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List of
Banks in the Caribbean
List of Banks in Saint Vincent & Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a
nation in the Lesser Antilles chain, namely in the southern portion of
the Windward Islands, which lie at the southern end of the eastern
border of the Caribbean Sea where the latter meets the Atlantic Ocean.
Its 389-square-kilometre (150 sq mi) territory consists of the main
island of Saint Vincent and the northern two-thirds of the Grenadines,
which are a chain of smaller islands stretching south from Saint Vincent
Island to Grenada. To the north of St. Vincent lies St. Lucia, to the
east Barbados. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is densely populated (over
300 inhabitants/sq km) with its 120,000 people. Its capital is Kingstown,
also its main port. The country has a French and British colonial
history and is now part of the Commonwealth of Nations and CARICOM.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines lies to
the west of Barbados between northern Saint Lucia and southern Grenada
in the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, an island arc of the
Caribbean Sea. The islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines include
the main island of Saint Vincent (344 km2/133 sq mi) and the northern
two-thirds of the Grenadines (45 km2/17 sq mi), which are a chain of
small islands stretching south from Saint Vincent to Grenada.
Bank Of Nova Scotia The
Address: 76 Halifax ST, Kingstown
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 237
Phone: (1-784) 457-1601
Fax: (1-784) 457-2623
Caribbean Banking Corporation Ltd.
Address: 81 South River Rd, Kingstown
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 118
Phone: (1-784) 456-1501
Fax: (1-784) 456-2141
CIBC Caribbean Ltd.
Address: Halifax St, Kingstown
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 212
Phone: (1-784) 457-1587
Fax: (1-784) 457-2873
Devolopment Corp. The
Address: Kingstown
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 841
Phone: (1-784) 457-1358
Fax: (1-784) 457-2838
Eastern caribbean Central Bank
Address: Granby St, Kingstown
Phone: (1-784) 456-1413
Fax: (1-784) 456-1412
European Commerce Bank Ltd.
Address: Stoney Grounds, Kingstown
Phone: (1-784) 456-1460
Fax: (1-784) 456-1455
First St Vincent Bank
Address: Lot 112 Granby St, Kingstown
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 154
Phone: (1-784) 456-1873
Fax: (1-784) 457-2675
FirstCaribbean International Bank Ltd.
Address: Halifax St, Kingstown
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 604
Phone: (1-784) 456-1706
Fax: (1-784) 457-2985
Global Acces Bank Limited
Address: Kingstown Park
Phone: (1-784) 457-0559
Fax: (1-784) 457-0078
Horizon Bank International Limited
Address: The Financial Services Centre, Kingstown Park
Mailing Address: P.O. Box.1823
Phone: (1-784) 457-0447
Fax: (1-784) 457-9388
National Commercial Bank (SVG) Ltd.
Address: Bedford St, Kingstown
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 880
Phone: (1-784) 457-1844
Fax: (1-784) 456-2612
New Bank Ltda.
Address: 16 South River Rd, Kingstown
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 1628
Phone: (1-784) 457-1411
Fax: (1-784) 457-1357
Sovereign Bank Corporation Ltd.
Address: 112 Bonadie St, Kingstown
Phone: (1-784) 485-6508
Fax: (1-784) 485-6509
St Vicent Co-Operative Bank Ltd The
Address: Cnr Long Lane Upper & South River Rd, Kingstown
Mailing Address: P.O. Box 886
Phone: (1-784) 456-1894
Fax: (1-784) 457-2183
Union Credit Bank Ltd.
Address: Stoney Grounds, Kingstown
Phone: (1-784) 456-1267
Fax: (1-784) 456-1450
United Bank Ltd.
Address: Trust House 12 Bonadie, Kingstown
Phone: (1-784) 456-1666
Fax: (1-784) 4856716
Vanilla Direct Bank Ltd.
Address: Hinds Building Grenville St
Phone: (1-784) 485-6840
Fax: (1-784) 485-6351
History
Main article: History of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
The island now known as Saint Vincent was originally named "Hairouna,
The Land Of The Blessed" by the native Caribs. The Caribs aggressively
prevented European settlement on St. Vincent until the 18th century. At
that time, formerly enslaved Africans, who had either been shipwrecked
or who had escaped from Barbados, St. Lucia and Grenada and sought
refuge in mainland St. Vincent, intermarried with the Caribs and became
known as Garifuna or Black Caribs.
Beginning in 1719, French settlers gained control of the island and
began cultivating coffee, tobacco, indigo, cotton, and sugar on
plantations. These plantations were worked by enslaved Africans. In
1763, France ceded control of St. Vincent to Britain. However, France
re-invaded the island in 1779. The French regained control after landing
at Calliaqua, near Fort Duvernette. The British then finally regained St.
Vincent under the Treaties of Versailles (1783). These treaties were
ancillary treaties to the Treaty of Paris (1783), through which Great
Britain officially recognised the end of the American Revolution.
Between 1783 and 1796, there was conflict between the British and the
Black Caribs, who were led by defiant Paramount Chief Joseph Chatoyer.
In 1796 British General Sir Ralph Abercromby put an end to the open
conflict by crushing a revolt which had been fomented by the French
radical Victor Hugues. More than 5,000 Black Caribs were eventually
deported to Roatán, an island off the coast of Honduras.
Slavery was abolished in Saint Vincent 1834. An apprenticeship period
followed which ended in 1838. After its end, labour shortages on the
plantations resulted, and this was initially addressed by the
immigration of indentured servants. In the late 1840s many Portuguese
immigrants arrived from Madeira and between 1861 and 1888 shiploads of
East Indian labourers arrived. Conditions remained harsh for both former
slaves and immigrant agricultural workers, as depressed world sugar
prices kept the economy stagnant until the turn of the century.
From 1763 until its independence in 1979, St. Vincent passed through
various stages of colonial status under the British. A representative
assembly was authorised in 1776, Crown Colony government was installed
in 1877, a legislative council was created in 1925, and universal adult
suffrage was granted in 1951.
During the period of its control of St. Vincent, the British made
several unsuccessful attempts to affiliate the island with other
Windward Islands. This would have simplified Britain's control over the
region through a unified administration. In the 1960s, several regional
islands under British control, including St. Vincent, also made an
independent attempt to unify. The unification was to be called the West
Indies Federation and was driven by a desire to gain freedom from
British rule. The attempt collapsed in 1962.
St. Vincent was granted "associate statehood" status by Britain on
October 27, 1969. This gave St. Vincent complete control over its
internal affairs but was short of full independence. On October 27,
1979, following a referendum under Milton Cato, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines became the last of the Windward Islands to gain independence.
Independence came on the 10th anniversary of St. Vincent's associate
statehood status.
Natural disasters have featured in the country's history. In 1902, La
Soufrière volcano erupted, killing 2,000 people. Much farmland was
damaged, and the economy deteriorated. In April 1979, La Soufrière
erupted again. Although no one was killed, thousands had to be evacuated,
and again there was extensive agricultural damage. In 1980 and 1987,
hurricanes compromised banana and coconut plantations. 1998 and 1999
also saw very active hurricane seasons, with Hurricane Lenny in 1999
causing extensive damage to the west coast of the island.
On November 25, 2009, a referendum was held in which voters were asked
to approve a new constitution, which would make the country a republic,
replacing Queen Elizabeth II as head of state with a President. A
two-thirds majority was required, but it was defeated by 29,019 votes
(55.64 per cent) to 22,493 (43.13 per cent). A celebration was then
held in the country, where over 10,000 people attended a party in the
capital Kingstown.
Politics
Main article: Politics of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a parliamentary democracy and
constitutional monarchy within the Commonwealth of Nations with Queen
Elizabeth II as head of state, bearing the title Queen of Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines. The Queen does not reside in the islands and is
represented in the country by the Governor General of Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines, currently Sir Frederick Ballantyne.
The office of Governor General has mostly ceremonial functions including
the opening of the islands' House of Assembly and the appointment of
various government officials. Control of the government rests with the
elected Prime Minister and his or her cabinet. There is a parliamentary
opposition made of the largest minority stakeholder in general
elections, headed by the leader of the opposition. The current Prime
Minister is the Honourable Dr. Ralph Gonsalves.
The country has no formal armed forces, although the Royal Saint Vincent
and the Grenadines Police Force includes a Special Service Unit.
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are a full & participating member of
the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), ALBA and the Organisation of Eastern
Caribbean States (OECS).
Economy
Main article: Economy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Mustique in the Grenadines.Agriculture, dominated by banana production,
is the most important sector of this lower-middle-income economy. The
services sector, based mostly on a growing tourist industry, is also
important. The government has been relatively unsuccessful at
introducing new industries, and a high unemployment rate of 22%
continues. The continuing dependence on a single crop represents the
biggest obstacle to the islands' development. Tropical storms wiped out
substantial portions of crops in both 1994 and 1995.
The tourism sector has considerable potential for development over the
next decade. The recent filming of the Pirates of the Caribbean movies
on the island has also helped to increase tourism and expose the country
to the wider world. Recent growth has been stimulated by strong activity
in the construction sector and an improvement in tourism.
A further boost is expected to be provided by the new international
airport which is currently under construction. There is a small
manufacturing sector and a small offshore financial sector whose
particularly restrictive secrecy laws have caused some international
concern. In addition, the natives of Bequia are permitted to hunt up to
four Humpback Whales per year under IWC subsistence quotas.
Demographics
Main article: Demographics of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Port Elizabeth, Bequia.The population as established in July 2009 was
104,574. The ethnic composition was 2/3s black people, 1/5 of mixed
descent, 6% East Indian, 4% caucasian (mainly Portuguese), 2% Carib
Amerindian and 3% others according to the CIA handbook de dato October
9, 2008. Most Vincentians are the descendants of African people brought
to the island to work on plantations. There are other ethnic groups such
as Portuguese (from Madeira) and East Indians, both brought in to work
on the plantations after the abolishing of slavery by the British, and
Syrians living on the island. There is also a growing Chinese population
and a sizable minority of mixed race.
St. Vincent has a high rate of emigration. With extremely high
unemployment and underemployment, population growth remains a major
problem.
Languages
Main article: Vincentian Creole
While the official language is English, most Vincentians speak a dialect
known as Vincentian Creole. English is used in education,
government, religion, and other formal domains, while Creole (or
'dialect' as it is referred to by locals) is used in informal situations
such at home and among friends. The various ethnic groups also still use
their native languages such as Portuguese and Bhojpuri.
Sport
See also: Cricket in the West Indies
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines have their own soccer league, namely
the NLA Premier League, and also a national (association) football team.
Notable among Vincentian footballers is Ezra Hendrickson, former
national team captain who played at several Major League Soccer clubs in
the USA and is now an assistant coach at MLS Seattle Sounders FC.
They also have their own national rugby team which are ranked 74th in
the world
Music
Main article: Music of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines music includes big drum, calypso, soca,
steelpan and also reggae. String band music, quadrille and bele music
and traditional storytelling are also popular.
The national anthem of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is "St Vincent
Land So Beautiful", adopted upon independence in 1979; it was written by
Phyllis Joyce McClean Punnett with music by Joel Bertram Miguel.
Communications
In 2005, St. Vincent and the Grenadines had 22,500 telephone land lines.
Its land telephone system is fully automatic and covers the entire
island and all of the inhabited Grenadine islands. In 2004, there were
57,000 mobile phones. There is mobile phone coverage for most of St.
Vincent as well as the Grenadines.
The country has only nine FM radio stations, and one AM station. It has
one television broadcast station and one cable television provider.
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