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), represented by Governor General David JACK (since 29 September 1989)
head of government: Prime Minister James F. MITCHELL (since 30 July 1984); Deputy Prime Minister Allan C. CRUICKSHANK (since NA); note - governor general appoints leader of the majority party to position of prime minister
cabinet: Cabinet; 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 10, MNU 2, SVLP 3

Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court

Political parties and leaders: New Democratic Party (NDP), James (Son) MITCHELL; Saint Vincent Labor Party (SVLP), Stanley JOHN; United People's Movement (UPM), Adrian SAUNDERS; Movement for National Unity (MNU), Ralph GONSALVES; National Reform Party (NRP), Joel MIGUEL
Member of: ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, IDA, IFAD, IMF, IMO, INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ITU, LORCS, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO

Diplomatic representation in US:
chief of mission: Ambassador Kingsley C.A. LAYNE
chancery: 1717 Massachusetts Avenue NW, Suite 102, Washington, DC 20036
telephone: (202) 462-7806 or 7846
FAX: (202) 462-7807
US diplomatic representation: no official presence since the Ambassador resides in Bridgetown (Barbados)

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

NOTE: The information regarding Saint Vincent and the Grenadines on this page is re-published from the 1995 World Fact Book of the United States Central Intelligence Agency. No claims are made regarding the accuracy of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Government 1995 information contained here. All suggestions for corrections of any errors about Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Government 1995 should be addressed to the CIA.