It has a rainy tropical climate influenced by the sea, which is suitable for plantation crops. Saint Vincent is the world’s largest arrowroot producer, used in the manufacture of a type of paper used in electronics. The eruption of La Soufriére in 1979 and Allen hurricane the next year, affected deeply the banana harvest that produces almost 50% of the currency of the country. The economy of the country is dominated by agriculture. The gross national product in 1991 was around 187 million dollars which means a per capita income of about 1.730 dollars.
Rate of recommended retail prices: 100 in 1990; 133 in 1994. Annual growth: 2,3% (1992-2000). Children per women: 2,5 (1992). Daily per capita calorie consumption: 2 460. Life expectancy: 68 years for men and 72 for women. Mortality rate 21,3; Birth rate: 23,9
Industry is very limited. Products include cement, furniture, flour and refined sugar. Tourism is the growing sector.
The economy –that was based on the sugar cane production during centuries- is now in the hands of transnationals which control tourism, banana plantations and the finance in order to compete with Bahamas. It is the world’s leading producer of arrowroot. Bananas are the leading crop. Other important crops are: nutmeg, mace, and coconuts. In the ports the products produced in the region and devoted to the exportation of the region are shipped as bananas, arrowroots, marantas, coconuts and cotton.There are very beautiful beaches that favor the increase of tourism (the Mustique Island is famous as the place visited by the royal family during summer vacation). The arrival of yatchs of private and rich tourists is also very important for tourism. Tourism is concentrated in the Grenadines because it is the greatest attraction for tourists and is aimed mainly to the luxury market.The largest industries are the making of the assembly of electric parts, the manufacture of rackets, and the processing of agricultural products (flour mills, beer industry, rum distillation and the dairy products pasteurization). Electricity is produced by hydrocarbons.
Transports and CommunicationsRailroad tracks: 0 km Roads Total: 1.040 km Paving: 320 km No paving: 720 km (1996) Ports: Kingstown Merchant fleet: 799 crafts (1997) Airports: 6 (1997) Telephones: 6.189 (1993) TV sets: 20.600 (1992) Radios: 76.000 (1992)
