St. Vincent and the Grenadines

Country profile: St Vincent and the Grenadines

The multi-island country of St Vincent and the Grenadines is a land of contrasts: the volcanic, mountainous St Vincent contrasting with the flat, mainly bare coral reefs of the Grenadines.

Of the numerous islands and cays that make up the Grenadines, Mustique, Palm Island and Union Island have become popular with the rich and famous - yachting, diving in the islands' deep blue waters and enjoying their beaches. However, their playgrounds are worlds away from the third of the population without jobs.

Like other Windward Islands, St Vincent and the Grenadines faces the challenge of having to reduce its reliance on bananas following a European Union decision in 1999 to phase out preferential treatment to producers from former colonies at the expense of Latin American growers - mostly US corporations. The islands' family-run farms will find it difficult to compete.

However, while it has tried to diversify the economy, primarily by promoting tourism, its efforts in this regard have been only partially successful, and bananas continue to account for nearly half of export earnings.

Like many other Caribbean countries, St Vincent and the Grenadines has fallen victim to drug-related crime - a major obstacle to the growth of tourism. There have been allegations that narcotics-related corruption has penetrated the state, that the government lacks the necessary resolve to tackle the problem and that the country's banks are involved in money laundering.

ST VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES FACTS

Population: 115,500

Capital: Kingstown

Major language: English

Major religion: Christianity

Life expectancy: 71 years (men), 74 years (women)

Monetary unit: 1 East Caribbean dollar = 100 cents

Main exports: Bananas, arrowroot (starch), nutmeg, mace, coconuts

Average annual income: US $2,690

Internet domain: .vc