About SVG 
Did You Know...?
Did You Know...?
Did You Know...?
Facts about St. Vincent and the Grenadines
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The country is located in the Eastern Caribbean, 100 miles West of Barbados.
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The Population of St Vincent & The Grenadines is approximately 106,253 (2001 census).
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The Prime Minister of St Vincent and the Grenadines is Dr Ralph Gonsalves. The country is governed under a Westminster Political System.
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There are over 32 islands and cays that make up St Vincent and the Grenadines; of these, nine are inhabited.
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There are more than 400 arches to be found in Kingstown – “The City of Arches” – which is the capital of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
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There are five Airports in St Vincent & The Grenadines – E.T Joshua on St Vincent, J.F Mitchell on Bequia, as well as one each on Canouan, Union Island and Mustique.
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There is an active volcano on St Vincent (La Soufriere) that last erupted in 1979. The volcano rises to 4,048 feet.
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The oldest Botanic Gardens in the Western Hemisphere is located in St Vincent & The Grenadines, having been founded in 1765.
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In 1793 Captain Bligh (of “Mutiny on the Bounty” fame) brought 630 breadfruit plants to St Vincent. The sucker from one of those plants can be found in the Botanic Gardens.
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Fort Charlotte is perched some 600 feet above sea level, overlooking the Kingstown Harbour. The fort was completed in 1806, built to defend the country during the struggle for Colonial supremacy.
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The Amazona Guildingi - the St Vincent Parrot is the National Bird. It derived part of its name from Lansdown Guilding (1797-1831). Mr. Landsown Guilding was best known for his works on the flora and fauna of St Vincent in particular and on the Caribbean in general.
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Fried Jackfish and Roasted Breadfruit is the National Dish of the country.
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 Some of the most fertile soil in the world can be found in the Mesopotamia Valley in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
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There are gold, black and white sand beaches in St Vincent and the Grenadines.
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During its 2001 Field Survey, ‘REEF’ found 225 species of fish in the waters of St Vincent!
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The King’s Hill Reserve, established in 1791 is one of the oldest Forest Reserves in the Western Hemisphere. With an elevation of 600 feet, it provides a habitat for protected wildlife, and a home for more than 26 identified species of tropical trees and shrubs.
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On March 14 2002, Paramount Chief The Right Excellent Joseph Chatoyer was declared the First National Hero of St Vincent and the Grenadines.
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There are approximately 105 accommodation establishments in St Vincent and the Grenadines with a room stock of just over 1700. These include guesthouses, hotels, apartments, villas and resorts.
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The seven Ports of Entry in the country are located in Wallilabou (yachts only), Kingstown, Bequia, Canouan, Mustique, Union Island and Chateaubelair.
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St Vincent and the Grenadines is the only Caribbean country in which petroglyphs, recording our ancestors’ presence are found. These can be found in Yambou, Buccament, Layou and Barroullie.
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The names of the 32 islands and cays that make up St Vincent & the Grenadines -
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The EU Funded Tourism Development Project upgraded these 14 sites:
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Thomas Huckerby, a British archaeological surveyor and missionary, first revealed the St Vincent petroglyphs to the outside world in his 1914 American Athroplogist article: Petroglyphs of St Vincent, British West Indies. In that he said: “Throughout the West Indies archipelago, there is nothing of greater archaeological importance than the St Vincent petroglyphs.” Where to see them: North of Kingstown, at Layou on the west coast you can see the massive Carib Rock, with a human face carving dating from A.D. 600 (though the locals say it looks as if someone painted it yesterday.)
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Fort Duvernette was vested in the SVG National Trust in 1971. The Fort is a cultural heritage site with a unique ecosystem. It is a roosting site for frigate, tropicbirds and many other birds. It is also rich in fauna such as lizards, iguanas and butterflies.
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In 1813 the Byrea Hill Tunnel was cut through Mt Young to facilitate communication with the north of the island.
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The airport destination code for St. Vincent & the Grenadines is 'SVD' (St. Vincent Diamond); because the first airport in St. Vincent was located at Diamond, on the south east coast of St. Vincent.
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The first capital of St Vincent was Georgetown, then Calliaqua, before the present capital Kingstown.
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The Carnegie Building (Old Public Library) in Kingstown was named after the American philantropist who donated £2000 for the building, which was built in 1909.
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There are at least 25 varieties of breadfruit in St. Vincent & the Grenadines such as:
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