What is the history of St Vincent and the Grenadines?
Present-day Saint Vincent was ceded to Great Britain in 1763 and was briefly under French rule from 1779 until 1796. Following a return to British rule, Saint Vincent passed through a variety of stages as a colony and Commonwealth state.
When did slavery start in St. Vincent?
Swiftly in 1764, the British established organised African slavery and a sugar economy; over 55,000 enslaved Africans disembarked in St. Vincent and the Grenadines.
What major event occurred on the island of St Vincent and Grenadine?
The La Soufriere volcano erupted in 1812 and 1902 when much of the island was destroyed and many people were killed. In 1979 it erupted again, this time with no fatalities. In the same year, St Vincent and The Grenadines gained full independence from Britain, while remaining a member of the Commonwealth of Nations.
What was St Vincent and the Grenadines called before?
The indigenous peoples of St Vincent and the Grenadines were the Caribs, whom the region is now named after. They called St Vincent Hairouna, meaning the ‘Land of the Blessed’, which may still today be a fitting description for the wonderful tropical island.
When was St. Vincent and the Grenadines discovered?
January 1498
History of St Vincent and the Grenadines By the time St Vincent was discovered by Christopher Columbus in January 1498, the island had been occupied for nearly 200 years by Carib Indians from South America, who had subjugated the original Arawak Indian inhabitants.
Where did the people of St Vincent come from?
Colonization. Before the time of European contact, Saint Vincent was first inhabited by the Ciboney, who were joined and eventually displaced or conquered by an Arawak people who had originated in Venezuela and settled the West Indies.
Who colonized St Vincent?
British
St. Vincent became a British colony by the Treaty of Paris in 1763 which was the result of the Seven Years War, also known as the French and Indian War on the North American continent. The British called the island’s largest settlement Kingstown and began to develop its port.
When was St Vincent and the Grenadines discovered?
What is St Vincent’s second language?
EnglishSaint Vincent and the Grenadines / Official languageEnglish is a West Germanic language of the Indo-European language family, originally spoken by the inhabitants of early medieval England. Wikipedia
Why is it called Saint Vincent and the Grenadines?
It is thought that Christopher Columbus sighted the island in 1498, giving it the name St Vincent. The indigenous Garifuna people, who became known as the “Black Caribs”, aggressively prevented European settlement on Saint Vincent.
What are St Vincent people called?
Vincentians
The people of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines are formally called Vincentians; colloquially they are known as Vincies or Vincys. The majority of the island’s population is of Afro-Vincentian descent.
What happened in Saint Vincent?
Volcanic eruption leaves ‘entire population’ of Saint Vincent without clean water. Plumes of ash billow from the La Soufrière volcano on the island of St. Vincent and the Grenadines which started erupting on 9th April.