Official Name:

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Population:

118,149 (2007)

Geographic Profile:

Located in the Eastern Caribbean at the southern end of the Windward Islands chain.  It is an archipelago of islands, Saint Vincent being the largest, with the smaller Grenadines including Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Union Island, Palm Island, Petit St. Vincent and a number of small islets. The country is located approximately sixty one degrees West (61° W) longitude and thirteen degrees North (13° N) latitude.  Nearest neighbours are Barbados one hundred (100) miles to the East, St. Lucia twenty-one (21) miles to the North and Grenada twenty-eight (28) miles to the south. The country covers approximately 384 km².

Climate:

Tropical with an average daily temperature of 28° C.

Capital City:

Kingstown

Airports:

Main - E.T. Joshua Airport (SVD) located 4 km from Kingstown;

Argyle International Airport to be completed 2011 will accommodate larger aircraft and transatlantic flights; Four smaller airports on the Grenadine Islands of: Bequia, Mustique, Canouan (Jetport) and Union Island.

Kingstown has a natural deepwater harbour with a wharf to accommodate two oceangoing ships. There are regular services between St. Vincent and major ports in North America, Europe and the Caribbean. New container ports at Kingstown and Campden Park have been completed.

Independence:

October 27, 1979 from the United Kingdom.

Government:

Parliamentary Democracy based on a Westminster model.  Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of State and is represented by the Governor General, Sir Frederick Ballantyne.

Languages:

English (universal) and French patois.

Currency:

Eastern Caribbean Dollar (XCD). For current exchange rate click here.

Electricity:

220/240 Volts, 50 Cycle, rectangular style 3 pin plug.

The lyrics were written by Phyllis Punnett and the music created by Joel Miguel

Listen in wmp or mp3 format.

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What e’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,
Those gems, the lovely Grenadines,
Upon their seas and golden sands
The sunshine ever beams

~~~~~