Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Indépendence: 27.10.1979

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines constitute an archipelago of 32 islands of which only nine are inhabited.

General information

Area : 389 km ² (St. Vincent: 344 km ² , the Grenadines: 45 km ² )

Location : 13°09'N, 61°13'W
Situated to the South of St. Lucia and North of Grenada. Highest landmark : Mont Grand Bonhomme (954 m)

Capital : Kingstown, main seaport.

Official language : english. Everyday languages : english, english vincy (Vincent creole).

Currency : East Caribbean Dollar (XCD) with an exchange rate on 17.03.2011 of 1 XCD = 0.268 € or 0.374 US$

Constitution: Parliamentary monarchy

International and regional organisations :

Member of CARICOM (01.05.1974)
Member of the ALBA (2009)
Member of the Commonwealth (1979)
Member of the l'OECS (1981)
Member of the UN (16.09.1980)
Member of 'UNESCO (14.01.1983)
Member of the WTO (01.01.1995)

Brief History

"Yurumein" island was probably first explored by Columbus who named it after Saint Vinvent in 1498. The Caribbean Indians long resisted the Europeans (in 1660 a franco-anglo-carib treaty guaranteed the Caribs full ownership of the islands of Dominica and St. Vincent. In 1719, the French become established in the latter, which passes to Great Britain in 1763. The statute of Great Britain Associated State dates from 1969, with independence in 1979.

Cultural particularities

Festivals : 14 ^th March, Day of national heroes, end of June/beginning July (10 days): carnival.

Whaling: tradition which has disappeared everywhere else in the Antilles. Twho whales are hunted each year.

Traditional activities: cock fighting, music: calypso, soca. Steel bands.

National sport : cricket

National dish : salted fish or onion, tomato and cucumber fries, served with fruit on toasted bread. "Callalou soup", soup thickened with taro leaves, salted or raw meat, potatoes, coco milk and condiments. "conch souse," boiled lambis.

Drink: "Hairou," local beer, awarded gold medal in Brussels, 1993. "Sunset rum," 84.5° proof, one of the strongest in the world.

Personalities :

Adonal Foyle, basketball player born in Canouan, became a star of the American NBA and idol in his native country. Founded an association to promote basketball.