Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Overview

Country Profile

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are to the south of the Antilles, covering an area of 389 square kilometers. The islands have a population of 108,000, 82% of whom are black, with 14% of mixed heritage. Most residents are Protestant or Catholic, and English is the most common language. The currency is the East Caribbean dollar and the capital is Kingston.

National Flag

The flag has three vertical stripes of blue, yellow, and green, with a middle pattern of three green diamonds. Blue symbolizes the sea, yellow represents the sun, and green denotes the earth.

History

The Caribbean was originally inhabited by Indian tribes, but in 1489 Columbus reached St. Vincent. In 1627 the British occupied the island. After 185 years of colonization, the Treaty of Versailles confirmed Britain’s right to rule the island. On October 27, 1979, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines declared independence and joined the Commonwealth.

Economy and Culture

Agriculture is the staple of the economy, with a small number of agricultural processing and light manufacturing industries. Main exports are arrowroot, bananas, and spices, and the islands are the world’s largest producer of arrowroot starch. Extracted from Kudzu Kudzu, it is mainly used in the pharmaceutical industry and the production of specialty paper.

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Map