St. George

St. George Parish contains Kingstown, the capital and only significant urban center in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, where government functions, port facilities, and commercial activity concentrate in a city of 25,000. This primate city pattern means St. George dominates a nation of 110,000: the deep-water port handles banana exports (now minimal after the EU access collapse), cruise arrivals, and container traffic supplying the islands. Tourism contributes 28.6% of national GDP, with cruise passengers increasingly important—Kingstown received port upgrades to accommodate larger vessels. Hurricane Beryl (July 2024) caused $230.6 million in damages (22% of GDP) across the nation, affecting port infrastructure. The parish serves as the employment sink drawing workers from northern agricultural parishes facing banana industry decline (from 2.6% of GDP in 2000 to 0.3% by 2010). Argyle International Airport (opened 2017) on the parish's southern edge finally gave direct jet access, though it operates below capacity. With national GDP reaching $1.16 billion (2024) and per capita income of $11,500, St. George represents the economic core of a small island developing state. By 2026, the parish's growth depends on port expansion, continued tourism recovery (already 120% of pre-pandemic levels), and attracting FDI beyond the $74 million achieved in 2023.