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Mission
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Central Intelligence Agency
The Work of a Nation. The Center of Intelligence
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| page last updated on June 14, 2011 |
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(CONTAINS DESCRIPTION)
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view 3
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| of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
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| Introduction ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
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Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on Saint Vincent until 1719. Disputed between France and the United Kingdom for most of the 18th century, the island was ceded to the latter in 1783. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.
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| Geography ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
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Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
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13 15 N, 61 12 W
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total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)
country comparison to the world: 202
land:
389 sq km
water:
0 sq km
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twice the size of Washington, DC
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0 km
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84 km
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territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone:
24 nm
exclusive economic zone:
200 nm
continental shelf:
200 nm
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tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
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volcanic, mountainous
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lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point:
La Soufriere 1,234 m
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hydropower, cropland
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arable land: 17.95%
permanent crops:
17.95%
other:
64.1% (2005)
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10 sq km (2008)
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total: 0.01
per capita:
83 cu m/yr (1995)
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hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
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pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
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party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
signed, but not ratified:
none of the selected agreements
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the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays
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| People ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
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103,869 (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 192
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0-14 years: 24.5% (male 12,842/female 12,638)
15-64 years:
67.4% (male 36,042/female 33,985)
65 years and over:
8.1% (male 3,807/female 4,555) (2011 est.)
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total: 30.1 years
male:
30.2 years
female:
30 years (2011 est.)
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-0.327% (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 218
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14.62 births/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 139
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6.98 deaths/1,000 population (July 2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
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-10.92 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 210
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urban population: 49% of total population (2010)
rate of urbanization:
1% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
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KINGSTOWN (capital) 28,000 (2009)
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at birth: 1.031 male(s)/female
under 15 years:
1.02 male(s)/female
15-64 years:
1.06 male(s)/female
65 years and over:
0.83 male(s)/female
total population:
1.03 male(s)/female (2011 est.)
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total: 14.27 deaths/1,000 live births
country comparison to the world: 124
male:
15.54 deaths/1,000 live births
female:
12.97 deaths/1,000 live births (2011 est.)
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total population: 74.15 years
country comparison to the world: 107
male:
72.26 years
female:
76.09 years (2011 est.)
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1.92 children born/woman (2011 est.)
country comparison to the world: 136
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NA
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NA
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NA
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noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective:
Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
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black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, European 4%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 3%
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Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%
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English, French patois
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definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population:
96%
male:
96%
female:
96% (1970 est.)
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total: 14 years
male:
13 years
female:
13 years (2005)
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6.6% of GDP (2009)
country comparison to the world: 20
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| Government ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form:
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
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name: Kingstown
geographic coordinates:
13 09 N, 61 14 W
time difference:
UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
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6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
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27 October 1979 (from the UK)
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Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
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27 October 1979
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English common law
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has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
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18 years of age; universal
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002)
head of government:
Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001)
cabinet:
Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
(For more information visit the World Leaders website )
elections:
the monarchy is hereditary; the governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
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unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators; representatives elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections:
last held on 13 December 2010 (next to be held in 2015)
election results:
percent of vote by party - ULP 51.6%, NDP 47.8%; seats by party - ULP 8, NDP 7
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Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (consisting of a High Court and Court of Appeals; based on Saint Lucia; two judges of the Supreme Court reside in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
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New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; Unity Labor Party or ULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
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NA
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ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, PetroCaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTO
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chief of mission: Ambassador La Celia A. PRINCE
chancery:
3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone:
[1] (202) 364-6730
FAX:
[1] (202) 364-6736
consulate(s) general:
New York
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the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
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three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern, which stands for Vincent; the diamonds recall the islands as the "Gems of the Antilles"; blue conveys the colors of a tropical sky and crystal waters, yellow signifies the golden Grenadine sands, and green represents lush vegetation
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name: "St. Vincent! Land So Beautiful!"
lyrics/music:
Phyllis Joyce MCCLEAN PUNNETT/Joel Bertram MIGUEL
note:
adopted 1967
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| Economy ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
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Success of the economy hinges upon seasonal variations in agriculture, tourism, and construction activity as well as remittance inflows. Much of the workforce is employed in banana production and tourism, but persistent high unemployment has prompted many to leave the islands. This lower-middle-income country is vulnerable to natural disasters - tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002. In 2008, the islands had more than 200,000 tourist arrivals, mostly to the Grenadines, a drop of nearly 20% from 2007. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore banking sector and has moved to adopt international regulatory standards. The government's ability to invest in social programs and respond to external shocks is constrained by its high public debt burden, which was over 90% of GDP at the end of 2010. Following the global downturn, St. Vincent and the Grenadines saw an economic decline in 2009, after slowing since 2006, when GDP growth reached a 10-year high of nearly 7%. The GONSALVES administration is directing government resources to infrastructure projects, including a new international airport that is expected to be completed in 2011.
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$1.069 billion (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
$1.093 billion (2009 est.)
$1.105 billion (2008 est.)
note:
data are in 2010 US dollars
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$561 million (2010 est.)
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-2.3% (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 209
-1.1% (2009 est.)
-0.6% (2008 est.)
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$10,300 (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 107
$10,500 (2009 est.)
$10,500 (2008 est.)
note:
data are in 2010 US dollars
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agriculture: 10%
industry:
26%
services:
64% (2001 est.)
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57,520 (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 187
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agriculture: 26%
industry:
17%
services:
57% (1980 est.)
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15% (2001 est.)
country comparison to the world: 149
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NA%
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%:
NA%
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revenues: $192.2 million
expenditures:
$218.1 million (2010 est.)
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0.8% (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 16
5.3% (2008 est.)
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6.5% (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 61
6.5% (31 December 2008)
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9.19% (31 December 2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 93
9.52% (31 December 2008 est.)
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$133 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 177
$138.7 million (31 December 2008)
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$444.4 million (31 December 2009)
country comparison to the world: 174
$453.5 million (31 December 2008)
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$417.4 million (31 December 2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 166
$387.8 million (31 December 2007 est.)
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bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish
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food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
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133.8 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 183
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124.4 million kWh (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 186
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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0 kWh (2008 est.)
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0 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
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2,000 bbl/day (2009 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
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0 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 138
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1,451 bbl/day (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 182
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0 bbl (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 200
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 197
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 195
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0 cu m (2008 est.)
country comparison to the world: 133
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0 cu m (1 January 2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 199
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$-149 million (2007 est.)
country comparison to the world: 84
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$193 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 182
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bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennis racquets
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Greece 40.04%, Poland 11.78%, France 9.05%, China 8.53%, India 4.71% (2009)
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$578 million (2006)
country comparison to the world: 186
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foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
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Singapore 16.16%, Trinidad and Tobago 13.71%, US 13.41%, China 10.9%, Italy 8.89%, Turkey 6.6%, France 5.64%, Romania 4.44% (2009)
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$479 million (2010 est.)
country comparison to the world: 162
$223 million (2004)
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East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
2.7 (2010)
2.7 (2009)
2.7 (2005)
2.7 (2004)
2.7 (2003)
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| Communications ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
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23,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 188
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121,100 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 182
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general assessment: adequate islandwide, fully automatic telephone system
domestic:
fixed-line teledensity exceeds 20 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 100 per 100 persons
international:
country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables carry international calls; connectivity also provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia
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St. Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation operates 1 television station and 5 repeater stations that give near total coverage to the multi-island state; multi-channel cable TV service is obtainable; a partially government-funded national radio service broadcasts on 1 station and has 2 repeater stations; about a dozen privately-owned radio stations and repeater stations operate (2007)
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.vc
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211 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 192
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76,000 (2009)
country comparison to the world: 168
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| Transportation ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
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6 (2010)
country comparison to the world: 175
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total: 5
1,524 to 2,437 m:
1
914 to 1,523 m:
3
under 914 m:
1 (2010)
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total: 1
under 914 m:
1 (2010)
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total: 829 km
country comparison to the world: 185
paved:
580 km
unpaved:
249 km (2003)
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total: 444
country comparison to the world: 23
by type:
bulk carrier 76, cargo 274, carrier 16, chemical tanker 4, container 21, liquefied gas 3, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 9, petroleum tanker 10, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 2
foreign-owned:
382 (Austria 2, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 6, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 10, China 82, Croatia 8, Cyprus 2, Czech Republic 1, Denmark 19, Dominica 1, Egypt 4, Estonia 10, France 2, Germany 2, Greece 63, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 4, Israel 3, Italy 5, Japan 3, Kenya 2, Latvia 15, Lebanon 4, Lithuania 10, Monaco 3, Netherlands 2, Nigeria 1, Norway 12, Oman 1, Pakistan 1, Poland 1, Romania 1, Russia 15, Slovenia 2, Sweden 2, Switzerland 5, Syria 13, Turkey 18, UAE 4, UK 7, Ukraine 12, US 19, Venezuela 1)
note:
this country allows large numbers of ships owned by foreign entities to be registered in its national shipping registry and to fly its flag; these ships operate under the laws of the flag state (2010)
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Kingstown
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| Military ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
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no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force, Coast Guard; for national defense, Saint Vincent relies on the Regional Security System, headquartered in Barbados (2010)
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males age 16-49: 27,809 (2010 est.)
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males age 16-49: 22,875
females age 16-49:
22,015 (2010 est.)
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male: 964
female:
953 (2010 est.)
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NA
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| Transnational Issues ::Saint Vincent and the Grenadines |
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joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
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transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation
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