• Visit date: February 05 2025
• The visited post office: Kingstown Post Office, Philatelic Services
• Cost of sending mail: USA, Mexico EC 4.50 (1,6 Eur); Europe, S.America, Asia EC 5.75 (2.05 Eur)
• Postcard availability:  Cruise terminal
• Postcard Delivery Times: 25 days to USA

Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a stunning multi-island state (32 islands and cays) in the Caribbean. What makes it so special is that it consists of the main island of Saint Vincent and a chain of smaller islands known as the Grenadines. To give you an idea of its size, this entire nation is only slightly larger than Malta, but has a population of around 110,000 people, making it quite a unique corner of the world

The Basics Behind the Country’s Postal History

St. Vincent and the Grenadines has a postal history as rich and colorful as its tropical landscapes. The island issued its first postage stamps on May 8, 1861, featuring the portrait of Queen Victoria, a design common among British colonies at the time.

For over a century, St. Vincent’s stamps primarily depicted British monarchs, a tradition that started to shift in the 1970 s as the country moved toward independence. On October 27, 1979, St. Vincent and the Grenadines officially gained independence from the United Kingdom, and this change was soon reflected in its postage.

By the 1980s, St. Vincent and the Grenadines had become a well-known name in the philatelic world, producing thematic stamp series featuring everything from sports legends to Disney characters, trains, and even pop culture icons like Elvis Presley and Star Wars.

On October 1, 2003 the St. Vincent and the Grenadines Postal Corporation (SVG Post) was established. Previously, postal services were run directly by the government, but this shift turned the postal system into a state-owned yet independently managed entity. This change allowed for greater efficiency, financial independence, and modernization of services beyond traditional mail, including logistics and financial services.

Sources: Wikipedia Wikipedia SVG Post

Our Post Office Experience in Saint Vincent

This time, we arrived in Kingstown, the capital of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, by cruise ship. We had been to the country 10 years ago, but at that time, our time in the capital was brief. So, this visit was dedicated entirely to Kingston.

Finding the main post office was surprisingly easy. A few blocks through the bustling streets from the cruise port—left, then uphill a bit—and there it was, just as Google Maps had promised.

As soon as we stepped through the main entrance, security person inquired about our purpose. We explained that we were most interested in the philatelic section. Instead of directing us to the general queue, they led us to another side of the building, through a modest entrance and into a reception area. There, a staff member from the philatelic department, Amanda, came to meet us, unlocking the door to let us into the right section. The walls were covered with stamps, postcards, boxes….

Our request? Once again, we explained that we were not looking for stamps to collect but to send. The postage rates we had found online matched those quoted at the office. The available stamps were neatly arranged in albums by year, with the last two years combined into a single book.

After selecting our stamps and making payment (USD was accepted at a fair exchange rate), the friendly postal worker offered us a table in the same room to write our postcards. We thanked her but decided to leave for now, but made sure we could return later.

Wandering through the streets in search of postcards (many stores labeled as “gift shops” on Google Maps sold everything from underwear to electric fans—but not postcards) was an adventure in itself. Observing local life was fascinating. Though this island nation is physically separated from the world’s largest countries by the ocean, global decisions still reach here. The headline news of the day? A significant number of St. Vincent residents were being deported from the U.S.

When the time came, we knew the philatelic section would soon close, so we returned with our written and stamped postcards. Amanda welcomed us back and even offered to let us stay longer if we weren’t in a rush to leave.

But eventually, it was time to go. One last story, though. As some of you know, I collect responses to an old Estonian joke about the difference between nationalities, hoping to get an answer from every country. Here in St. Vincent, my question was met with an interesting reply from a well-educated local gentleman. He had stopped to check if I was lost and, as it turned out, knew even Estonian history very well. When I asked my usual joke question, he gave an honest answer: he appreciated the question, understood my point, but was unfamiliar with this type of humor and therefore couldn’t provide an answer. He added that a joke should make someone laugh, but this one didn’t make him laugh. A fantastic response for me. Helpful and polite people, just with a different sense of humor.

And so, the time came to leave. Goodbye, St. Vincent, and the tiny islands of the Grenadines. Safe travels to our postcards, now making their way across the world!

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