Union Island

Union Island is the southernmost island of the Grenadines belonging to the state of St. Vincent and the Grenadines It is situated 90 kilometers southwest of Barbados and the islands of Carriacou and the mainland of Grenada can be seen to the south.

Clifton and Ashton are the two principal towns. The island is home to approximately 3,000 residents. The official language is English, but French and German are spoken by some merchants in Clifton as well.

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. Airlines flying into Union Island are not IATA members and itineraries will not be visible to more non-regional travel agents - visitors interested in travel to the islands will need to contact the airlines directly or contact a local travel agency. Daytime flights only, as there are no runway lights.

Geography

Due to its volcanic 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.

Union Island has a semi-arid climate – its hills are not high enough to precipitate the rainfall that transforms Grenada's northern coastal areas into rainforest. During the dry season, December/January through June, the only source of water on the island is the water stored during the rainy season (June-December).

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 Nigeria, Cameroon , Angola and Ghana Sea Island Cotton was an important export crop – Sea Island cotton trees may still be found on the island - a good example can be found in the Bougainvillia complex beside the Anchorage Yacht Club in Clifton Harbour.

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.Union Island was the centre of some political unrest in the late 1970s when a group of residents were in favour of secession from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and merger with southern neighbour Grenada. The insurrection was put down by forces of the Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Government.

The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers spent much of a year working on Union Island and competed a new Coast Guard Jetty and shore office at the mouth of Clifton Harbour.

Economy

Today the yacht services business and tourist 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 several hotels and guest houses on Union Island, as well as schools, churches and a small health clinic.

The official currency is Eastern Caribbean (EC), though U.S. dollars and Euros are widely accepted.

Telecommunications services are provided by Cable & Wireless which offers landline and wireless services (GSM); Digicel offers competing wireless services - including the network formerly operated by AT&T Wireless/Cingular. High Speed Internet services provided by Cable and Wireless - typical HS data rates of 512 kbit/s down and 128 kbit/s up. The island is connected to the Saint Vincent mainland by a series of digital microwave towers (through connections to neighbouring islands of Canouan and Bequia).

WiFi services in the harbour are offered through HotHotHot Spot, a service offered in Union through Erika's Marine Services, is also offered in Bequia in the Grenadines, as well as Dominica and Antigua (both Falmouth and English Harbours and Jolly Harbour).

Local piers and docks earn money by renting their open space to tourists who have chartered sailboats or yachts, charging them by boat length.

A featured watering hole is Happy Island, ask for Janti (Ramage) - Happy Island is a man-made island in the middle of Clifton harbour.

Ferry services operate between Clifton and Saint Vincent, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday on the MS Barracouda and the MS Gemstar.Ferry services also operate bi-weekly between Ashton and Hillsborough, Carriacou (Grenada) on Mondays and Thursdays.

Fauna

A recent book by Fr. Mark de Silva & Dianne Wilson on the fauna of Mustique (a neighbouring island) is an excellent reference. [A Natural History of Mustique: A Field Guide to the Common Flora, Fauna and Marine Species, Mustique Company Ltd., 2006}

The picture below is that of a Manicou, a timid rodent-like animal found on Union Island that (usually) can only be seen at the end of the dry season.

Common Caribbean birds like the Bananaquit are found on the island, as is the ubiquitous Blackbird who will be your constant companion if there is food around.

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, including St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church, the Anchorage Yacht Club and hotel, and a small luxury hotel at Bigsand beach in Richmond Bay.

There is a "cruiser's network" operated by volunteers for the yachting community providing information for visiting boaters; the network operates on VHF channel 68, Monday through Saturday, at 09h00. Information given on the cruiser's net includes: local navigational issues, daily weather reports (including hurricane watch), customs and immigration rules and regulations, cultural activities, commercial announcements and other matters raised by Cruiser's Net participants.

A key feature of the Union Island region is the Tobago Cays National Marine Park. The Tobago Cays are a group of small uninhabited islands surrounded by reefs – snorkelling, scuba diving, swimming with the sea turtles are all favourite pastimes of visitors. Entry to the park (for visitors) costs EC$10/person/day – park fees can be paid in Clifton at the Custom's Offices, the Tobago Cays Marine Park office at the waterfront, or in the park itself from park rangers.

The Union Island Sailing Club sponsors two sailing dinghies that participate in local regattae – the Club is trying to help Unionites rediscover the sailing skills of earlier generations. The two boats, Unity One and Unity Two are frequent winners of regional sailing events.

Culture

Easter is a big event on Union Island, festivities take place in both Ashton and Clifton throughout Holy Week in a festival called "Easterval" – book early, accommodations can be hard to find.

In late May, at the end of the dry season (Union is a desert island) a significant event is "the Maroon". The Maroon celebration is a day long affair, beginning before dawn, and lasting late into the night. The Maroon is known for its drums, dancing and plentiful food – these are meant to entice the Gods to bring on the rains.

External links

* [http://www.unionitesunite.com/ Union Island Official Website]
* [http://www.toproadliveradio.com/ Top Road LIVE Radio :: #1 Online Radio Station in Union Island]
* [http://www.erikamarine.com/SightsandSites.html Erika's Marine Services]
* [http://www.bigsandhotel.com/ BigSand Hotel]
* [http://www.tobagocays.com/ Tobago Cays Marine Park official website]
* [http://www.unionisland.com/ St. Joseph's Roman Catholic Church and Union Island general information]