- Welcome to St Vincent and the Grenadines
- In the Commonwealth
- St Vincent and the Grenadines joined the Commonwealth in 1979
- St Vincent and the Grenadines gained its independence on the 27th of October 1979
- St Vincent and the Grenadines has been competing in the Commonwealth Games since 1958, and has won 2 medals over than period
- St Vincent and the Grenadines is an archipelago in the Windward Islands in the Eastern Caribbean; it comprises the island of St Vincent and the northern Grenadines, a chain of 32 islands and cays, stretching south-west towards Grenada
- Most of St Vincent is rugged and mountainous, volcanic in origin and with an active volcano, La Soufrière, which rises to 1,234m and is the island’s highest point; it last erupted in April 1979, and last erupted violently in 1902
- It is one of the few countries in the Commonwealth that have recorded increases in forest areas; during 1990-2005 these have risen by 25% nationally to 27% of total land area.
- Many of St Vincent’s beaches are of black volcanic sand, while the Grenadine beaches are of fine white sand
The Hon. Dr Ralph Gonsalves
Prime Minister of St Vincent & the Grenadines
It is my distinct pleasure to introduce you to the beautiful, tropical multi-island state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, ‘Home of the Blessed’. I am particularly delighted to greet you ‘the surfers’ and to introduce you to the Commonwealth of Nations Information Centre.
This innovation by the Commonwealth is commendable and is a unique approach to showcasing member nations.
The Government and people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines fully endorse the work and aims of the Commonwealth, and its continued role in the promotion of good governance and the democratic development of our people.
It therefore gives me great pleasure to welcome you ‘the visitor’ to the Commonwealth of Nations website and encourage you to surf and explore the tranquil blue waters of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
I trust that you would be fascinated by your expedition.
Welcome to our beautiful country!
St Vincent and the Grenadines in the Commonwealth
did you know?
Commonwealth Projects
Advisor on Food Technology, St Vincent Marketing Corporation (2005/06)
An expert, who was commissioned by the Commonwealth Secretariat, provided advice on appropriate technology on the processing of farm produce and seafood, and identifying local raw materials for the development of value-added local products, the advisor worked closely with rural communities, focussing on the design and layout of rural processing units and advising on the Hazard Analysis Critical Control Point (HACCP) system. Local processors were trained to help improve their processing standards.
Institutional Strengthening of the St Vincent Development Corporation (2005/06)
The Commonwealth provided technical assistance to restructure the former Investment and Industrial Development Agency and to establish a dedicated Investment Promotion Authority (IPA). An expert supported the preparation of an investment promotion policy, a business facilitation guide, a procedures manual, and an investment promotion strategy. These tools have enabled St Vincent to identify and attract inward investments and develop export programmes. Advice was also provided on ways in which the country’s industrial estates could be best utilised in support of IPA efforts to attract foreign investment.
Development of a Tourism Investment Plan (2005/06)
The economy of St Vincent and the Grenadines has been heavily reliant on agricultural exports, though in recent years the potential of the tourism sector to contribute to economic growth and development has been receiving increasing prominence. Assistance was provided to develop an investment plan for tourism through a short-term expert who assisted in developing an investment guide and in building the capacity of National Investment Promotions Inc. (NIPI) to develop and implement investment programmes.
Customs Advisor (2003/04)
A customs advisor was provided for eighteen months, courtesy of the Commonwealth Secretariat to strengthen the revenue collection capabilities of the Customs and Excise Department and install effective revenue collection systems. As St Vincent and the Grenadines relies heavily on revenue collected from its Customs Department, the advisor focused on customs administration, structural and organisational change, updating customs legislation, improving computer and accounting systems and training staff on tax law.
IT Advisor, Department of Airport Development (2003/04)
An extension of the IT Advisor to the Department of Airport Development was provided to enable full computerisation of the Department’s functions. The IT System now provides comprehensive data collection in conjunction with flexible billing rules to maximise revenue collection. The advisor assisted with the establishment of a financial information system to provide strategic, tactical and day-to-day financial indicators and supported the integration of a planned maintenance work programme into the operational information system, training staff and developing user manuals.
St Vincent and The Grenadines
in the Commonwealth Yearbook
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