Welcome to the official website of the Government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

"Flowers And Flavours" was the theme under which Governor General, Her Excellency Susan Dougan, hosted her first Horticultural Show at Government House since becoming Governor General of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines.

On Friday, November 8, 2019, students who sat the 2019 examinations for their CSEC, CAPE and Associate Degrees will be presented with the $500.00 gift award for their outstanding performance. To be eligible for the award, CSEC students must have gained five passes (Grades I to III), including Mathematics and English A.

The cooperative Division within the Ministry of National Mobilisation celebrates 40 years of the 'School's Thrift programme' with a week of activities.

The Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture, along with the SVG Tourism Authority and other tourism stakeholders, are proud to be celebrating another Tourism Month in November. The Ministry has put together a diverse program of activities that would span November, and draw attention to the tourism product, its importance, key stakeholders and the 
collective responsibility to the tourism industry. Once again the theme opted for is: “Tourism is everyone’s business. Live it! Love it! Embrace it!”

This is the third year that the Ministry is using this theme, and it is not because of a shortage of ideas. Instead, it is about seeing profit in repeating the premium message that tourism is an industry that cannot thrive without a collective, people-centred approach. Hence, it challenges every Vincentian to take ownership of the industry, and to express that ownership in a personal, caring and responsible way. Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a tourist destination, but it is firstly, our home. We therefore, have a responsibility to be the primary caretakers of our tourism product. We have to ensure that our home is in pristine shape and that we offer impeccable service to visitors when they come.

It is for that reason that we continue to enforce through the SVG Tourism Authority, the tourism service standards that aim for quality development and quality assurance of tourism services. For the upcoming tourism season the SVG Tourism Authority has licensed two hundred (200) taxi operators, forty two (42) tour guides, sixteen (16) tour operators, forty-four (44) accommodation/properties and four (4) short-term vehicle rental operators. This complements the training that has been done for waterfront operators and back-of-house staff, like house-keepers. This is all part of ensuring that we are ready for the commencement of the new tourism season.

The season officially started on 31st October, with the arrival of the Azura cruise ship at Port Kingstown. Tourism Month is celebratory as it is educational, and there are new developments within the industry that warrant celebration. For instance, the government of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and representatives of Marriott International have already signed an agreement for the construction of a two hundred and fifty (250) room hotel at Mt. Wynne. This would be the first luxury brand hotel on mainland Saint Vincent. Another luxury brand would also be debuting in the destination soon. This world renowned luxury brand would arrive in Canouan to take over the Tamarind Beach Hotel, that is currently under renovation.These new luxury brands would add more glamour to SVG’s expanding image as an emerging luxury destination. They would complement existing marque luxury brands like Mandarin Oriental and Sandy Lane on Canouan.


We must also consider the on-going construction of Black Sands Resort at Peter’s Hope and the government’s plan to construct a one hundred and ninety five (195) room Holiday Inn hotel at Diamond. These projects would add much needed rooms to our destination, and would help to sharpen our competitive edge. We must also celebrate Saint Vincent and the Grenadines' success at hosting its first Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), Sustainable Tourism Conference, in August this year. The positive reviews have been encouraging and we look forward to hosting similar events in the future.

Speaking of being proud, one of the new initiatives on this year’s calendar of activities is Vincy Tourism Day, to be observed on Friday 8th November 2019. On this day we are encouraging schools, business places and government offices to create or decorate a physical space to depict local elements of eco-tourism or festival tourism. Eco-tourism is one of our niche markets and the Caribbean Tourism Organization (CTO), has declared 2019 as the Year of Festivals, hence our decision to highlight both on Vincy Tourism Day. Vincy Tourism Day is an opportunity for us to demonstrate our Vincy tourism pride, and we are hoping that this new initiative would be well supported. Festival tourism is a popular means of cultural consumption and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines has a delectable menu of festivals of various tastes and proportions. Vincy Mas continues to be one of the hottest items on the Caribbean summer calendar. Nine Mornings is a Christmas experience like no other. Bequia Music Festival and Mustique Blues fest, are intimate and charming. Bequia Easter Regatta and Easterval on Union Island are balancing revered traditions with “hip” innovation. The breadfruit festival is still in its fledgling stage but is promising. The Garifuna Heritage and Culinary festivals at Fancy and Greiggs, are socio-cultural treats that get better each year; and the plethora of structured sporting, cultural and commercial activities at Independence Anniversary celebrations, may soon be harmonized into a festival of sorts.

I cannot conclude this address without referencing the Renewal at 40 campaign, which has been an effort to elicit and showcase the best of us as a nation. As we go into Tourism Month 2019, and the new tourism season, let us summon the spirit of that campaign. Let us renew our focus and efforts to improve and protect this industry that is so integral to the life of the Vincentian economy. Our tourism product is an object of national pride. Let us demonstrate that pride in thought, conversation and action, throughout November and beyond. Tourism is everyone’s business. Let us live it,love it, embrace it!
 

SOURCE: Ministry of Tourism, Sports and Culture

October 28, 2019, marked forty (40), years since this country established formal diplomatic relations with the Republic of South Korea.