Simple directory > Regional > Saint Vincent

Country : Saint Vincent Official name: Commonwealth of St Vincent and the Grenadines Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II; Governor General Frederick Ballantyne (from Sep 2002) Head of government: Prime Minister Ralph Gonsalves (ULP) (since Mar 2001) Ruling party: Unity Labour Party (ULP) (since Mar 2001) Area: 388 square km Population: 119,400 (2004) Capital: Kingstown Official language: English Currency: East Caribbean dollar (EC$) = 100 cents Exchange rate: EC$2.70 per US$ (fixed) GDP per capita: US$2,900 (2003) GDP real growth: 2.20% (2003) Labour force: 67,000 (2003) Unemployment: 22.00% (2003) Inflation: 0.30% (2003) Balance of trade: -US$131.90 million (2003) Foreign debt: US$167.20 million (2003)

Historical profile

The country's first known inhabitants were Arawak Indians, who were later driven out by Carib Indians.

1498 The principal island was sighted by Colombus. No immediate European immigration followed this discovery.

1779 France occupied the island.

1783 Possession of the islands was passed from France to Britain under the Treaty of Versailles, as part of the Windward Islands.

1812 The volcano, La Soufrière, erupted and destroyed most of the island of St Vincent.

1834 After the emancipation of slaves by Britain, indentured labour from the East Indies and Portugal was brought in to remedy the labour shortage.

1958 St Vincent and the Grenadines became part of the attempted West Indies Federation.

1962 Dissolution of the West Indies Federation.

1970 St Vincent and the Grenadines gained independence.

1998 The New Democratic Party (NDP), led by Prime Minister James Mitchell, was re-elected for a fourth term in office.

2000 Anti-government demonstrations forced the government to agree to an election by March 2001. Prime Minister Sir James Mitchell stepped down and Arnhim Eustace became prime minister and leader of the NDP.

2001 The Unity Labour Party (ULP) won the elections and Ralph Gonsalves became prime minister.

2002 Death of Sir Charles James Antrobus, governor general since 1996. He was replaced by his deputy, Monica Dacon, until Frederick Ballantyne was sworn in.

2003 The leaders of the Organisation of the Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) agreed to set up an economic union and introduce a common passport in 2004 for nationals of the member countries.

2004 In March 2004, the first interim report on the constitution was made by the Constitutional Review Commission (CRC).

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