|RConstitution:|N Independent country within the Commonwealth of Nations. Recognizes the UK sovereign as head of state.
|RNational holiday:|N Independence Day, October 27.
|RNature and climate:|N The main island, Saint Vincent, and the Grenadines archipelago, that consists of 50 small islands.
The main island is of volcanic origin and is densely forested. One volcano is still active.
Average temperature 27°C around the year.
Percipitation 4000 mm in the mountains and 1500 mm by the coasts.
|RPeople:|N 66% descendants of African slaves and 24% mulattos. The rest East Indians, whites and a small remainder of Caribbean Indians.
|REconomy:|N Agriculture dominates. The most important crops are bananas and arrowroot. Bananas usually give close to 50% of the export revenues.
The most important industries are sugarrefineries, mills and furnituremanufacturing.
Frequent natural disasters put a stress on economy. In 1979 there was a volcanic eruption and in 1980 and 1986 destructive hurricanes passed the islands.
|RHistory:|N Saint Vincent was discovered by Columbus on January 22 1498, Saint Vincents Day, hence the name.
It was ceded to Britain 1783 but the fierce Carib Indians continued fighting until 1796, when they all either had been killed or deported.
In 1967 it was granted internal self-governing and in 1979 it became an independent nation.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is one of the poorest countries in the West Indies, mainly due to the frequent natural disasters.
