St Vincent And The Grenadines
ALSO KNOW AS
Jewels of the Caribbean (Named Hairoun by the Caribs (The Home of the Blessed)
LOCATION
St. Vincent is situated in the Windward Islands at the lower end of the Caribbean chain; the Grenadines comprise a chain of little islands and rocks between St Vincent and Grenada. It is volcanic and densely forested.
STATUS
Independent Republic – 27 October 1979
HISTORY
St. Vincent and the Grenadines was originally settled by Amerindians. Struggle for possession by the French and the British ended with the British in control in 1783 (apart from French occupation from 1778-1783). The island gained independence in 1979.
MOTTO
Peace and Justice
CAPITAL
Kingstown
CURRENCY
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$)
AIRPORT
Argyle International Airport
Country Programme Status
Support for the Completion of The Argyle International Airport (AIA)
Support for the completion of the Argyle International Airport (AIA) through a programme of financial assistance totalling US$7.47 million (EC$20.17 million) at the end of 2016 was provided to the International Airport Development Company (IADC) as the executing agency. The assistance comprised an initial concessionary loan of US$2.57 million (EC$6.94 million) and grant of US$1.64 million (EC$4.43 million) to procure trucks, earth moving equipment, a stone crusher plant, and to install runway lighting and base placing equipment for the runway and taxiway of the Argyle International Airport (AIA). An additional US$3.26 million (EC$8.80 million) was approved by the CDF to procure additional paving
equipment. The AIA was officially opened on February 14, 2017.
Establishment of Solar Photovoltaic Farm at the AIA
Establishment of Solar Photovoltaic farm at the AIA. In January 2015, the CDF approved an additional concessionary loan of US$0.75 million (EC$2.02 million) to finance a 300 KVA solar photovoltaic renewable energy plant for the AIA.
Establishment of a Solar Plant
The contract to procure and install the solar plant was signed between the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Electrical Services (VINLEC) and Renova Limited of Canada in October 2017 for US$725,000 (EC$2.02 million). Site preparation and related works were initiated during the reporting period.
