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Britannica
Saint Vincent
island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea within the Lesser Antilles. The
island of Saint Vincent lies about 21 miles (34 km) southwest of Saint Lucia and
about 100 miles (160 km) west of Barbados. The rest of the nation is made up of
the northern Grenadine Islands, which stretch southward from Saint Vincent
toward Grenada. Saint Vincent is 18 miles (29 km) long and has a maximum width
of 11 miles (18 km); the total area of the nation is 150 square miles (388
square km), of which Saint Vincent constitutes 134 square miles (347 square km).
The capital and chief port, on the southwestern coast, is Kingstown. The
nation's main islands in the Grenadines are Bequia, Balliceau, Canouan, Mayreau,
Mustique, Isle D'Quatre, Petit Saint Vincent, and Union Island. The population
in 1990 was estimated to be 116,000.
also called Grenadine Islands,
chain of about 600 islands and islets in the southeastern part of the Lesser
Antilles in the West Indies, ranging over 60 miles (100 km) generally
southwesterly from St. Vincent to Grenada. The northern Grenadines are
administratively part of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (q.v.), while
the southern islands are a dependency of Grenada (q.v.). The Saint
Vincent group consists of Bequia, Canouan, Mayreau, Mustique, Union Island, and
associated islets. Carriacou Island, the largest of the Grenada group, has an
area of 13 square miles (34 square km).
Few of the islands are inhabited. The low, uncertain rainfall makes agriculture
and settlement precarious, and the islands are only lightly cultivated, the main
product being Sea Island cotton grown on Carriacou. Nevertheless, the Grenadines
were, in the past, plantation areas settled by the French.
A
ridge of hills rising 980 feet (300 m) crosses Carriacou from northeast to
southwest; on the west coast there are two good harbours, Hillsborough Bay (site
of the chief town, Hillsborough) and Tyrell Bay, farther south. Resorts and home
sites, hotels, and yachting marinas were developed in the 1970s on Bequia, Palm
(formerly Prune), Petit St. Vincent, Union, and Youngs islands. There is an
airstrip on Carriacou.
Saint Vincent may have been given its name by Christopher Columbus, who is
thought to have visited the island on Jan. 22, 1498 (St. Vincent's Day). Its
Carib inhabitants were left almost undisturbed until the 18th century. In 1673
the first Africans arrived, a party of slaves who were shipwrecked in the
Grenadines and eventually reached Saint Vincent, intermarrying with the native
Caribs. French, Dutch, and British settlements were attempted, with the French
dominant until the Seven Years' War, when the British general Robert Monckton
occupied it (1762). The Treaty of Paris (1763) confirmed British possession, and
settlement proceeded in spite of Carib refusal to accept British sovereignty. In
1779 the island was seized by the French, but it was restored to Britain in
1783. In 1795 the Caribs rose in revolt, assisted by the French, but they were
finally subdued the following year. Most of them were then deported to the Bay
Islands off Honduras and Belize. The emancipation of black slaves in 1834
decreased the island's labour supply, and Portuguese and East Indian labourers
were introduced late in the century.
In the latter half of the 19th century, sugar prices fell, plunging the island
into a depression that lasted through the end of the century. The hurricane of
1898 and the volcanic eruption of 1902 hindered recovery.
In 1958 Saint Vincent joined the West Indies Federation. In 1960 it received a
new constitution. It became a state in association with the United Kingdom on
Oct. 27, 1969. The island had become a member of the Caribbean Free Trade Area
on July 1, 1968.
Grenadines
also called Grenadine Islands,
chain of about 600 islands and islets in the southeastern part of the Lesser
Antilles in the West Indies, ranging over 60 miles (100 km) generally
southwesterly from St. Vincent to Grenada. The northern Grenadines are
administratively part of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines (q.v.), while
the southern islands are a dependency of Grenada (q.v.). The Saint
Vincent group consists of Bequia, Canouan, Mayreau, Mustique, Union Island, and
associated islets. Carriacou Island, the largest of the Grenada group,
has an area of 13 square miles (34 square km).
Few of the islands are inhabited. The low, uncertain rainfall makes agriculture
and settlement precarious, and the islands are only lightly cultivated, the main
product being Sea Island cotton grown on Carriacou. Nevertheless, the Grenadines
were, in the past, plantation areas settled by the French.
A
ridge of hills rising 980 feet (300 m) crosses Carriacou from northeast to
southwest; on the west coast there are two good harbours, Hillsborough Bay
(site of the chief town, Hillsborough) and Tyrell Bay, farther south. Resorts
and home sites, hotels, and yachting marinas were developed in the 1970s on
Bequia, Palm (formerly Prune), Petit St. Vincent, Union, and Youngs islands.
There is an airstrip on Carriacou.
Lonley
History
When Spanish
explorers first sighted St Vincent, the island was thickly settled with Carib
Indians who had driven off the earlier Arawak settlers. Heavy Carib resistance
kept European colonists at bay long after most other Caribbean islands had
well-established European settlements.
African slaves became the first permanent non-Carib settlers in 1675, when they
made it to shore from a sinking Dutch ship. None of the European crew survived,
but the Africans were absorbed into Carib society. Their descendants became
known as Black Caribs, as distinct from the native Yellow Caribs.
The
Caribs were generally hostile to all Europeans, but they tended to find the
British, who claimed Carib land by royal grants, more objectionable than the
French. The Caribs allowed the French to establish the first European settlement
on the island in the early 1700s. Shortly after relinquishing control of St
Vincent to the British under the Treaty of Paris, the French instigated a riot
of Black and Yellow Caribs against English settlers, killing many Brits and
burning their plantations. In retaliation, British troops landed on St Vincent
and removed over 5000 Caribs to Roatan, an island off Honduras. A number of
Yellow Caribs were moved to a reservation at Sandy Bay, in the northeastern
corner of St Vincent.
With
native opposition gone, plantation owners enjoyed stability and success until
1812, when a major eruption of La Soufrière destroyed most of the coffee and
cocoa trees. Around the same time, the abolitionist movement was growing in
Britain and by 1834 slavery was abolished and plantation owners forced to free
more than 18,000 slaves. Blacks turned away from plantations and planters began
bringing in foreign laborers. But a hurricane in 1898 and another eruption of La
Soufrière in 1902 destroyed what remained of the plantation economy.
In
1969 St Vincent became a self-governing state in association with the UK and in
1979 St Vincent & the Grenadines acquired full independence as a member of the
Commonwealth. La Soufrière erupted that same year, spewing a blanket of ash over
much of the island and causing the evacuation of 20,000 people to St Vincent's
northern villages. Major hurricanes in 1980 and 1986 wrought further havoc on
the islands.
Sir
James F Mitchell was elected prime minister in 1984. His New Democratic Party
controlled the legislature throughout the '90s, and in 1998 Mitchell was elected
to his fourth term. However, the NDP's popularity was slipping, and the rival
Unity Labour Party took seven of the fifteen assembly seats.
Growing dissatisfaction with the NDP led to protests in May 2002. The
Organization of Eastern Caribbean States negotiated an agreement that pushed
elections forward two years to March 2001. The Unity Labour Party won by a
landslide, and Dr. Ralph Gonsalves became the new prime minister.
Culture
St
Vincent & the Grenadines share traditional West Indian culture, giving it a
multi-ethnic twist of African, Black Carib, French and British influences.
Musically, islanders go for reggae, calypso and steel bands. Sports-wise they
prefer British forms like cricket and soccer. Some of the Grenadine islands,
Bequia in particular, have long been reliant upon the sea for a living; boat
building, both full-scale and models, is an island art form. The local patois is
a mix of French, Spanish and various African languages.
St
Vincent has rich volcanic soil and produces most of the fruits and vegetables
sold throughout the Grenadines. Seafood is abundant, with conch, fish, shrimp,
whelk and lobster appearing on most menus. Common West Indian foods include
callaloo soup, pumpkin soup, rotis, saltfish and various breadfruit
preparations, including the national dish, which is breadfruit and fried
jackfish. Try the sweet and juicy St Vincent orange, which is ripe while still
green, or the locally distilled Captain Bligh Rum.
The capital of St
Vincent, Kingstown, is often confused with the capital of Jamaica Kingston (note
the lack of a 'w' here). Kingstown in the south of the island was for years
protected by cannons, which are still here today, but unmanned. Forts Charlotte
and Duvernette were the most heavily fortified. Fort Charlotte is to benefit
from a restoration programme funded by the EEC and the Caribbean Development
Bank (CDB). The National Trust of St Vincent is extremely active in the
conservation of its cultural heritage, and welcomes members. The President is
Lavinia Gunn of Noah's Arkade in Bay Street. Each of the Grenadine islands had a
fort with multiple batteries placed strategically north and south. Fort Hamilton
on Bequia is worth visiting.
Do not be surprised if
you come across a cannon when you hike through the bush; some of these have
rolled down the hills over the years. Some of these cannons were taken away as
souvenirs, despite their great weight. This is against the law, and can involve
a prison sentence. Kingstown has a series of shaded Georgian arcades and
cobblestone streets, which make shopping there a pleasant pastime. The main
shopping areas are Bay Street on the front, and Middle Street. A cool nineteenth
century alley divides the two streets at the level of Cobblestone Inn, which is
a favorite meeting place for most Vincentians and travellers. The hotel has
excellent facilities with colonial furnishings in most of the bedrooms. Basil
Charles of Mustique fame has taken over the restaurant and meals are generous
and well prepared. There is a buffet at lunchtime.
At the northern end of
Bay Street you will find the market. There is a very wide selection of tropical
fruits and vegetables transported from the outlying villages each day. There is
also a charcoal market facing the new fish market. Coconuts are sold from
barrows while they are still green with soft delicious jelly. The vendors deftly
open these large young nuts with three quick and well-placed blows of the
cutlass. The water of these coconuts is both refreshing and excellent for the
health. Prices are highly competitive and this is one of the best places in the
Caribbean for yachtsmen to take provisions on board.
In 1970 the waterfront was
expanded, and a dredging programme was undertaken to provide additional
container space and room for two freighters or cruise ships to come alongside.
The main dock is at the south end of Kingstown. This is where the ferries come
in from the Grenadines. It is also possible to anchor to the right of the dock
when taking on provisions. Water is available at the commercial dock, on request
at the customs house. For a minimal fee it is possible to fill tanks before
leaving for the Grenadines where supplies are rare. This manoeuvre can, however,
call for a show of steely nerves. Thirty five per cent of the population are
unemployed, and much of the youth converges on the capital and its port. Some of
these youths are belligerent, establishing their own laws and rights when
officials turn their backs. Be patient, this is not the general rule. Very small
boys have home-made wooden carts to carry ice, supermarket goods, and anything
you may have bought for a cruise. It is well worthwhile giving them a few
dollars to carry your crates and goods, see them smile widely and know you have
a friend here. Two excellent supermarkets function directly behind the main
jetty. The meat is first class and local. Customs and immigrations offices are
located here. An immigration/permit office is situated at the end of Bay Street.
There are some very old and interesting traditional buildings on the waterfront
of the southern anchorage. The diving is good in this area. Please keep to the
rocky shore.
The centre of town has a number of banks,
restaurants, bars, the post office and the government administrative buildings
on Halifax Street. For philatelists the stamps of St Vincent and the Grenadines
are collectors items. There is a philatelic club in town. Kingstown closes its
doors to commerce at 4 p.m. and for lunch between 12 and 1 p.m. Opening hours
vary between 7 a.m. for essential services, and 9 a.m. for shoppers. Shopping
for spare parts is not advised. Bring these with you. A good breakfast is served
from eight in the morning at the Green Parrot on Halifax Street, when Cable and
Wireless opens up on the other side of the street. Service here is efficient for
both telephone and fax. Laundry is dealt with in a happy tropical atmosphere at
the Black Cat Laundry at the far end of Long Lane.
There are three churches in
Kingstown. The Catholic Cathedral, St Mary's, is an extraordinary structure and
Gothic in style. St Mary's was built in 1823 and was renovated in 1940 by
Charles Verbeke. A short distance from it is St George's Anglican Cathedral,
built in 1820. It is light, airy and Georgian in style. This church has fine
stained glass windows. The Methodist church is also attractive and merits a
visit; it is only a stone's throw from the other two. Dollar buses operate from
the market place and in front of the town's handsome Court House. These colorful
public transport vehicles service all the villages on both the leeward and
windward coasts. There is a busy service between Kingstown and the tourist
centre at Villa, which goes past the airport.
Before leaving town it is very worthwhile to visit the oldest
Botanical Garden in the Western Hemisphere. It is here that Captain Bligh
planted the first Tahitian breadfruit tree in 1793. A slip from it carries on
the tradition in the gardens. The gardens were opened in 1765 on twenty acres of
rich and fertile soil on the slopes overlooking the capital. The first botanists
to cultivate the gardens, Drs George Young and Alexander Anderson, were
responsible for the propagation of numerous imponed flowering shrubs, plants and
trees, both decorative and medicinal, throughout the island. The success of the
breadfruit trees provided the people with an excellent food source. There are
fine royal palms and just about every species of Caribbean fruit, flower, shrub
and tree may be studied here. A Doric temple was added to the grounds at the
beginning of the century together with paths and shaded benches, where visitors
can sit and admire the beauty and enjoy the tranquillity of the place.
Above the gardens is the Botanical Clinic founded by a
dedicated general surgeon Dr Cecil Cyrus. Dr Cyrus is also responsible for the
Ophthalmologic Centre where over the years he has solved many critical problems.
The clinics look over the town and Kingstown harbour. Another of the island's
remarkable men also works in this area.
Within the Botanical Gardens is the Archaeological
Museum founded by Dr Earl Kirby. Dr Kirby received the Caribbean Conservation
Association Award for Outstanding Services to the region in 1991. Not only is he
a historian, archaeologist and author, he is also a So veterinary surgeon and
has worked in the fields, villages, mountains and towns of the State, aware of
every aspect of its fauna and flora. His museum is a charming gingerbread house
on the left of the entrance. Open on Wednesday from 9.45 a.m. to 11.45 a.m. and
Saturday from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m., the exhibition traces the lives of the
prehistoric settlers of the island, displaying magnificent artefacts, stone and
shell tools.
It is worth stopping at the
Craftsmen Centre on the way out of town for Villa and the tourist section of St
Vincent. There is an excellent selection of handicrafts here, including wood
carvings, sisal mats and rugs, which may be made to order, and a variety of
bamboo ware, straw hats and worked coconuts. The Government encourages foreign
investment in both tourism and industry. The recent Hotel Aid Act drawn up by
the Prime Minister seeks to encourage economic growth in this field. Serious
investors may contact The Development Corporation at P.O. Box 841, St Vincent
and the Grenadines, WI. Finally, for those wishing to start married life in
paradise, aliens and tourists may obtain a Special Governor General Licence for
a small fee from the Ministry of Information and Culture, after a three-day
residence in the State, and an Ordinary Licence from the Registrant Notice of
the ceremony has to be published in the registry for a minimum of seven days.
The choice of honeymoon hideaways will prove overwhelming.
Union
Island
Union is the
largest island in the southern part of St. Vincent's Grenadines. With its
dramatically mountainous outline, Union stands out from afar. Its 900 foot high
Mount Parnassus is a distinctive feature. Clifton, the main harbor, is protected
by a reef which shows off its brilliant kaleidoscopic colors and patterns as you
fly or sail in. Arrival by air is spectacular and a little scarry as the planes
on approach fly close over the hills and descend rapidly to the tiny landing
strip.
A walk through the interior to
Ashton, the second largest settlement is well worth the effort. Offering nice
seaside views of the neighbouring islands, beach life and local culture. For the
really fit and energetic climb the Peak behind Clifton for really spectacular
360 degree view of all the Grenadines.
The main town is a bustling
small port with a cosmopolitan atmosphere and is the center of yachting in the
southern Grenadines. It has a thriving day charter industry, with tourists
flying into the small airport daily to tour the Grenadines in a variety of
different sailing craft.
To quote a rastaman living on
the island; "This is a paradise, you see. We don’t lack anything; plenty
sunshine, beautiful beaches, the sea is full of fish…. Most people own a little
land, where they do their gardening and keep their animals. Down here you are as
free as you can get in a Babylon system. No one will bother you, as long as
you’re cool. This is a special place, a spiritual place. This is Rastafari
land!" And this is the thing about Union; the vibes…Life on Union is easy and
laid-back; ”take your time man”. So if you need some time to think, relax, get a
perspective on life, come to Union. If you wanna experience friendship and
hospitality, fresh food and skanki`n music,,well
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