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Social Profile
Food & Drink: St Vincent is one of the few islands where good West Indian cuisine can almost always be enjoyed in hotels. Specialities include red snapper, kingfish, lambi (conch), callalou soup, souse (pickled meat or seafood) and sea-moss drink. In addition there is plenty of fresh fruit, vegetables and other seafood on offer. Lobster is available in season.
Vincentian beer and rum, a major ingredient in punch and cocktails, are the local drinks, as are a wide variety of local exotic fruit juices.
Nightlife: Most evening events take place in hotels and it is best to ask at individual hotels for a calendar of events. Nightclubs include the Aquatic club and the recently opened Buccama Club on the Leeward Coast. The Attic in Kingstown features a wide variety of music during the week and live entertainment at weekends. There is one casino on the island, at Peniston, on the Leeward side.
Shopping: Designs on sea-island cottons can be bought and made up into clothes within two or three days at a number of shops. Handicrafts and all varieties of straw-made items, grass rugs and other souvenirs can be bought at a number of workshops and gift shops. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1200 and 1300-1600, Sat 0800-1200.
Special Events: For full details, contact the St Vincent & the Grenadines Tourist Office (see Contact Addresses section). The following is a selection of events held in 2003:
Feb 5-24 St Vincent & the Grenadines Blues Festival. Mar 20 Fête de la Francophonie (international French speaking day), Kingstown. Apr 17-21 Bequia Easter Regatta; ‘Easterval’ (festivities, including boat races and a calypso competition), Union Island. May 1 Canouan Annual Regatta, Canouan. Jun 21 Fête de la Musique (Music Day). Jun 27-Jul 8 Carnival, Kingstown. Oct 27 National Independence Day Celebrations (cultural events to celebrate the country’s 24th year as an independent nation). Dec 1-7 National Tourism Week Celebrations. Dec 16-24 Nine Mornings Festival, Kingstown.
Note: *(a) St Vincent & the Grenadines Carnival (first week in July) is one of the largest in the West Indies and lasts for at least ten days, ending with the Street Parade. The Festival displays the islands’ artistic talents in music, brass bands, steel and calypso bands, costume design, folk dances and calypso dances. The street parades, featuring costumed bands with as many as ten sections, depict scenes from mythology and folklore, as well as contemporary and futuristic themes. A Carnival King and Queen as well as a Calypso King are chosen. The greatest experience is playing mas (participating in one of the costumed bands).
(b) Canouan Annual Regatta – activities include a fishing competition, a cricket match, ‘Greasy Pig’, donkey relay races, a Queen and Calypso competition, crab races and various regattas.
(c) Nine Mornings (December) – nine mornings before Christmas, people parade through the streets of Kingstown long before dawn. The most recent addition to St Vincent’s unique Christmas celebrations are the organised dances held in St Vincent’s dance halls on each of the nine mornings.
Social Conventions: The Vincentians are fun-loving and easy-going people, and the informal and relaxed lifestyle combines many English influences with West Indian. The Saturday market in Kingstown is bustling with life, seemingly involving all islanders. All visitors are made welcome and casual wear is widely acceptable. Refrain, however, from wearing beachwear or mini shorts on the streets or while shopping. Tipping: Ten to 15 per cent service added to the bill. Taxi drivers do not expect tips.
Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.
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