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| St. Vincent and the Grenadines, part of the Windward Islands, are located at 13° 15 N, 61° 12 W. Their closest neighbours are Grenada, 120 km (75 miles) to the south, St. Lucia 40 km (24 miles) to the north and Barbados 160 km (100 miles) to the east. St. Vincent is the largest of the more than 30 islands that comprise the nation, covering roughly 390 sq. km (150 sq. miles). The Grenadines extend 72 km (45 miles) to the southwest, like a kite's tail. The major islands, north to south, are Young Island, Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, Mayreau, Union Island, Palm Island, and Petit St. Vincent. >> Interactive Map |
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St. Vincent has a mountainous interior, having La Soufriere, an active volcano in the north rising to 1,220 m (4,000 ft.) as its highest point, and a sheltered and indented coastline on the Leeward coast. St. Vincent is roughly 29 km (18 miles) long and 17.7 km (11 miles) wide and has an area of 344 sq. km (133 sq. miles), while the Grenadines comprise an additional 44 sq. km (17 square miles). Bequia covers 18 sq. km (7 sq. miles) and its highest peak is 268 m (881 ft.). The island of Mustique is 5 sq. km (1.9 sq. miles) and rises to 151 m (496 ft.) at its highest. Mount Royal at 274 m (900 ft.) is the highest point in the7.5 sq. km (3 sq. miles) island of Canouan. The 5.5 km (3 1/2 mile) long Union Island features as its highest peak Mt. Tobai which soars to 305 m (1,000 ft.)
The average yearly temperature is 27° C (81° F). The coolest months are between November and February. During the rainy season, May through October, rain is frequent in the mountains of St. Vincent with the annual average rainfall being 380 cm (150 inches) inland and 200 cm (80 inches) on the coast.
Visit www.meteo.vc this website serves to provide you with all the "needs to know" in meteorological and environmental infromation and gives you up to the mintue weather reports.
Visit www.nhc.noaa.gov/index.shtml for hurricane tracking and forecasting.
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St. Vincent is reached by air from North America and Europe through six major gateways - Barbados, Grenada, Martinique, St. Lucia, Puerto Rico and Trinidad - with connections to Union Island, Canouan, Mustique, Bequia, or St. Vincent.
British Airways, Virgin Atlantic, American Airlines, Air Canada, Air France, BWIA and Air Jamaica, all provide excellent service to the gateways; while American Eagle, LIAT the Star of the Caribbean, SVG Air, Trans Island Air and Mustique Airways all provide a convenient connecting service from the gateways.
Flight time to St. Vincent is approximately 35 minutes from Barbados; 30 minutes from Grenada; 45 minutes from Martinique; 20 minutes from St. Lucia; 2 hours 20 minutes from Puerto Rico.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines has an information desk in the Arrivals Section of Grantley Adams International Airport in Barbados, open daily from approximately 1.00pm until the last flight to St. Vincent departs. Personnel are on hand to assist travellers in making connections to their final destinations.
LIAT the Star of the Caribbean provides scheduled services to other islands in the Caribbean. American Eagle has a scheduled service between San Juan, Puerto Rico and Canouan island in the Grenadines.
Mustique Airways and SVG Air are available for charter.
Mustique Airways: email info@mustique.com www.mustique.com
SVG Air: email svgair@caribsurf.com www.svgair.com
LIAT the Star of the Caribbean
email pattersond@liatairline.com www.liatairline.com
Conviesa the national airline of the Republic of Venezuela was launched in St Vincent & the Grenadines on February 17th 2007. The 48 seater - Conviesa will operate on a weekly schedule (Tuesdays) in St Vincent with flights to Porlamer in Margarita with connections to Venezuela and other South American countries. The flight from St Vincent to Porlamer, Margarita takes 55 minutes, arriving in St Vincent at 11:30 pm and departing at 4:20 pm.
The local agent is:
Ricardo Drayton
Vincy Aviation Services
Arnos Vale
Suite Box K694
Kingstown
St Vincent & the Grenadines
Tel: 784-456-5600/456-5400
email: reservations@vincyaviation.com
www.vincyaviation.com
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Vincy and Canouan Aviation Services are full service Fixed Based Operations (FBO) Aircraft Handling Services, located at E.T. Joshua (TVSV) and Canouan (TVSC). The companies maintain a highly trained staff of professionals and a supply of modern, efficient equipment to ensure a truly personalized and hassle free service. |
Caribbean Fun Travel and Tours
Caribbean Fun Travel and Tours is an IATA- approved travel agency and tour operation that provides reservations and ticketing services to and from regional and international destination aboard all schedule airlines. The company caters both to the specific needs of local and international trade partners and consumers around the globe. Their services are all inclusive and can be customized to fit your travel requirements. They provide packages and tours www.vincyaviation.com
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| St Vincent and the Grenadines is a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth of Nations. Queen Elizabeth II is head of state and is represented on the island by a governor general. Independence was achieved on October 27th, 1979. The unicameral parliament, the House of Assembly, has 15 elected representatives and six senators who are appointed by the Governor General on the advice of the Prime Minister. The parliamentary term of office is five years, although the Prime Minister may call elections at any time. |
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| The legal system is derived from English common law and statutes. There are 11 courts in three magisterial districts. The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, comprising a high court and a court of appeals, is known as the St. Vincent and the Grenadines supreme court. The court of last resort is the judicial committee of Her Majesty's Privy Council in London. |
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| The population is estimated to be 109,022 with about a quarter of the people living in the capital, Kingstown and its suburbs and 8% on the Grenadines. The ethnic mix consists of 66% percent of African descent, 19% of mixed race, 2% Amerindian/black, 6% East Indian and 4% European. The labour force is estimated at 41,000. Recent data indicates an unemployment rate of 22%. |
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| Agriculture, dominated by banana production, is the most important sector of this economy. The services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also important. Recent growth has been stimulated by strong activity in the construction sector and an improvement in tourism. The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the biggest obstacle to the islands' development; tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995. There is a small manufacturing sector and a small offshore financial sector. The GDP is growing at an annual rate of approximately 4%. |
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| The Vincentian educational system is modelled on the British system. School is compulsory up to age 15 and government schools are free at the primary and secondary levels. Post secondary education is provided through polytechnics and Kingstown Medical College, a campus of St. George's University (Grenada), located near Kingstown. The University maintains affiliations with hospitals for clinical programmes in the United States, the United Kingdom, and the Caribbean. |
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| There are six public hospitals, including Kingstown General Hospital, and Maryfield Hospital, Lowmans and Bequia Casualty Hospital, Port Elizabeth, and three privately owned hospitals. Community care is provided by 38 outpatient clinics located throughout the country. Each clinic serves about 3,000 people and is easily accessible. Health centres are well staffed and provide a wide range of services, including midwifery, family planning, immunization and emergency care. St. Vincent has a mental health centre and a home for the elderly. The life expectancy is 68 years for men and 72 years for women. |
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| St. Vincent and the Grenadines has a reliable supply of electricity. Electricity is generally 220/240 volt, 50 cycle, except for Petit St. Vincent which has 110 volt, 60 cycle. Most hotels have 110 volt shaver outlets. The standard electrical plug has 3 rectangular pins so remember to pack an adapter. |
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| St. Vincent and the Grenadines has an abundant supply of potable water as the level of rainfall is high. |
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St Vincent and the Grenadines has a state of the art fibre optic digital telephone system. Internet, Boatphone, Cellular service, telex, telegraph and facsimile access are also available. The international area code is 1-784 followed by the local seven-digit number. Phonecards are available through outlets islandwide as are Phonecard booths. International Direct Dialing (IDD) service is available to most destinations in the world and International calls can be made using your credit card (MasterCard, Visa, Discover, AT & T and Bell are accepted) by dialing the operator.
If you want to use a mobile telephone Cable & Wireless,AT&T and Digicel have a digital and GSM mobile network.Visitors from North america can roam in all the islands. |
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There are 580 km (360 miles) of surfaced roads with the Leeward and Windward highways traversing either side of the country. Country roads can be narrow with steep inclines and declines so exercise caution.
Airports
There are six airports in St. Vincent and the Grenadines with E. T. Joshua Airport in Kingstown being the largest. The four small domestic airports are located in Bequia, Mustique, Canouan and Union Island. These airports are serviced by LIAT the Star of the Caribbean, SVG Air, Mustique Airways, and TIA. American Eagle services Canouan. A departure tax of EC$40 is charged to all passengers leaving the country.
Seaports & Shipping
Kingstown has a natural deepwater harbour with a wharf to accommodate two oceangoing ships. There are regular services between St. Vincent and the major ports in North America, Europe and the Caribbean. A new container park at Kingstown and a new container port at Campden Park have been completed. |
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| There are six airports in St. Vincent and the Grenadines with E. T. Joshua Airport in Kingstown being the largest. The four small domestic airports are located in Bequia, Mustique, Canouan and Union Island. These airports are serviced by LIAT the Star of the Caribbean, SVG Air, Mustique Airways, and TIA. American Eagle services Canouan. A departure tax of EC$40 is charged to all passengers leaving the country. |
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| Kingstown has a natural deepwater harbour with a wharf to accommodate two oceangoing ships. There are regular services between St. Vincent and the major ports in North America, Europe and the Caribbean. A new container park at Kingstown and a new container port at Campden Park have been completed. |
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The currency of St. Vincent and the Grenadines is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$). Notes are issued in denominations of $100, 50, 20,10, 5 and 2. Coins are issued in denominations of $1 and 25,10, 5 and 1 cents. The exchange rate is tied to the US dollar at a rate of $2.68.
Customs Regulations
Duty-Free allowances to adult passenger if declared.
(a) Wine or spirit, 40 ozs (1 quart)
(b) Tobacco 1/2 lb or
(c) Cigars fifty (50) in number.
Maximum allowed as passenger baggage
(a) Tobacco, cigars and or cigarettes, five pounds weight in all.
(b) Spirits, four gallons in all wine, ten gallons in all. Any greater quantity of any of these articles shall be deemed to be cargo.
Meat products required - Imports permit from Ministry of Trade, meat inspection certificate from source country;inspection by the veterinary officer in St Vincent.
Meats: These items may be allowed entry into St Vincent & the Grenadines (SVG) under specific approval and conditions of the Veterinary Division of the Ministry of Agriculture and the Public Health Division of the Ministry of Health. Meat must be accompanied by the relevant veterinary/health certificate from the country of origin or export. Upon arrival in SVG, customs officials at the point of entry will detain these goods for inspection by the relevant authority, which will determine whether they are suitable for entry. Meat cooked and processed products are allowed.
Sodas: These items are dutiable and require a license to import from the Ministry of Trade.
Wines: A person who is eighteen (18) years and older is entitled to a duty free allowance of forty (40) fl. ozs.
Spirits: Any excess quantiry is liable to duty.
Visas
All persons entering St Vincent & the Grenadines require valid passports, a return or onward ticket as well as sufficient funds to cover their stay for up to six months. A return or onward ticket is required of all visitors.
Immigration visas are required from nationals of the following countries: Dominican Republic, Jordan, Syria, Lebanon, The People's Republic of China, Iraq, Iran and Nigeria.
Work Permits
Work permits are available from the Prime Minister's office on Bay Street, Kingstown.
Camouflage clothing
It is illegal to wear or import camouflage clothing in St Vincent & the Grenadines.
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Centipede and Scorpion bites
While not lethal, the severity and degree of discomfort depends on individual sensitivity. If there is - any doubt, you should see a doctor, especially if a child has been bitten
Coconut Palms
Never leave a baby or a small child beneath a coconut palm, it is possible for the coconut or dead fronds to fall off the tree at any moment causing serious injury.
ILLegal Drugs
Visitors need to be aware that there are very severe penalties for possession of illegal drugs like Cannabis (weed or ganja), cocaine - up to life imprisonment and yacht confiscation. Customs officials are well equipped and trained, so no attempts should be made to import or export even small quantities for "personal use."
Manchineel
Avoid contact with Manchineel trees orfruit.The fruit, commonly known as Manchineel Apples, since they look and smell just like small apples, are very poisonous and sap from the tree and fruit blisters the skin. Therefore, if it is raining, be sure that the tree you are sheltering under is not a manchineel, as drops of rain falling off can still produce the same unpleasant effect.
Mosquitos and Sandflies
Not a large problem here but people with sensitive skin may be bothered. There are many repellents you can use to prevent bites, however, creams are available in pharmacies to relieve itching and promote healing if required.
Sea Urchins
A black sea egg with long black spines. If the spines are protruding from your skin then you can try to carefully remove them; but if they are beneath the skin DO NOT try to "dig" them out as this could cause infection. If you leave them in your skin then they eventually dissolve and disappear. To be safe, soak with vinegar or some form of antiseptic. |
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St. Vincent
Ministry Of Tourism and Culture
Cruise Ship Terminal, Harbour Quay, Kingstown
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Tel: 784-457-1502
Fax: 784-451-2425
e-mail: tourism@caribsurf.com
website: www.svgtourism.com
St. Vincent & The Grenadines Hotel & Tourism Association
P.O. Box 834
E.T. Joshua Int'l Airport, Kingstown
St. Vincent & The Grenadines
Tel:784-458-4379 Fax: 784-456-4456
e-mail: svghotels@caribsurf.com
office@svghotels.com
www.svghotels.com
United States
801 Second Avenue, 21st Floor
New York, NY 10017
Toll free: 800-729-1726
Tel: 212-687-4981
Fax: 212-949-5946
e-mail: svgtony@aol.com
Canada
333 Wilson Avenue
Suite 601
Toronto, M3H 1T2
Tel: 416-630-9292
Fax: 416-630-9291
e-mail: svgtourismtoronto@rogers.com
United Kingdom
10 Kensington Court
London W8 5DL England
Tel: 207-937-6570
Fax: 207-937-3611
e-mail: svgtourismeurope@aol.com | |
