by Governor General Sir Charles ANTROBUS (since NA)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is
appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of
the majority party is usually appointed prime minister by the governor
general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the
advice of the prime minister cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor
general on the advice of the prime minister head of government: Prime
Minister Ralph GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001)

Legislative branch: unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected
representatives and 6 appointed senators; representatives are elected by
popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
election results: last held 28 March 2001 (next to be held by March 2006)

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint
Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent and
the Grenadines)

Political parties and leaders: National Reform Party or NRP [Joel
MIGUEL]; New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; People's
Progressive Movement or PPM [Ken BOYEA]; Progressive Labor Party or PLP
[leader NA]; United People's Movement or UPM [Adrian SAUNDERS]; Unity
Labor Party or ULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint
Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)

Political pressure groups and leaders: NA

International organization participation: ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC,
FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
Interpol, IOC, ITU, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW (signatory), UN, UNCTAD,
UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WTrO

Diplomatic representation in the US: chief of mission: Ambassador
Ellsworth I. A. JOHN chancery: 3216 New
[1] (202) 364-6730 FAX:
Diplomatic representation from the US: the US does not have an embassy
in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador in Barbados is
accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Flag description: three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold
(double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds
arranged in a V pattern

Economy Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

Economy - overview: Bananas and other agricultural products remain
the staple of this lower-middle income country's economy. Although
tourism and other services have been growing moderately in recent
years, the government has been ineffec