Kingstown
facts


St. Vincent, located in the British Windward Islands, is a gorgeous tropical paradise set far away from most other Caribbean islands. It is nearly 100 miles east from the Netherlands Antilles chain. The English culture is alive and well here on St. Vincent, and this can be observed by the sport of choice, cricket. Cricket is the featured game on the island, proving that British culture permeates their lifestyle even though the Mother Country is so far away.

Kingstown is the capital of St. Vincent, and it is a marvelous city full of bustling activity and breathtaking surroundings. The plant life and tremendous array of flowers are the most striking aspects of this area. The valleys and hills are blanketed by acres of gorgeous shrubbery. The people in the city of Kingstown are especially friendly and hospitable, as well they should be, because tourism is the area's most profitable industry. Until recently, St. Vincent was known as a quiet little island with nothing really to do. It is only recently that tourism has really exploded, and this is in direct correlation to all of the new amenities on the island. Unlike some of the other Caribbean islands, the government of St. Vincent is stable and the business community is sophisticated. The perimeter of St. Vincent is a combination of striking black and gorgeous white-sand beach, and the interior is comprised of exquisite rolling hills and flat grasslands.

All of the facilities on St. Vincent, and particularly in Kingstown, are fabulous. Everything is clean and new, and this is one of the safest islands in the Caribbean. Fine dining, scuba diving, sea excursions, and festivals are only the beginning of the many wonderful activities on St. Vincent. Museums and archaeological sights highlight the rich heritage of the island, and so many of the attractions combine education and entertainment. The miles of exquisite beach offer every water sport imaginable, and St. Vincent has an understated but fairly active nightlife. A combination of European and strictly Caribbean influences create a diverse and enjoyable atmosphere everywhere you go.

Geography
This country consists of the island of St. Vincent along with the northern islands of the Grenadines group. It is part of the Windward Islands chain in the southeastern Caribbean Sea and lies south of St. Lucia and north of Grenada. The largest of the Grenadine islands include Bequia, Canouan, Mustique, Mayreau and Union. The total area is 338 sq km with mainland St. Vincent comprising 344 sq km. St Vincent is of volcanic origin and is traversed from north to south by a forested range that rises to a maximum elevation in La Soufriere (1,234m). This is an active volcano located on the northern part of St. Vincent. The capital and main port is Kingstown situated on the southwestern coast of St. Vincent.

History
Carib Indians aggressively prevented any European settlement until the 18th century. African slaves- whether shipwrecked or having escaped from St. Lucia and Grenada and seeking refuge in St. Vincent, intermarried with the Caribs and became known as "black Caribs". From 1719, French settlers cultivated coffee, tobacco, indigo, cotton and sugar on plantations worked by African slaves.

In 1763 St. Vincent was ceded to Britain and slavery was abolished in 1834. Portuguese immigrants arrived in the 1840's and East Indians in the 1860's. From 1763 until independence on October 27 1979, St Vincent passed through various stages of colonial status under the British. A representative assembly was authorized in 1776, Crown Colony government installed in 1877, a legislative council created in 1925, and universal adult suffrage granted in 1951.

Economy
Agriculture has been the mainstay of St, Vincent's economy and bananas are the leading crop. Other imported crops include arrowroot, nutmeg and mace, and coconuts. Manufacturing is limited; products include cement, furniture, flour and refined sugar. Much emphasis is being placed on necessary infrastructure development to take greater advantage of the substantial tourist potential, since tourism contributes significantly to the country's foreign currency earnings.

People & culture
St. Vincent and the Grenadines has a population which comprises mainly blacks. English is the official language and the two main religious groups are Anglicans and Methodists.

Carnival is the main festival held in St. Vincent where calypso bards vie for prominence, costume parades are held and there is reveling in the streets with steel bands.

Places of interest
St. Vincent and the Grenadines offers a variety of flora and fauna which can be seen in the Botanical Gardens and the Vernon Nature Trail. The Leeward side of the island offers safe beaches, most of which have volcanic black sand. There is also a variety of marine life around St. Vincent, which facilitates diving and snorkeling expeditions. Bequia one of the islands , offers entertainment with string bands and steel bands. One can also visit the Falls of Baleine, Fort Charlotte, Fort Duvernette and view the petroglyphs which are Carib Indian carvings found on huge boulders.