Island Selections - St. Vincent Travel Info

FAST FACTS
National Flag
Maps - St.Vincent, Grenadines
Language	Official - English
National Bird	St. Vincent Parrot
Independence/National Day	October 27th
National Flower	Soufriere Tree
Currency	Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$2.70=US$1.00)
Electricity	220 volts
Population	Approximately 120,000

Description
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, known also by its Carib name of Hairoun (‘Land of the Blessed’), is an archipelago of 32 islands in the Eastern Caribbean covering an area of about 150 square miles. The country itself is a study of contrasts; islands such as Mustique are playgrounds for the rich and famous – celebrities such as Mick Jagger and David Bowie, wealthy yachters, and British royalty vacation here regularly and some also own homes on the island. Yet in contrast neighbouring Bequia and even the mainland of St. Vincent are not as developed as some of the neighbouring Caribbean islands, with few luxurious resorts. Travel to Petit St. Vincent one of the islands offering the ultimate in privacy; there are no phones or televisions. Communication at the island resort is by flag-poles; raise a red flag outside of your cottage to indicate you do not wish to be disturbed, or a yellow indicating that you have a service request. The country has a fascination all its own – probably one of the reasons why Disney producers chose the country to film Pirates of the Caribbean – Curse of the Black Pearl. The topography of the country is as varied as its lifestyles - St. Vincent, about 133 square miles, is extremely mountainous with several dense rain forests and numerous natural attractions including some waterfalls and beautiful beaches. The capital, Kingstown, is not as lsquo;touristy’ as many islands – shopping facilities are minimal (though this is gradually changing).

Language/Culture
The island has been influenced by a British colonial history. The official language of the island is English (with an English-based Creole widely spoken), and the population is predominantly Anglican. Vincy carnival held annually attracts visitors from far and wide. The island was propelled into the limelight with the regional and international success of local Kevin Lyttle with his hit "Turn Me On".

National Anthem

"1. Saint Vincent, Land so beautiful, With joyful hearts we pledge to thee, Our loyalty and love, and vow to keep you ever free."

"Chorus: 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."

"2. 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. "

"3. Our little sister islands are Those gems, the lovely Grenadines, Upon their seas and golden sands, The sunshine ever beams."

Population

The population of the island is approximately 120,000 with approximately 30,000 living in the capital. Bequia is the most populated of the Grenadine islands.

Money
The local currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar which has a fixed exchange rate of $1.00US = $2.70EC

Airports
St. Vincent has one airport called the E.T. Joshua airport. Other small airstrips are on Bequia, Mustique, Canouan, and Union. International flights on airlines such as American Airlines, Air Canada, Air France, and British Airways are usually routed through St. Lucia, Barbados, Grenada or Martinique. St. Vincent is serviced by smaller airlines such as LIAT, Caribbean Star, SVG Airlines, and Mustique Airways. The airport departure tax is EC$40.00 regardless of the final destination.

Getting around
It is advisable to use only designated taxis that are readily available and are regulated, however you should establish rates with the taxi driver before getting into the taxi. Also readily available on the mainland are local minibuses which are less expensive than taxis. Minibus service is available within St. Vincent; the minibuses do not operate on any fixed schedule but will stop for you anywhere along a road if you flag them down and if it is safe for them to stop. A word of warning to the high strung – the buses can be fairly overcrowded and travel at high rates of speed. If renting a vehicle remember that traffic moves on the left. The roads are fairly narrow, generally poorly paved, and with some very steep inclines. As in many of the islands, be especially cautious when driving in mountainous areas at night as there are few guardrails along the roads which are winding. Negotiating the road curves during the day is tricky, and at night even more so.
Travelling within the Grenadine islands vary; you are better off renting a ‘mule’ or golf-cart, or bicycle to get around some of the islands. For many of the Grenadine Islands, your feet are the best and most efficient form of transportation. The cost of the ferry rides between the islands vary, anywhere between US$8 and US$15 depending on the destination.

Travel Requirements
Some countries do not require a passport for entry but require photo identification as well as proof of citizenship (such as a birth certificate). Generally however travellers should have a valid passport when travelling to St. Vincent and the Grenadines. Although yellow fever does not occur, an official yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers coming from infected areas.

Government
St. Vincent gained independence in 1979, and last held elections in 2001. A Governor General is appointed by the Cabinet on the advice of the Prime Minister. The current Governor General is Sir Frederick Ballantyne and the Prime Minister is Ralph Gonsalves. Aside from the individual islands of the Grenadines, the island of St. Vincent has 5 administrative regions namely Charlotte, St. Andrew, St. David, St. George, and St. Patrick.

Communications
The telephone area code for St.Vincent is 784. The telephone system in St. Vincent is adequate. The fixed line service provider is Cable & Wireless. Mobile cellular operators are Cable & Wireless and Digicel. It is possible that your mobile phone will work in St. Vincent - check your service provider before travelling. The networks are primarily GSM 850/1900 MHz.

Crime
Though the capital Kingstown has a pretty low rate of criminal activity, petty crime still occurs. Follow these general useful tips . Occasionally property has been stolen from yachts that are anchored in the Grenadines. Also, if interested in taking nature walks particularly in the northern parts of St. Vincent, hire a local tour guide as these areas are pretty secluded.