By Demion McTair. Updated 5:55 a.m., Wednesday, May 5, 2021, Atlantic Standard Time (GMT-4).
St. Vincent and the Grenadines is in the spotlight due to the explosive eruptions of the La Soufrìere volcano.
The explosive eruptions which began on April 9, 2021 have led to the displacement of thousands of people and have destroyed agriculture and infrastructure in the north of the country.
Since the eruptions, humanitarian aid has been pouring in from several countries around the world.
Apart from having a very dangerous volcano, however, the multi-island state has more interesting things about it. Here are some of them:
In 2019, St. Vincent and the Grenadines made history being the smallest country to gain a non-permanent seat on the UN Security Council, 185 votes to El Salvador’s 6.
The country has been representing group C – the Latin American and the Caribbean States block from January 2020 to the present, for a 2-year term- UN News reported. The term will end in 2022.
The 150 square mile multi-island state with a population of 109,000 is definitely opening up in many ways, but is no stranger to holding accolades.
In 2015, the country received an award from the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) for reducing poverty and undernourishment – Searchlight Newspaper.
In 2014, St. Vincent & the Grenadines scored a first winning gold in the global ENO treelympics competition for the most active country.
In 2018, it became one of the first Caribbean nations (after Jamaica) to decriminalize marijuana for medicinal purposes.
St. Vincent is known for producing the World’s best rum, having one of the oldest botanical gardens in the western hemisphere, one of the oldest forest reserves – King’s Hill Forest reserve and some of the most beautiful sailing waters in the world.
The country has also produced notable musicians such as Kevin Lyttle whose hit – “turn me on” was a global sensation in the mid-2000’s.
The country is also known to have one of the hottest carnivals around – Vincy Mas (June – July) and a unique festival called “Nine mornings” held in December.
Currently, the country has the longest-serving head of government in the Caribbean Community grouping – CARICOM, Hon. Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.
The Grenadine island of Mustique remains a favorite vacation spot for members of the British Royal Family and home to entertainers such as Brian Adams.
Further south is Canouan island which boasts of having one of the most beautiful marinas in the world. It is also home to several billionaire investments and developments.
The multi-island nation comprising of 32 islands and cays recently opened an international Airport (2017) and accommodates standard weekly non-stop flight connections from Miami, New York, and Canada.
There are two main seasons: the dry season (typically from November to May) and the Rainy / wet season from June to October (typically).
The year-round tropical climate makes for excellent vacationing from the extreme cold or extreme hot periods experienced at winter and summer, respectively.
The country has a cosmopolitan mix of people with indigenous, those of African descent, Caucasians and East Indians.
One of the main risks facing the country is climate change and its potential to impact food security, infrastructure, tourism and other areas and sectors.
This is a reconstruction of an article by Demion McTair which was published on Secrets of SVG, a subsidiary of One News.
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