Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines
 

1762 - 1877   1877 - 1907   1907 - 1 Jan 1940   1 Jan 1940 - 3 Jan 1958 Windward Islands   3 Jan 1958 - 27 Oct 1979   27 Oct 1979 - Mar 1985   Mar 1985 - 22 Oct 1985 Adopted 22 Oct 1985   Map of St. Vincent and the Grenadines Hear National Anthem "St. Vincent! Land So Beautiful" Text of National Anthem Adopted 1969 Constitution (27 Oct 1979) Capital: Kingstown  Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)  National Holiday: 27 Oct (1979) Independence Day Population: 101,844 (2018) GDP: $1.26 billion (2017) Exports: $48.6 million (2017) Imports: $295.9 million (2017) Ethnic groups: African descent 71.2%, mixed 23%, indigenous 3%,  East Indian/Indian 1.1%, European 1.5%, other 0.2% (2012) Total Police and Paramilitary Forces: 691 (2012) Merchant marine: 810 ships (2018) Religions: Protestant 75% (Pentecostal 27.6%, Anglican 13.9%,  Seventh Day Adventist 11.6%,  Baptist 8.9%, Methodist 8.7%,  Evangelical 3.8%, Salvation Army 0.3%, Presbyterian/ Congregational 0.3%), Roman Catholic 6.3%,  Rastafarian 1.1%,  Jehovah's Witness 0.8%, other 4.7%, none 7.5%, unspecified 4.7% (2012) International Organizations/Treaties: ACP, ACS, ALBA, AOSIS, APM, C, Caricom, CCM, CDB, CELAC, CTBT, CWC, ECCB, ECCU, ENMOD, ESCR, FAO, G-77, IAEA, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, ICSID, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, IPU, IRENA, ISA, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, NPT, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, OST, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCLOS, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNFCC, UNFCC-KP, UNFCC-PA, UNHCR, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO (observer), WTO Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Chronology 22 Jan 1499                Sighted and claimed for Spain by Christopher                              Columbus, named Isla de San Vicente de Zaragoza. 1499                       Saint Vincent likely sighted by an expedition led                              by Alonso de Ojeda, Juan de la Cosa and Amerigo                              Vespucci, but not settled.  2 Jul 1627                Granted to James, Earl of Carlisle by King Charles I                              of England (as part of the Islands of Carlisle                              Province, also called Carliola); no settlement. 1672                       Claimed by England, unsettled. 1673 - 1762                Neutral territory (as agreed by England                              and France). c.1700                     French settlers arrive (Saint-Vincent). Feb 1762                   British occupation. 10 Feb 1763                British colony (subordinated to Grenada). 17 Feb 1773                British Peace Treaty with the Caribs (see below). 16 Jun 1779 -  1 Jan 1784  French occupation.  3 Sep 1783                Ceded to British by France (hand over 1 Jan 1784).  1 Apr 1833 -  1 Jan 1960  Part of the Windward Islands (see Grenada). 1877                       British crown colony.  3 Jan 1958 - 31 May 1962  Part of the Federation of the West Indies                               (see Trinidad and Tobago). 27 Oct 1969 - 27 Oct 1979  Associated state 27 Oct 1979                Independence (Saint Vincent and the Grenadines). 25 Nov 2009                Republican constitution defeated in referendum                              55.6%-43.1% Caribs (1773-1796)

French commandants
1745 - 1761                Prévost
1761 - 176.                Dupont
Governors
1762                       Robert Monckton                    (b. 1726 - d. 1782)
1762 - 1763                Robert Melville                    (b. 1723 - d. 1809)
1763 - 1776                the governors of South Caribbean
                           Islands (see under Grenada)
Lieutenant governors
1763 - 1764                George Maddison                    (b. 1729 - d. 1806)
1764 - 1766                Joseph Higginson
1766                       Lauchlin MacLeane                  (b. 1728/9 - d. 1778)
 2 Dec 1766 - 21 Aug 1772  Ulysses FitzMaurice                (b. 1744 - d. 1772)
1772 - 1776                Valentine Morris                   (b. 1727 - d. 1789)
Governors
17 Jul 1776 - 16 Jun 1779  Valentine Morris                   (s.a.)
16 Jun 1779 - 21 Jun 1779  Charles Marie de Trolong du        (b. 1743 - d. 1780)
                             Rumain (French commander)
1779                       Marie Charles, marquis du Chilleau (b. 1734 - d. 1794)
1779 - Dec 1780            Antoine Dumontet
 5 Dec 1780 - May 1781     Philibert François Rouxel de       (b. 1733 - d. 1793)
                             Blanchelande
May 1781 - Mar 1782        Jean-Baptiste Vigoureux Duplessis  (b. 1735 - d. 1825)
Mar 1782 - 21 Sep 1782     Pierre Jean-François de Feydeau    (b. 1735 - d. 1782)
                             (interim)
Nov 1782 -  1 Jan 1784     Édouard Hilaire Louis de Tilly     (b. 1738 - d. 1785)
 1 Jan 1784 - 23 Nov 1786  Edmund Lincoln                     (d. 1786)
                             (acting to 4 Feb 1784)
23 Nov 1786 - 16 Jul 1787  Robert Wynne (acting)              (d. 1795)
16 Jul 1787 -  2 Mar 1798  James Seton                        (b. 1726 - d. 1802)
 2 Mar 1798 - 27 Apr 1799  William Bentinck                   (b. 1764 - d. 1813)
27 Apr 1799 - 11 Jun 1802  Drewry Ottley (1st time)(acting)   (b. 1754 - d. 1805)
11 Jun 1802 - 29 Mar 1805  Henry William Bentinck             (b. 1765 - d. 1820)
29 Mar 1805 -  3 Jul 1805  Sir George Beckwith (1st time)     (b. 1753 - d. 1823)
 3 Jul 1805 - 17 Sep 1805  Drewry Ottley (2nd time)(acting)   (s.a.)
17 Sep 1805 - Apr 1806     Robert Paul (1st time)(acting)     (b. 1775? - d. 1826)
Apr 1806 - 31 Oct 1807     Sir George Beckwith (2nd time)     (s.a.)
31 Oct 1807 - 1807         Robert Paul (2nd time)(acting)     (s.a.)
1807 - 13 Nov 1808         Sir George Beckwith (3rd time)     (s.a.)
13 Nov 1808 - 23 Feb 1809  Robert Paul (3rd time)(acting)     (s.a.)
23 Feb 1809 - 1810         Charles Brisbane (1st time)        (b. 1769 - d. 1829)
20 Jul 1810 -  7 Aug 1812  Robert Paul (4th time)(acting)     (s.a.)
 7 Aug 1812 - 1816         Charles Brisbane (2nd time)        (s.a.)
14 Jul 1816 - 22 Dec 1817  Robert Paul (5th time)(acting)     (s.a.)       
22 Dec 1817 - 15 Nov 1829  Charles Brisbane (3rd time)        (s.a.)
15 Nov 1829 - 12 Jan 1831  William John Struth (acting)       (b. 1763 - d. 1850) 
12 Jan 1831 - 1833         George Fitzgerald Hill             (b. 1763 - d. 1839)
13 Apr 1833 -  4 May 1833  James Grant (acting)
Lieutenant governors
 4 May 1833 - 1842         Sir George Tyler                   (b. 1795 - d. 1862)
 3 Jan 1842 - 1844         Sir Richard Doherty                (b. 1785 - d. 1862)
26 Apr 1844 - 11 Oct 1845  William John Struth (acting)       (b. 1763 - d. 1850)
11 Oct 1845 - 1853         John Campbell                      (b. 1807 - d. 1853)
10 Jan 1853 - 1854         Richard Graves MacDonell           (b. 1814 - d. 1881)
25 Oct 1854 - 1854         William Laborde (1st time)(acting)
29 Dec 1854 - 1857         Edward John Eyre (1st time)        (b. 1815 - d. 1901)
24 Mar 1857 -  7 May 1857  William Laborde (2nd time)(acting)
 7 May 1857 - 26 Dec 1857  James Walker (acting)              (b. 1809 - d. 1885)
26 Dec 1857 - 12 Jan 1858  William Laborde (3rd time)(acting)
12 Jan 1858 - 24 Jan 1858  Alexander McLeod (1st time)(acting)(b. 1789 - d. 1861)
24 Jan 1858 - 28 Apr 1859  Edward John Eyre (2nd time)        (s.a.)
28 Apr 1859 -  9 May 1859  Alexander McLeod (2nd time)(acting)(s.a)
 9 May 1859 -  9 May 1860  William Charles Sargeaunt (acting) (b. 1829 - d. 1888)  
 9 May 1860 - 20 May 1861  Charles Rogers Nesbitt (acting)    (b. 1799 - d. 1876)
20 May 1861 - 1864         Anthony Musgrave (1st time)        (b. 1828 - d. 1888)
                             (acting to 10 May 1862)
 9 Feb 1864 - 1864         John James Hughes (1st time)(acting)
 9 Mar 1864 - 1864         Anthony Musgrave (2nd time)        (s.a.)
25 Jun 1864 - 1864         John James Hughes (2nd time)(acting)
 6 Sep 1864 - 1871         George Berkeley                    (b. 1819 - d. 1905)
 3 Jun 1871 - 18 Sep 1874  William Hepburn Rennie             (b. 1829 - d. 1874)
 2 Jul 1872 -  2 May 1874  Edward Laborde (acting for Rennie)
 2 May 1874 - 26 Oct 1874  Augustus Frederick Gore (1st time) (b. 1826 - d. 1887)
                             (acting)
26 Oct 1874 - 1880         George Dundas                      (b. 1819 - d. 1880)
28 May 1878 - 21 Mar 1879  Edward Daniel Laborde              (b. 1826 - d. 1898)
                             (acting for Dundas) 
10 Jul 1880 - 1885         Augustus Frederick Gore (2nd time) (s.a.)
May 1885 - Mar 1888        George Chardin Denton              (b. 1851 - d. 1928)    
Administrators
16 Apr 1888 - 1889         Robert Baxter Llewelyn             (b. 1845 - d. 1919)
11 Jul 1889 - 1893         Irwin Charles Maling               (b. 1841 - d. 1918)
 4 Jul 1893 - 1895         John Hartley Sandwith              (b. 1846 - d. 1895)
12 Mar 1895 - 1900         Harry Langhorne Thompson           (b. 1857 - d. 1902)
                             (from 23 May 1900, Sir Harry Langhorne Thompson)
1900 - Apr 1901            Edward Rawle Drayton (acting)      (b. 1859 - d. 1927)
14 May 1901 - 1909         Edward John Cameron                (b. 1858 - d. 1947)
Jun 1904 - Dec 1904        Edward Daniel Laborde              (b. 1863 - d. 19..)
                             (acting for Cameron)
24 Jan 1909 -  6 Feb 1909  Anthony De Freitas                 (b. 1869 - d. 1940)
                             (acting for Cameron)
27 May 1909 - 1915         Charles Gideon Murray              (b. 1877 - d. 1951)
1915                       Anthony De Freitas (acting)        (s.a.)
 8 Jun 1915 - 1923         Reginald Popham Lobb               (b. 1874 - d. 1950)
13 Apr 1923 - 1929         Robert Walter                      (b. 1873? - d. 1959)
 3 Apr 1929 -  3 May 1933  Herbert Walter Peebles             (b. 1877 - d. 1955)
 3 May 1933 -  6 Jul 1933  J.H. Ottaway (acting)
 6 Jul 1933 - 1936         Arthur Francis Grimble             (b. 1888 - d. 1956)
10 Jun 1936 - 1938         Arthur Alban Wright                (b. 1887 - d. 1967)
 2 Jul 1938 - 1941         William Bain Gray                  (b. 1886 - d. 1949)
19 Nov 1941 - 1943         Alexander Elder Beattie            (b. 1888 - d. 1951)
23 Dec 1973 - 1948         Ronald Herbert Garvey              (b. 1903 - d. 1991)
1949 - 1955                Walter Fleming Coutts              (b. 1912 - d. 1988)
14 Jan 1953 - 1953         Cyprian Bernard Gibbs              (b. 1910 - d. 2016)
                             (acting for Coutts)
29 Jul 1955 - 1961         Alexander Falconer Giles           (b. 1915 - d. 1989)
1961 - 1966                Samuel Horatio Graham              (b. 1912 - d. 1999)
                             (from 23 Oct 1964, Sir Samuel Horatio Graham)
17 May 1966 - Jan 1967     John Lionel Chapman                (b. 1910 - d. 1997)
 4 Jan 1967 - 27 Oct 1969  Hywel George                       (b. 1924)
Governors
27 Oct 1969 - Oct 1970     Hywel George                       (s.a.)
20 Oct 1970 - Jan 1977     Rupert Godfrey John                (b. 1916 - d. 1996)
                             (from 7 Jul 1971, Sir Rupert Godfrey John) 
 1 Jan 1977 - 27 Oct 1979  Sydney Douglas Gun-Munro           (b. 1916 - d. 2007)
                             (from 11 Jun 1977, Sir Sydney Douglas Gun-Munro) 
King/Queen¹ 
27 Oct 1979 -              the King/Queen of the United Kingdom
Governors-general (representing the British monarch as head of state)
27 Oct 1979 - 28 Feb 1985  Sir Sydney Douglas Gun-Munro       (s.a.)
28 Feb 1985 - 29 Feb 1988  Joseph Lambert Eustace             (b. 1908 - d. 1996)
                             (from 30 Jul 1985, Sir Joseph Lambert Eustace) 
29 Feb 1988 - 20 Sep 1989  Henry Harvey Williams (acting)     (b. 1917 - d. 2004)
20 Sep 1989 -  1 Jun 1996  David Emmanuel Jack                (b. 1918 - d. 1998)
                             (from 22 Jan 1991, Sir David Emmanuel Jack)
 1 Jun 1996 -  3 Jun 2002  Charles James Antrobus             (b. 1933 - d. 2002)
                             (from 16 Oct 1996, Sir Charles James Antrobus)
 3 Jun 2002 -  2 Sep 2002  Monica Jessie Dacon (f) (acting)   (b. 1934)
 2 Sep 2002 - 31 Jul 2019  Frederick Nathaniel Ballantyne     (b. 1936 - d. 2020)
                             (from 30 Oct 2002, Sir Frederick Nathaniel Ballantyne)
 1 Aug 2019 -              Susan Dilys Dougan (f)             (b. 1955)
                             (from 30 Mar 2020, Dame Susan Dilys Dougan)

Chief ministers
1956 - 19 May 1967         Ebenezer Theodore Joshua           (b. 1908 - d. 1991)  PPP
19 May 1967 - 27 Oct 1969  Robert Milton Cato                 (b. 1915 - d. 1997)  SVLP
Premiers
27 Oct 1969 - 14 Apr 1972  Robert Milton Cato (1st time)      (s.a.)               SVLP
14 Apr 1972 -  8 Dec 1974  James Fitz-Allen Mitchell          (b. 1931 - d. 2021)  Ind
                             (1st time) 
 8 Dec 1974 - 27 Oct 1979  Robert Milton Cato (2nd time)      (s.a.)               SVLP
Prime ministers
27 Oct 1979 - 30 Jul 1984  Robert Milton Cato                 (s.a.)               SVLP
30 Jul 1984 - 27 Oct 2000  James Fitz-Allen Mitchell          (s.a.)               NDP
                             (from 31 Dec 1994, Sir James Fitz-Allen Mitchell)
                             (2nd time)
27 Oct 2000 - 29 Mar 2001  Arnhim Ulric Eustace               (b. 1944)            NDP
29 Mar 2001 -              Ralph Everard Gonsalves            (b. 1946)            ULP

  ¹Full style:
(a) 27 Oct 1979 - 1979: "By the Grace of God, of the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland and of Her other Realms and Territories Queen, Head of The Commonwealth, Defender of the Faith";
(b) 1979 - 8 Sep 2022: "By the Grace of God, Queen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
and of Her other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth";
(c) from 8 Sep 2022: "By the Grace of God, King of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth."

Territorial Dispute: Joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under the United Nations Convention on Law of the Sea (UNCLOS), which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the Caribbean Sea.

Party abbreviations: NDP = New Democratic Party (conservative, est.1975); ULP = Unity Labour Party (democratic socialist, est.1994); Ind = Independent;
- Former parties: PPP = People's Political Party (anti-independence, 1952-1984); SVLP = Saint Vincent Labour Party (social-democratic, 1955-1994, merged into ULP)