ertility rate: 2.04 children born/woman (1996 est.)

Nationality:
noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian

Ethnic divisions: African descent, white, East Indian, Carib Indian

Religions: Anglican, Methodist, Roman Catholic, Seventh-Day
Adventist

Languages: English, French patois

Literacy: age 15 and over has ever attended school (1970 est.)
total population: 96%
male: 96%
female: 96%

Government
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Name of country:
conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Data code: VC

Type of government: constitutional monarchy

Capital: Kingstown

Administrative divisions: 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint
Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick

Independence: 27 October 1979 (from UK)

National holiday: Independence Day, 27 October (1979)

Constitution: 27 October 1979

Legal system: based on English common law

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a
hereditary monarch, represented by Governor General David JACK
(since 29 September 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July
1984); the governor general appoints the leader of the majority
party to the position of prime minister; Deputy Prime Minister
Carlyle DOUGAN (since 17 September 1995) was appointed by the
governor general on the advice of the prime minister
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on the advice
of the prime minister

Legislative branch: unicameral
House of Assembly: elections last held 21 February 1994 (next to be
held NA July 1999); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats -
(21 total, 15 elected representatives and 6 appointed senators) NDP
12, ULP 3

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint
Lucia)

Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party (NDP), James
F. MITCHELL; United People's Movement (UPM), Adrian SAUNDERS;
National Reform Party (NRP), Joel MIGUEL; Unity Labor Party
(ULP),Vincent BEACHE - formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent
Labor Party (SVLP) and the Movement for National Unity (MNU)

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB,
ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO,
IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ITU, O