Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
St. Vincent & the Grenadines
Today's Flag
is St-Vincent and the Grenadines, a Commonwealth Realm of several southeastern Windward Islands within the lesser Antilles, between Grenada and St-Lucia. Fought over by the British and French, Carib islanders in this area fiercely resisted colonization until 1719, when French settlers began growing sugar, tobacco and coffee. Britain gained control over the islands in 1763, although they were briefly displaced by French forces between 1779 and 1783. Indigenous Caribs were forcibly pacified by the British by 1797, and over 5,000 "Garifuna" were deported to Roatan, Honduras. Following the abolition of slavery in 1834, the export crops became dominated by the banana and coconut, although these were severely damaged by hurricanes in 1980 and 1987, and more recently have been threatened by volcanic eruptions in 2021. The United Kingdom granted associate statehood status in 1969, and full independence was achieved in 1979, while maintaining links to the institution of the monarchy. Today, tourism is the chief industry in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and visitors can expect to find a rich culture of music and sport. The flag is unique in that it is the only National flag to feature the "Canadian Pale:" a central field (yellow) that is wider than the accompanying vertical stripes.
Quick Facts:
Monarch: His Majesty Charles III
Title: Charles III, by the Grace of God, King of St Vincent and the Grenadines, His other realms and territories, Head of the Commonwealth
Accession: 8 September 2022
Governor General: Dame Susan Dougan GCMG, OBE, 1 August 2019
Population: 111,778 (accessed 14 Nov 2022, click here for current Worldometer statistics)
Subjects of St-Vincent and the Grenadines are called: Vincentians (Constitution Act, 1979)
State Religion: n/a
Currency: EC$, East Caribbean Dollar, peg 2.70 XCD = 1.00 USD
Population: 24,518 (Worldometer, 2022)
Type of Government: Unitary Constitutional Monarchy
Governing Body: Parliament: Governor General, House of Assembly
Founded: 27 October 1979: independence from U.K, associate state status: 27 October 1969
Flag Adopted: 12 October 1985
Flag Official Name: The Gems
Special National Holiday: Independence Day - 27 October
Maps of St-Vincent and the Grenadines: Worldometer Cartographic Department
Today's Flag: ©1989-2024 DJ CLIFFORD, All Rights Reserved