 |
| Port Operator: | St. Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority |
| Dock Facilities: | Specialised
container reach stackers. Tractor trailer system and forklift trucks |
| Area: | 11.7 hectares. Berths: 6 (run continuously) |
| Port Operator: | St. Vincent Port Authority Council |
| Dock Facilities: | Mobile
cranes, capacity 17 tonnes. Tractor trailer system and forklift trucks |
| Area: | 32,000 square feet berths: 600 feet section |
| Capital: | Kingstown |
| Official Language: | English |
| Total population: | 109,022 |
| Area: | 388sq.km |
| GDP: | US$ 103m |
| Currency: | Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) |
| Time zone: | GMT 4 |
| Dialling code: | 001 784 |
| Business hours: | 8am - 12 noon 1pm - 4pm Monday - Friday |
St. Vincent
St. Vincent heads a string of 32 low-lying islands and cays which stretch South towards Grenada. It is volcanic with a densely forested central area around its active volcano, Soufriere, that erupted last in 1979. The banana industry is the main plank of the Vincentian economy although the Island is trying to diversify.
The manufacturing sector is growing and includes garments, milling, concrete and furniture.
St Vincent is situated in the Windward Islands at the lower end of the Caribbean chain; the Grenadines comprise a chain of little islands and rocks between St Vincent and Grenada. Since 1979 it has been an independent nation within the British Commonwealth.
Unemployment, at 19% remains a problem in St Vincent and the Grenadines. The economy is mainly agricultural, although both tourism and light manufacturing have been expanding. Bananas account for almost half of export revenue. The fishing subsector is also growing. Luxury tourism is developing on the small islands, but the substantial tourist potential is limited by lack of access, as the airport at Arnos Vale cannot accommodate large aircraft or direct international flights.
Corporations are taxed at 40%, although there are some exemptions. There is no capital gains tax, but personal income tax ranges from 10-55%.
St. Vincent and the Grenadines have no railways. There is a major deep water port at Kingstown. The main civilian airport, ET Joshua, is located at Arnos Vale, about 3 km from Kingstown, and there is a minor service to Mustique, Canouan, Union Island and Bequia.
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