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LANGUAGE
English is the official language.
WATER
The tap water is safe to drink. Do not drink from rivers or streams. Bottled
water is available.
TIME ZONE
St Vincent and The Grenadines is in the Atlantic standard time zone, 1 hour
ahead of Eastern Standard Time and 4 hours behind GMT
AIRLINES
Caribbean
Star Airline is schedule to start services between San Juan, Puerto Rico and St
Vincent.
LIAT,
Caribbean Star, and Air Martinique provide scheduled connecting flights
with the larger carries from other Caribbean islands.
Mustique Airways, SVG
Air, and TIA are available for charter.
AIRPORT TAX
There is a departure tax of EC$40.
IMMIGRATION
All visitors must have valid
passports.
All visitors must have a return or ongoing ticket.
No visa required for stay up to three months.
Vaccinations - None required.
Usually
Acceptable Proofs of Citizenship:
-
Passport
- must be valid, or
-
Certified
Copy of Birth Certificate plus Official Photo ID -or-
-
Official
Government Document verifying Citizenship
-
Certificate
of Citizenship
-
Certificate
of Naturalization
-
Consular
Report of Birth Abroad
-
(Together
with Valid Photo I.D.)
Note:
A Voter's Registration Card does NOT constitute proof of Citizenship.
Acceptability should be checked with the airline carrier. Persons using a
Voter's Registration Card may be subject to extensive questioning on return to
the country of origin by Immigration Authorities.
EMPLOYMENT
OR STUDY TRAVEL
Contact
the nearest Embassy or Consulate. Nationals of all other countries should contact the nearest Embassy or
Consulate.
CUSTOMS
DUTY FREE ALLOWANCES/ RESTRICTIONS
Applicable ONLY to persons 18 yrs and older:
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Gifts
Tobacco
Liquor
Currency
Cameras
Agriculture
|
No
Duty Free Allowance
200 Cigarettes
1 Bottle
No Restrictions
No Restrictions
Refer To British Consulate
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CURRENCY
The Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) is linked to the US.
One US dollar is worth about EC$2.70.
BANKS
The following banks operate in St Vincent & The Grenadines:
-
Bank
of Nova Scotia
-
CIBC
Caribbean Ltd
-
Caribbean
Banking Corporation Ltd
-
First
St Vincent Bank
-
National
Commercial Bank of St Vincent
-
New
Bank Ltd
-
St
Vincent Co-operative Bank
CREDIT
CARDS
Major credit cards are generally accepted by hotels, some restaurants, and some
stores and car rental companies.
PET
REGULATIONS
Pets from Australia, New Zealand and the UK are allowed into St Vincent and The
Grenadines on presentation of a health certificate to the government veterinary
office. Pets from all other countries require a 6-month quarantine. Pets can
enter Vincentian waters on yachts but must remain onboard at all times unless
the above requirements are met.
HEALTH
AND VACCINATION INFORMATION
Yellow
Fever Vaccination
International Certificate of Vaccination for Yellow Fever is required upon
arrival if traveling from an INFECTED AREA and the traveler is more than 1 year
of age.
Malaria
None
Cholera
None
For
all health requirements and recommendations travelers should check with a local
Department of Health clinic or U.S Department of Health and Human Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). Further information may be
obtained from the CDC Web Site for this Region.
DRIVERS
LICENSE
Visitors need a local drivers permit, (available for a fee of EC$75 - about
US$28) at the Police Station on Bay Street or the Licensing Authority on Halifax
Street. You must have your own drivers permit.
MARRIAGE
LICENSES
Non-nationals wishing to be married in St Vincent must be resident for at least
3 days before a marriage ceremony can take place. A special license is required
from the Ministry of Justice or from the Registrar.
CLIMATE
Temperatures range from: 24C (75F) to 30C (80F)
Dry season: Jan - April
Rainy season: July - October
Average annual rainfall is 80" on the coast and 150" inland.
TELECOMMUNICATIONS
St Vincent and The Grenadines has a modern, fully digital telephone system. The
international area code is 784.
ELECTRICITY
Voltage is 220 volts, 50 Cycles.
SHIPPING
Kingstown has a natural deepwater harbour with a wharf to accommodate 2
oceangoing ships. There are regular services between St Vincent and the major
ports in North America, Europe and the Caribbean. Container parks at Kingstown
and a new container port at Campden Park have been recently completed.
For more information contact the St. Vincent & Grenadines Department of
Tourism:
St.
Vincent & The Grenadines
Department
of Tourism
PO Box 834
Kingstown
St. Vincent
Telephone: 809 457-1502 Fax: 809 457-2610
U.S.A.
Department
of Tourism
801 2nd Avenue
New York
NY 10017
Telephone: 212 687-4981 Fax: 212 949-5946
U.K.
Department
of Tourism
10 Kensington Court
London W8 5DL
Telephone: 071 937-6570 Fax: 071 937-3611
Canada
Department
of Tourism
32 Park Road
Toronto
Ontario M4W 2N4
Telephone: 416 971-9666 Fax: 416 924-5844
Germany
Department
of Tourism
Karibik Pur
Wurmberg Str. 26, D-7032
Sindelfingen
Telephone: 70 31 80 10 33 Fax: 70 31 80 50 12
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St. Vincent and the Grenadines is an independent state with a stable, democratic government. Formerly part of the British colony of the Windward Islands from 1871 to 1969, it became a British Associated State for 10 years prior to full independence in 1979. The governmental system is based on the British system. English, with a unique Vincentian/British accent is spoken throughout the islands.
In 1595, Sir Walter Raleigh visited St. Vincent briefly and came away with the impression that the island was inhabited by cannibals and savages. The Caribs of St. Vincent, living in the densely forested, mountainous interior were able to resist European settlement longer than any other island in the Caribbean, and it was nearly 200 years before any Europeans were able to settle on the islands.
The fascinating blend of African, Indian, Asian and European influences are expressed in the lifestyle of the people; through religion, sport, music, cuisine, arts and crafts. The annual Vincy Mas' carnival is a showcase for the best in calypso singing, steelpan orchestras, soca music and masquerade costumes. Cricket and soccer matches are played and watched with a passion.
