A view of the jungle on St. Vincent, taken from the beach. The rocks in the foreground are the remains of lava flows from a 1979 eruption of La Soufriere volcano. |
St. Vincent and the Grenadines National Day Message
Press Statement
Hillary Rodham Clinton
Secretary of State
Washington, DC
October 23, 2012
Map Credit: CIA World Factbook. |
Our shared support for democracy, rule of law, and universal human rights remain as strong as ever. We continue to work together to ensure our region's security and economic stability and our citizens’ health and prosperity through such programs as the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative and the President’s Emergency Plan for AIDS Relief. As you gather with friends and family across your "Land of the Blessed" to celebrate this special day, we wish you all a peaceful Independence Day and a successful year ahead.
Locator Credit: U.S. CIA World Factbook. |
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FROM CIA WORLD FACTBOOK
Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on Saint Vincent until 1719. Disputed between France and the United Kingdom for most of the 18th century, the island was ceded to the latter in 1783. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.