Central America and the Caribbean > Saint Vincent and the Grenadines > Government

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Administrative divisions 6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
Capital city	Kingstown
Capital city > Geographic coordinates	13 09 N, 61 14 W
Constitution	27 October 1979
Diplomatic representation in the US > Chief of mission Ambassador La Celia A. PRINCE
Executive branch > Cabinet Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Executive branch > Chief of state Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002)
Flag description three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern
Government type	parliamentary democracy
Independence	27 October 1979 (from UK)
Judicial branch Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (based on Saint Lucia; one judge of the Supreme Court resides in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Legal system based on English common law; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction
Legislative branch unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats, 15 elected representatives and six appointed senators; representatives are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
National holiday Independence Day, 27 October
Political parties and leaders New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]; Unity Labor Party or ULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
Status democracy
Suffrage 18 years of age; universal
Time required to start a business > days	12 days		[155th of 171]
Transnational Issues > Disputes > International joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
United Nations mission http://www.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/2345.htm

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