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General
Island name: Canouan (from Carib for "island of turtles").
Country: St. Vincent and the Grenadines (VC).
Nationality: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s).
Language: English, French patois.
Island Capital: Charlestown.
Climate: tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainyseason (May to November).
Geography
Area: 323.0 sq km(150.3 sq miles), St Vincent: 344 sq km (133 sq miles), Grenadines: 45.3sq km (17.3 sq miles).
Coastline: 84 km.
Geographic coordinates: 13 15 N, 61 12 W.
Highest point: Soufriere Vulcano 1,234 m.
Location: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and NorthAtlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago, 160km west of Barbados.
Size: 5 km x 2 km.
Terrain: Canouan is a crescent-shaped island surrounded by wideshallows and coral - a scuba diver's dream.
Tourist Information
Overview: The islanders are mainly fisherman and small farmers.However, with a wealth of excellent beaches and unspoiled scenery, Canouanis attracting significant hotel development. Recently the north of theisland has been sold to a development company which has done much to improvethe infrastructure of Canouan and built the luxury Raffles resort, 18 holegolf course and casino. The airport has been enlarged permitting easy accessto the island by American Eagle.
Accommodation: In the area of Villa and Indian Bay are many smallhotels. Kingstown itself has several hotels, while just outside town, inNew Montrose, there are a number of hotels, apartments and guest houses.
Activities: sailing, diving, snorkeling, swimming, great hiking,and golf.
Average tourist arrivals: 65,000.
Crime: The crime rate in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines ishigh compared to developed countries. Petty street crime occurs in St.Vincent and the Grenadines. From time to time, property has been stolenfrom yachts anchored in the Grenadines.
Electricity: The electricity is generally 220/240 volt, 50 cycle,except for Petit St. Vincent which has 110 volt, 60 cycle. Most hotelshave 110 volt shaver outlets and/or voltage converters for guests, butit's best to bring long your own personal adapter.
Entry Requirements: All visitors must have valid passports includingNationals of the UK, USA and Canada. Visas are required for some Nationalitiesand must be checked locally.
Telephone: country code - 1-784.
Time: During daylight savings time, from April through October,local time is the same as U.S. Eastern Daylight Time, and four hours behindGMT. During the remainder of the year, the islands are five hours behindGMT and one hour ahead of U.S. Eastern Standard Time.
Cost of living: Saint Vincent is one of the cheaper Caribbeanislands, but some of the Grenadine Islands are very expensive.
Credit cards: US and EC dollars are accepted at stores, restaurantsand hotels, as are travellers' cheques and most major credit cards.
Currency: East Caribbean dollar (XCD). East Caribbean dollarsper US dollar - 2.7 (fixed rate since 1976). The U.S. dollar is acceptedpretty much everywhere on the island.
Tipping: Usually a 10 % service charge will be added to yourrestaurant bill. Tipping is expected only for special service. Taxi driversand tour guides expect 10 %.
Transport
Airports: E.T. Joshua International (SVD) in Arnos Vale onlya 10 minute drive from Kingstown. Air connections are available throughPuerto Rico, Barbados, Grenada, Martinique, St. Lucia, and Trinidad. Directflights to Bequia, Canouan, Mustique, Union Island and St. Vincent operatefrom these gateways. Mustique Airways , TIA, and SVG provide shared andprivate charters. Between Barbados and St. Vincent is a scheduled dailyservice from Caribbean Star and Liat.
Departure Tax: Departure tax EC$ 40.00.
Flight Times: Puerto Rico 2 hours, Barbados 40 minutes, Grenada30 minutes, Martinique 40 minutes.
Ferry Service: MV Baracuda operates between St. Vincent and Unionthree times a week with stops at Bequia, Canouan, and Mayreau (a long 5hour and 15 minute trip) In Union Island you can catch a boat to Carriacou,and from there the ferry to Grenada. This trip is one of the best you cando in the Caribbean. There is as well a boat service from St. Vincent toMustique.
Ports and harbors: Kingstown.
Land Transport: taxis, local busses (a van with many seats) orrental cars. Driving is on the left and a drivers license must be obtainedto rent a vehicle.
Politics
Ethnic groups: black 66 %, mixed 19%, East Indian 6 %, CaribAmerindian 2 %, other 7 %.
Government type: constitutional monarchy.
Legal system: based on English common law.
Literacy: 96 % (male: 96 %, female: 96 %).
Religions: Anglican 47 %, Methodist 28%, Roman Catholic 13 %,other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%.
Economy
Agriculture products: bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices;small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish.
GDP per capita: US$ 10,200 (2009 est.).
Industries: food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch.
Natural resources: hydropower, cropland.
Unemployment rate: 15 % (2001 est.).
Radio Frequencies
BBC World Service
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