<p>St. Vincent's rugged and mountainous terrain which lay across the whole back side of the Island provided protection for many years from those who wished to colonize it and control the indigenous people who named it "Hairoun" or Land of the Blessed, a name still used today.&nbsp;</p>

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<p>Located north west of Grenada and south of St. Lucia. South Caribbean archipelago comprising of the main Island St. Vincent, plus a chain of 32 smaller islands that include star-studded Mustique, Union, Bequia, Canouan, Palm Island, Mayreau, Petit St. Vincent &nbsp;and many other smaller islets (approx. 600) all of which make up The Grenadines that stretch between St. Vincent and Grenada; as well as &nbsp;home of the famous Tobago Cays known for its diverse ecosystems of undersea life.</p>

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<p>Capital: Kingstown</p>

<p>Language: English&nbsp;</p>

<p>Population: 110, 000 &nbsp; &nbsp;&nbsp;</p>

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<p>&nbsp;Eventually however, control passed back and forth between the French and the English with ongoing rebellion and &nbsp;fierce resistance from the Carib Indians until 1783 when it was ceded to the latter in a treaty. &nbsp;Still the Garifuna Indians (a mix of Western African slaves and Indians, led by Joseph Chattoyer, continued to fight their captors until they were defeated 12 or 13 years later and the survivors were shipped off to Baliceaux (a small island off Bequia) &nbsp;and to islands in the Gulf of Honduras. &nbsp;Today there remains a small community of Indians who live on &nbsp;the eastern coast of St. Vincent in Owia and Sandy Bay. &nbsp;</p>

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<p>Meanwhile plantations producing coffee, indigo, tobacco, cotton and cocoa flourished until full emancipation was declared in the UK. The &nbsp;African slaves, &nbsp;indentured servants from E. India and the Portuguese who were brought in to work the lands were abandoned by the British to fend for themselves. Unprepared and untrained to undertake the responsibilities on hand the economy began to falter, and was further destroyed by 2 disastrous volcano eruptions less than 100 years apart. &nbsp;After much struggle and strife the Island gained full independence in Oct. 1979. &nbsp; Today an international airport has been &nbsp;built with the promise to &nbsp;improve the budding tourism trade.</p>

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<p>Almost 42 years to the day La Soufriere erupted again resulting in great destruction to the north and eastern coastal lying areas, including all of the agricultural farmlands. &nbsp;Approximately 20,000 persons had to be evacuated, but fortunately there was no loss of life. &nbsp;One again the Island finds itself in a state of recovery and reconstruction. &nbsp;</p>