Yearbook 2008
Saint Vincent and the Grenadines. In July, lawyer Jomo
Thomas launched a new social policy movement called the
People's Movement for Change. In his inaugural speech in the
capital Kingstown, Thomas said that the movement would not
primarily focus on electoral movements, but instead "unite
the people" and "raise people's consciousness" by
participating in the social debate on issues related to
politics, economics, social policy, environment and
development.
According to
Countryaah reports, the Cotonou Agreement was replaced in the autumn with a
new economic agreement, the EPA (Economic Partnership
Agreement), between the EU and Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines. EPA meant that tariffs and import duties on the
EU market were almost completely eliminated for goods from
the Caribbean. At the same time, the agreement meant that
until 2033 Saint Vincent and the Grenadines would gradually
eliminate most of the import duties from the EU.
The ULP declined slightly, but remained the largest party
after the December 2010 election with 51.1% of the vote. The
ULP government could therefore continue.
Along with other Caribbean states, St. Vincent in 2013,
the European colonial states - including Denmark - to pay
compensation for many centuries of slavery. The call was
ignored in Europe.
The ruling United Labor Party regained its majority in
the December 2015 parliamentary elections. Prime Minister
Gonsalves could therefore continue in office.
The country's new international airport, Argyle
International Airport opened in February 2017. Construction
began in 2008 and had cost DKK 240 million.
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