Indo-Vincentian
| Total population | |
|---|---|
| (5,900) | |
| Regions with significant populations | |
|
Kingstown · Calder · Richland Park · Rose Bank · Akers · Park Hill · Georgetown High Wycombe Urban Area, England · New York City, United States · Saint Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands · Canada |
|
| Languages | |
| English (Vincentian Creole) · Indian languages | |
| Religion | |
| Hinduism · Islam · Christianity | |
| Related ethnic groups | |
| Indo-Caribbean · People of Indian origin |
Indo-Vincentians are an ethnic group in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines who are mainly descendants of indentured laborers from India. There are about 5,900 people of Indian origin living in the country.
The French established sugar cane plantations in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines in 18th century using African slave labour. France ceded the colony to the British through the Treat of Versailles in 1783. The arrival of the British also brought many Scottish slave owners to the island. Following the abolition of slavery in British colonies in the West Indies on 1 August 1838, plantation owners in the region sought to find an alternative to African slave labour. The British established Crown Rule in India in 1858. Shortly thereafter, the British began offering Indians contract work in the West Indies. Poor economic conditions in colonial India, which were exacerbated by famines in the 1870s, resulted in many Indians signing up for contracts. The British Indian government required St. Vincent to enact laws regarding terms and conditions of contract service, which were enacted by in 1857. The St. Vincent Legislature also enacted export taxes to fund the acquisition of indentured workers from India. Planters who requested the service of Indian indentured workers were required to pay GBP1,807 towards acquisition costs, while the remaining GBP2,418 was funded through the export taxes and other government revenue. St. Vincent spent more than GBP80,600 to procure Indian workers by 1890. The expenditure had significant financial impact on the colony, and the cost of acquiring indentured workers led to the government neglecting to spend money on infrastructure, health and education.
Per the terms of the contracts offered, the Indian workers would be paid 10 pence per day working on the plantation estate. The indenture period was five years, during which they were required to live on the estate at which they worked and were prohibited from leaving it without permission. They were also barred from traveling to other Caribbean islands even after the end of their indenture period. At the end of the five-year period, Indian workers were required to sign a three-year extension, or pay a fee to exempt them from the extension. Those that agreed to the extension would also receive free housing, medical care and a free return trip to India at the end of the three-year indenture period. The system was intended to ensure that the maximum number of workers extended their contracts. The indenture contracts were amended in 1874 to increase the length of the extension period to five-years. To further persuade Indians to remain on the plantations for as long as possible, a one-time signing fee of GBP10 was also provided to workers who extended their contracts. Around 400 Indians were re-indentured in 1875.
...
Wikipedia