SAINT-VINCENT-AND-THE-GRENADINESMore about Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines Airlines in Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines Airports in Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines Beer in Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines Cities in Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines Climate in Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines Current weather in Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines Hotels in Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines Information about travelling to Saint-Vincent-and-the-GrenadinesSaint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines is located in Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago |
|||||||||||||||
|
Facts about Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines
General info about Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines
Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on St. Vincent until 1719. Disputed between France and the United Kingdom for most of the 18th century, the island was ceded to the latter in 1783. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.
Languages spoken English, French patois What about drugs? transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation Ethnic division black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, European 4%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 3% HIV/AIDS prevalence rate NA Climate tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November) Resources hydropower, cropland Economy Economic growth slowed in 2008 after reaching a 10 year high of nearly 7% in 2006, and will likely slow in 2009 with the global economic downturn, though it will be above average for Latin America. Success of the economy hinges upon seasonal variations in agriculture, tourism, and construction activity as well as remittance inflows. Much of the workforce is employed in banana production and tourism, but persistent high unemployment has prompted many to leave the islands. This lower-middle-income country is vulnerable to natural disasters - tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002. In 2007, the islands had more than 200,000 tourist arrivals, mostly to the Grenadines. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore banking sector and has moved to adopt international regulatory standards. The government's ability to invest in social programs and respond to external shocks is constrained by its high debt burden - 25% of current revenues are directed towards debt servicing. An agreement with Italy to write-off debt reduced the public debt-to-GDP ratio to about 70%. The GONSALVES administration is directing government resources to infrastructure projects, including a new international airport that is expected to be completed in 2011. Environment pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive Cities in Saint-Vincent-and-the-Grenadines |
|
Explore countries around the world |
|||||||||||||
-Islands.png)
The Cheers Travel World / Saint Vincent and the Grenadines travel