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20-560: Clifton and Ashton are the two principal towns. The island is home to just under 3,000 residents. The official language is English ; however, French and German are spoken by some merchants in Clifton as well. The island has an airport, Union Island Airport , with domestic flights to Saint Vincent and some of the Grenadines , as well as international flights to Barbados , Carriacou , Grenada and Martinique . In July 2024, it

40-516: A festival called "Easterly". In late May, at the end of the dry season, a significant event is "the Maroon", a celebration which is a day-long event 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. Ashton, Union Island Ashton is a town located on Union Island , which

60-617: 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 favor of secession from Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and merger with southern neighbors 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

80-658: A number of bars and restaurants on the island. Chatham Bay, on the west side of the island, is popular for its remote beach and snorkeling. 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. Snorkeling, scuba diving and swimming with sea turtles are offered. The Union Island Sailing Club sponsors two sailing dinghies that participate in local regatta. The culture of Union Island reflects

100-615: A retail and administrative centre of both Carriacou and Petite Martinique . It has a population of approximately 1,000 people. In 1796 there were more sailing vessels in Hillsborough Bay when Sir Ralph Abercromby met there to launch an attack on the Spanish. The town is home to Carriacou National Museum, on Paterson Street, which used to be a cotton gin mill. Today the museum is managed by Carriacou Historical Society. In 2010 there were five government/assisted schools located in

120-573: A small health clinic. The official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD), though U.S. dollars (USD) and euros (EUR) are widely accepted. Telecommunications services are provided by Cable & Wireless, which offers landline and wireless services (GSM). Digicel offers competing for wireless services, including the network formerly operated by AT&T Wireless/Cingular. High-Speed Internet services are provided by Cable and Wireless (512 kbit/s down, 128 kbit/s up). The island

140-407: A year working on Union Island and completed a new Coast Guard Jetty and shore office at the mouth of Clifton Harbor. Today the yacht services business and tourist day-chartering business provide many jobs. There are also numerous boutiques, supermarkets, bars, restaurants, internet cafes and, a dive operator. There are several hotels and guest houses on Union Island, as well as schools, churches and

160-402: Is Mount Taboi, which is 999 feet (304 metres) above sea level. Union Island has a semi-arid climate. Its hills are not high enough to produce the rainfall that transforms Grenada's northern coastal areas into rainforests. During the dry season (December to June), the only source of water on the island is the water stored during the rainy season (June to December). After the original settlers,

180-535: Is a notable reference. The Union Island gecko , discovered in 2005 is endemic to the island and is currently listed as critically endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature . 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,

200-481: Is also offered by The Internet Cafe — Clifton. Local piers and docks earn money by renting their open space to tourists who have chartered sailboats or yachts, charging them by boat length. In the middle of Clifton harbour sits Happy Island, a man-made island featuring a bar. Ferry services operate between Clifton and Saint Vincent, Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Friday and Saturday on the MS Barracouda and

220-431: Is another reflection of its culture. The island offers a delectable array of dishes influenced by African, Indian, and Creole culinary traditions. Fresh seafood, tropical fruits, and locally sourced ingredients are often incorporated into traditional recipes, creating flavorful and distinctive meals. Easter is one of the biggest events on Union Island. Festivities take place in both Ashton and Clifton throughout Holy Week in

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240-595: Is connected to the Saint Vincent mainland by a series of digital microwave towers (through connections to neighboring islands of Canouan and Bequia). Wi-Fi service in the harbor is offered through Internet Cafe-Clifton. Also through Hohhot Spot, a service offered in Union through Erika's Marine Services, which is also offered in Bequia in the Grenadines, as well as Dominica and Antigua (both Falmouth and English Harbours and Jolly Harbour). Other computer and electronic support

260-433: Is part of the Grenadines island chain of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines , located on the island's south coast. It has a Köppen climate classification code of Af . This Saint Vincent and the Grenadines location article is a stub . You can help Misplaced Pages by expanding it . Hillsborough, Carriacou Hillsborough is the largest town (city) on the island of Carriacou , Grenada . The town serves primarily as

280-452: The 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 regions of Africa that are now Nigeria , Cameroon , Angola , and Ghana . Sea island cotton was an important export crop. When slavery was abolished, people still relied on farming and fishing. As a result,

300-712: The Anchorage Yacht Club, and a small hotel at the Bougainville in Clifton. Turtle watching is conducted by the Union Island Environmental Attackers (UIEA), an environmental non-governmental organization seeking to preserve Union Island. Turtle watching occurs during the Turtle Closed Season (March 1 to July 31), during which time catching or killing of turtles for consumption is forbidden. There are also

320-587: The Hillsborough area. Education is free and compulsory up to the age of 16. There are also several tertiary institutions in Hillsborough. Hurricane Berylmade landfall there. The port in Hillsborough is the main one on the island. The port also operate the ferry service between Grenada and Petite Martinique and also to other Grenadine islands. All of the banks on Carriacou are situated on Hillsborough's Main Street. The island's airport, Lauriston Airport ,

340-466: The MS Gemstar. Ferry services also operate bi-weekly between Ashton and Hillsborough, Carriacou (Grenada) on Mondays and Thursdays. The common opossum , locally known as "manicou", can usually be seen only at the end of the dry season. Common Caribbean birds like the bananaquit are found on the island, as is the ubiquitous blackbird. A 2006 book on the fauna of Mustique , a neighboring island,

360-470: The island. Music plays a significant role in local celebrations, festivals, and social gatherings, providing a rhythmic backdrop to daily life. Carnival is a highly anticipated event on Union Island. The festival takes place annually and involves vibrant parades, lively music, and traditional dance performances. The Carnival season is an opportunity for locals and visitors alike to come together and celebrate with joy and enthusiasm. The cuisine of Union Island

380-497: The vibrant and laid-back atmosphere of the Caribbean. The island is home to a diverse population, including descendants of African slaves, indigenous Caribs, and people of European and East Indian descent. This multicultural mix has shaped the unique cultural fabric of Union Island. One of the most prominent aspects of Union Island's culture is its music. Calypso, reggae, and soca music are popular genres that can be heard throughout

400-569: Was devastated by Hurricane Beryl , an extremely powerful hurricane, leaving majority of the island’s residents homeless and most of its infrastructure in ruins. Due to its volcanic silhouette, it is also called the Tahiti of the West Indies . The island is approximately three miles (4.8 kilometres) long and one mile (1.6 kilometres) wide. Surrounding islands are Tobago Cays , Mayreau , Palm Island , and Petit Saint Vincent . The highest peak

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