Street, Kingstown

VC 0100 Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tel.: 784 457 1502 Fax : 784 451 2425

PS

Mrs. Laverne Grant

Urban Devt., Labour, Culture, Electoral Matters

Hon. Rene Baptiste

The Cruise Ship Terminal, Kingstown, VC 0100

Tel.: 784 457 1502 / 451 2180 Fax : 784 451 2425

Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it 784 451 2181

PS

Ms. Sandra Davis

Housing, Informal Human Settle-ments, Physical Planning, Lands, Survey

Hon. Sabato Caesar

P.O. Box 714, Halifax Street, Kingstown, VC 0100

Tel.: 784 457 2607 Fax : 784 457 2476

Rural Trans-formation,

Information, Postal Services, Ecclesiastical Affairs

Hon. Selmon Walters

New Ministerial Building, Kingstown, VC 0100

Tel.: 784 451 2707 Fax : 784 451 2820

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PS

Nathaniel Williams

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Attorney General

Hon. Judith Jones-Morgan

Ministry of Legal Affairs, Cnr. Grandby & Sharpe Streets, Kingstown, VC 0100

Tel.: 784 457 2807 / 456 1111 Fax : 784 457 2898

Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

National Authorising Officer

Ms. Laura Anthony-Browne

Ministry of Finance
Email : This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Tel. : 784 457 2155
Fax : 784 456 2430

Deputy NAO

Ms. Decima Corea

Ministry of Finance
Tel.: 784 457 1746 ext. 339

GIS

St. Clair Jimmy Prince

Tel.: 784 456 1600 Fax : 784 485 6131

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Ambassador to OECS

H.E. Ellsworth John

Office of the Prime Minister, Administrative Building, Kingstown

Tel. : 784 457 2430

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