Union Island Information

Information gathered from http://www.answers.com/topic/union-islan

Union Island is the southernmost island of the Grenadines and belongs to the state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines.

Its only towns are Clifton and Ashton, and the island is home to approximately 3,000 residents. The official language is English.

The island has an international airport which has domestic flights to Saint Vincent and some of the Grenadines and international flights to Barbados, Carriacou, Grenada and Martinique.

Geography

Due to its vulcanic silhouette, it is also called the Tahiti of the West Indies. The island is approximately 3 miles long and 1 mile wide. Surrounding islands are Tobago Cays, Mayreau, Palm Island, and Petit Saint Vincent. The highest peak is Mount Parnassus - 900 feet above sea level.

History

After the original settlers, Arawak and Caribs, the Island has been in the possession of French and English slave traders and plantation owners. They brought hundreds of Africans to the island, mostly from Cameroon , Angola and Ghanna . When slavery was abolished, people still relied on farming and fishing. As a result, a lot of men went to sea to work on freighters to support their families.

Economy

Today the day chartering business provides a lot of jobs, there are numerous boutiques and supermarkets, bars and restaurants, internet cafes and a dive operator. There are three hotels on Union Island, as well as schools, churches and a small health clinic. The official currency is Eastern Carribean (EC), though U.S. dollars are widely accepted.

Tourism

The tourism industry plays an increasing role in Union Island's economy. A large number of yachts visit the island each year, often on their way to the nearby Tobago Cays. There are a number of local guest houses, and a small luxury hotel at Bigsand beach in Richmond Bay.