Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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 Cultural Customs
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.
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