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Central America and Caribbean :: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines

- ## Introduction :: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

- Background:
  Resistance by native Caribs prevented colonization on Saint Vincent until 1719. Disputed between France and the United Kingdom for most of the 18th century, the island was ceded to the latter in 1783. Between 1960 and 1962, Saint Vincent and the Grenadines was a separate administrative unit of the Federation of the West Indies. Autonomy was granted in 1969 and independence in 1979.

- ## Geography :: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

- Location:
  Caribbean, islands between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
  Geographic coordinates:
  13 15 N, 61 12 W
  Map references:
  Central America and the Caribbean
  Area:
  total: 389 sq km (Saint Vincent 344 sq km)
  land: 389 sq km
  water: 0 sq km
  country comparison to the world: 204
  Area - comparative:
  twice the size of Washington, DC
  Land boundaries:
  0 km
  Coastline:
  84 km
  Maritime claims:
  territorial sea: 12 nm
  contiguous zone: 24 nm
  exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
  continental shelf: 200 nm
  Climate:
  tropical; little seasonal temperature variation; rainy season (May to November)
  Terrain:
  volcanic, mountainous
  Elevation extremes:
  lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
  highest point: La Soufriere 1,234 m
  Natural resources:
  hydropower, arable land
  Land use:
  agricultural land: 25.6%
  arable land 12.8%; permanent crops 7.7%; permanent pasture 5.1%
  forest: 68.7%
  other: 5.7% (2011 est.)
  Irrigated land:
  10 sq km (2003)
  Freshwater withdrawal (domestic/industrial/agricultural):
  total: 0.01 cu km/yr
  per capita: 92.59 cu m/yr (1995)
  Natural hazards:
  hurricanes; Soufriere volcano on the island of Saint Vincent is a constant threat
  Environment - current issues:
  pollution of coastal waters and shorelines from discharges by pleasure yachts and other effluents; in some areas, pollution is severe enough to make swimming prohibitive
  Environment - international agreements:
  party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Whaling
  signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
  Geography - note:
  the administration of the islands of the Grenadines group is divided between Saint Vincent and the Grenadines and Grenada; Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is comprised of 32 islands and cays

- ## People and Society :: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

- Nationality:
  noun: Saint Vincentian(s) or Vincentian(s)
  adjective: Saint Vincentian or Vincentian
  Ethnic groups:
  black 66%, mixed 19%, East Indian 6%, European 4%, Carib Amerindian 2%, other 3%
  Languages:
  English, French patois
  Religions:
  Protestant 75% (Anglican 47%, Methodist 28%), Roman Catholic 13%, other (includes Hindu, Seventh-Day Adventist, other Protestant) 12%
  Population:
  102,627 (July 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Age structure:
  0-14 years: 22.31% (male 11,548/female 11,351)
  15-24 years: 16.49% (male 8,537/female 8,384)
  25-54 years: 42.66% (male 22,742/female 21,034)
  55-64 years: 9.73% (male 5,124/female 4,864)
  65 years and over: 8.81% (male 4,203/female 4,840) (2015 est.)
  population pyramid:
  Dependency ratios:
  total dependency ratio: 46.8%
  youth dependency ratio: 36.6%
  elderly dependency ratio: 10.5%
  potential support ratio: 9.5% (2015 est.)
  Median age:
  total: 32.5 years
  male: 32.6 years
  female: 32.3 years (2015 est.)
  Population growth rate:
  -0.28% (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 218
  Birth rate:
  13.57 births/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 146
  Death rate:
  7.18 deaths/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 124
  Net migration rate:
  -9.17 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 213
  Urbanization:
  urban population: 50.6% of total population (2015)
  rate of urbanization: 0.72% annual rate of change (2010-15 est.)
  Major urban areas - population:
  KINGSTOWN (capital) 27,000 (2014)
  Sex ratio:
  at birth: 1.03 male(s)/female
  0-14 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  15-24 years: 1.02 male(s)/female
  25-54 years: 1.08 male(s)/female
  55-64 years: 1.05 male(s)/female
  65 years and over: 0.87 male(s)/female
  total population: 1.03 male(s)/female (2015 est.)
  Maternal mortality rate:
  45 deaths/100,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 109
  Infant mortality rate:
  total: 12.69 deaths/1,000 live births
  male: 13.83 deaths/1,000 live births
  female: 11.52 deaths/1,000 live births (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 119
  Life expectancy at birth:
  total population: 75.09 years
  male: 73.11 years
  female: 77.13 years (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 107
  Total fertility rate:
  1.82 children born/woman (2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Health expenditures:
  5.2% of GDP (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 136
  Hospital bed density:
  5.2 beds/1,000 population (2012)
  Drinking water source:
  improved:
  urban: 95.1% of population
  rural: 95.1% of population
  total: 95.1% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 4.9% of population
  rural: 4.9% of population
  total: 4.9% of population (2015 est.)
  Sanitation facility access:
  improved:
  urban: 76.1% of population
  rural: 76.1% of population
  total: 76.1% of population
  unimproved:
  urban: 23.9% of population
  rural: 23.9% of population
  total: 23.9% of population (2007 est.)
  HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:
  NA
  HIV/AIDS - deaths:
  NA
  Obesity - adult prevalence rate:
  24.1% (2014)
  country comparison to the world: 75
  Education expenditures:
  5.1% of GDP (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 69
  Unemployment, youth ages 15-24:
  total: 33.8%
  male: 27.8%
  female: 41.4% (2008 est.)

- ## Government :: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

- Country name:
  conventional long form: none
  conventional short form: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  Government type:
  parliamentary democracy and a Commonwealth realm
  Capital:
  name: Kingstown
  geographic coordinates: 13 08 N, 61 13 W
  time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
  Administrative divisions:
  6 parishes; Charlotte, Grenadines, Saint Andrew, Saint David, Saint George, Saint Patrick
  Independence:
  27 October 1979 (from the UK)
  National holiday:
  Independence Day, 27 October (1979)
  Constitution:
  several previous; latest passed by the House of Assembly 3 September 2009 (The Saint Vincent and The Grenadines Constitution Act, 2009) (2015)
  Legal system:
  English common law
  International law organization participation:
  has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction
  Citizenship:
  citizenship by birth: yes
  citizenship by descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  dual citizenship recognized: yes
  residency requirement for naturalization: 7 years
  Suffrage:
  18 years of age; universal
  Executive branch:
  chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Sir Fredrick Nathaniel BALLANTYNE (since 2 September 2002)
  head of government: Prime Minister Ralph E. GONSALVES (since 29 March 2001)
  cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
  elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
  Legislative branch:
  description: unicameral House of Assembly (21 seats; 15 members directly elected in single-seat constituencies by simple majority vote and 6 appointed by the governor general; members serve 5-year terms)
  elections: last held on 9 December 2015 (next to be held in 2020)
  election results: percent of vote by party - ULP 52.3%, NDP 47.4%, other 0.3%; seats by party - ULP 8, NDP 7
  Judicial branch:
  highest court(s): the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (ECSC) is the itinerant superior court of record for the 9-member Organization of Eastern Caribbean States to include Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the ECSC - with its headquarters on Saint Lucia - is headed by the chief justice and is comprised of the Court of Appeal with 3 justices and the High Court with 16 judges; sittings of the Court of Appeal and High Court rotate among the member states; 2 High Court judges reside on Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; note - Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a member of the Caribbean Court of Justice
  judge selection and term of office: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court chief justice appointed by Her Majesty, Queen ELIZABETH II; other justices and judges appointed by the Judicial and Legal Services Commission; Court of Appeal justices appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 65; High Court judges appointed for life with mandatory retirement at age 62
  subordinate courts: magistrates' courts
  Political parties and leaders:
  Democratic Republican Party or DRP [Anesia BAPTISTE]
  New Democratic Party or NDP [Arnhim EUSTACE]
  Unity Labor Party or ULP [Ralph GONSALVES] (formed by the coalition of Saint Vincent Labor Party or SVLP and the Movement for National Unity or MNU)
  SVG Green Party or SVGP [Ivan O'NEAL]
  Political pressure groups and leaders:
  NA
  International organization participation:
  ACP, AOSIS, C, Caricom, CDB, CELAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, IOM, ISO (subscriber), ITU, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, Petrocaribe, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WFTU (NGOs), WHO, WIPO, WTO
  Diplomatic representation in the US:
  chief of mission: Ambassador La Celia A. PRINCE (since 30 May 2008)
  chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
  telephone: [1] (202) 364-6730
  FAX: [1] (202) 364-6736
  consulate(s) general: New York
  Diplomatic representation from the US:
  the US does not have an embassy in Saint Vincent and the Grenadines; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
  Flag description:
  three vertical bands of blue (hoist side), gold (double width), and green; the gold band bears three green diamonds arranged in a V pattern, which stands for Vincent; the diamonds recall the islands as the "Gems of the Antilles"; blue conveys the colors of a tropical sky and crystal waters, yellow signifies the golden Grenadine sands, and green represents lush vegetation
  National symbol(s):
  Saint Vincent parrot; national colors: blue, gold, green
  National anthem:
  name: "St. Vincent! Land So Beautiful!"
  lyrics/music: Phyllis Joyce MCCLEAN PUNNETT/Joel Bertram MIGUEL
  note: adopted 1967

- ## Economy :: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

- Economy - overview:
  Success of the economy hinges upon seasonal variations in agriculture, tourism, and construction activity as well as remittance inflows. Much of the workforce is employed in banana production and tourism, but persistent high unemployment has prompted many to leave the islands. This lower-middle-income country is vulnerable to natural disasters - tropical storms wiped out substantial portions of crops in 1994, 1995, and 2002. Floods and mudslides caused by unseasonable 2013 rainfall caused substantial damage to infrastructure, homes, and crops, which the World Bank estimated at US$112 million. In 2013, the islands had more than 200,000 tourist arrivals, mostly to the Grenadines. The arrival numbers represent a marginal increase from 2012 but remain 26% below St. Vincent's 2009 peak. Saint Vincent is home to a small offshore banking sector and has moved to adopt international regulatory standards. The government's ability to invest in social programs and respond to external shocks is constrained by its high public debt burden, which was 67% of GDP - one of the lowest levels in the Eastern Caribbean - at the end of 2013. Weak recovery in the tourism and construction sectors limited growth in 2014.
  GDP (purchasing power parity):
  $1.174 billion (2014 est.)
  $1.177 billion (2013 est.)
  $1.15 billion (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 202
  GDP (official exchange rate):
  $729 million (2014 est.)
  GDP - real growth rate:
  -0.2% (2014 est.)
  2.3% (2013 est.)
  1.3% (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 201
  GDP - per capita (PPP):
  $10,700 (2014 est.)
  $10,700 (2013 est.)
  $10,500 (2012 est.)
  note: data are in 2014 US dollars
  country comparison to the world: 133
  Gross national saving:
  -2.1% of GDP (2014 est.)
  -6.2% of GDP (2013 est.)
  -3.5% of GDP (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 177
  GDP - composition, by end use:
  household consumption: 96.6%
  government consumption: 17.3%
  investment in fixed capital: 24.4%
  investment in inventories: 0%
  exports of goods and services: 19.4%
  imports of goods and services: -57.7%
  (2014 est.)
  GDP - composition, by sector of origin:
  agriculture: 7.5%
  industry: 17.9%
  services: 74.6% (2014 est.)
  Agriculture - products:
  bananas, coconuts, sweet potatoes, spices; small numbers of cattle, sheep, pigs, goats; fish
  Industries:
  tourism; food processing, cement, furniture, clothing, starch
  Industrial production growth rate:
  2% (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 108
  Labor force:
  57,520 (2007 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Labor force - by occupation:
  agriculture: 26%
  industry: 17%
  services: 57% (1980 est.)
  Unemployment rate:
  18.8% (2008 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 164
  Population below poverty line:
  NA%
  Household income or consumption by percentage share:
  lowest 10%: NA%
  highest 10%: NA%
  Budget:
  revenues: $185.2 million
  expenditures: $185.2 million (2014 est.)
  Taxes and other revenues:
  25.4% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 118
  Budget surplus (+) or deficit (-):
  0% of GDP (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 44
  Public debt:
  67% of GDP (2013 est.)
  68% of GDP (2011 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 46
  Fiscal year:
  calendar year
  Inflation rate (consumer prices):
  0.2% (2014 est.)
  0.8% (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 28
  Central bank discount rate:
  6.5% (31 December 2010)
  6.5% (31 December 2009)
  country comparison to the world: 54
  Commercial bank prime lending rate:
  9% (31 December 2014 est.)
  9.44% (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 97
  Stock of narrow money:
  $157.9 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $138.6 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 184
  Stock of broad money:
  $521.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $475.9 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 181
  Stock of domestic credit:
  $422 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $414.5 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 172
  Current account balance:
  -$216 million (2014 est.)
  -$223 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 92
  Exports:
  $48.2 million (2014 est.)
  $53.4 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 202
  Exports - commodities:
  bananas, eddoes and dasheen (taro), arrowroot starch; tennis racquets
  Exports - partners:
  Trinidad and Tobago 17.7%, St. Lucia 13.2%, Barbados 11%, Turkey 9.6%, Dominica 8.7%, Grenada 8.3%, Antigua and Barbuda 7.5%, France 6.5% (2014)
  Imports:
  $313.6 million (2014 est.)
  $333.5 million (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 198
  Imports - commodities:
  foodstuffs, machinery and equipment, chemicals and fertilizers, minerals and fuels
  Imports - partners:
  Trinidad and Tobago 24.7%, US 19%, Singapore 17.2%, China 6.8%, Barbados 5.2%, Turkey 4.3% (2014)
  Reserves of foreign exchange and gold:
  $135 million (31 December 2015 est.)
  $157.4 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 164
  Debt - external:
  $282.7 million (31 December 2014 est.)
  $292.7 million (31 December 2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 187
  Exchange rates:
  East Caribbean dollars (XCD) per US dollar -
  2.7 (2014 est.)
  2.7 (2013 est.)
  2.7 (2012 est.)
  2.7 (2011 est.)
  2.7 (2010 est.)

- ## Energy :: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

- Electricity - production:
  137 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 196
  Electricity - consumption:
  127.4 million kWh (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 197
  Electricity - exports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 211
  Electricity - imports:
  0 kWh (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 214
  Electricity - installed generating capacity:
  47,000 kW (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 189
  Electricity - from fossil fuels:
  85.1% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 87
  Electricity - from nuclear fuels:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 202
  Electricity - from hydroelectric plants:
  14.9% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 103
  Electricity - from other renewable sources:
  0% of total installed capacity (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 139
  Crude oil - production:
  0 bbl/day (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Crude oil - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Crude oil - imports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Crude oil - proved reserves:
  0 bbl (1 January 2015 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 205
  Refined petroleum products - production:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Refined petroleum products - consumption:
  1,500 bbl/day (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 193
  Refined petroleum products - exports:
  0 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 142
  Refined petroleum products - imports:
  1,514 bbl/day (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Natural gas - production:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 143
  Natural gas - consumption:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 206
  Natural gas - exports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 203
  Natural gas - imports:
  0 cu m (2013 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 150
  Natural gas - proved reserves:
  0 cu m (1 January 2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 203
  Carbon dioxide emissions from consumption of energy:
  268,900 Mt (2012 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 192

- ## Communications :: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

- Telephones - fixed lines:
  total subscriptions: 23,900
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 23 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Telephones - mobile cellular:
  total: 115,000
  subscriptions per 100 inhabitants: 112 (2014 est.)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Telephone system:
  general assessment: adequate islandwide, fully automatic telephone system
  domestic: fixed-line teledensity exceeds 20 per 100 persons and mobile-cellular teledensity exceeds 125 per 100 persons
  international: country code - 1-784; the East Caribbean Fiber Optic System (ECFS) and Southern Caribbean fiber optic system (SCF) submarine cables carry international calls; connectivity also provided by VHF/UHF radiotelephone from Saint Vincent to Barbados; SHF radiotelephone to Grenada and Saint Lucia; access to Intelsat earth station in Martinique through Saint Lucia (2011)
  Broadcast media:
  St. Vincent and the Grenadines Broadcasting Corporation operates 1 TV station and 5 repeater stations that provide near total coverage to the multi-island state; multi-channel cable TV service available; a partially government-funded national radio service broadcasts on 1 station and has 2 repeater stations; about a dozen privately owned radio stations and repeater stations (2007)
  Radio broadcast stations:
  AM 1, FM 8, shortwave 0 (2008)
  Television broadcast stations:
  1 (plus 3 repeaters) (2004)
  Internet country code:
  .vc
  Internet users:
  total: 76,000
  percent of population: 72.7% (2009)
  country comparison to the world: 177

- ## Transportation :: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

- Airports:
  6 (2013)
  country comparison to the world: 175
  Airports - with paved runways:
  total: 5
  1,524 to 2,437 m: 1
  914 to 1,523 m: 3
  under 914 m: 1 (2013)
  Airports - with unpaved runways:
  total: 1
  under 914 m:
  1 (2013)
  Roadways:
  total: 829 km
  paved: 580 km
  unpaved: 249 km (2003)
  country comparison to the world: 188
  Merchant marine:
  total: 412
  by type: bulk carrier 64, cargo 263, carrier 14, chemical tanker 4, container 18, liquefied gas 3, passenger 2, passenger/cargo 7, petroleum tanker 9, refrigerated cargo 12, roll on/roll off 15, specialized tanker 1
  foreign-owned: 325 (Austria 1, Azerbaijan 1, Bangladesh 1, Belgium 7, Bermuda 1, Bulgaria 9, China 65, Croatia 8, Cyprus 3, Czech Republic 1, Denmark 9, Dominica 1, Egypt 2, Estonia 8, France 2, Germany 3, Greece 42, Guyana 2, Hong Kong 5, Israel 3, Italy 4, Japan 3, Kenya 2, Latvia 15, Lebanon 2, Lithuania 9, Monaco 2, Netherlands 1, Norway 13, Poland 3, Romania 1, Russia 11, Singapore 5, Slovenia 1, Sweden 10, Switzerland 7, Syria 9, Turkey 13, UAE 3, UK 6, Ukraine 12, US 18, Venezuela 1) (2010)
  country comparison to the world: 25
  Ports and terminals:
  major seaport(s): Kingstown

- ## Military :: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

- Military branches:
  no regular military forces; Royal Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVPF) (2013)
  Manpower available for military service:
  males age 16-49: 27,809 (2010 est.)
  Manpower fit for military service:
  males age 16-49: 22,875
  females age 16-49: 22,015 (2010 est.)
  Manpower reaching militarily significant age annually:
  male: 964
  female: 953 (2010 est.)

- ## Transnational Issues :: SAINT VINCENT AND THE GRENADINES

- Disputes - international:
  joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, which permits Venezuela to extend its Economic Exclusion Zone/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
  Trafficking in persons:
  current situation: Saint Vincent and the Grenadines is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and children subjected to forced labor and sex trafficking; some children under 18 are pressured into providing sexual acts in exchange for money or gifts; foreign workers may experience forced labor and are particularly vulnerable when employed by small, foreign-owned companies; adults and children are vulnerable to forced labor domestically, especially in the agriculture sector
  tier rating: Tier 2 Watch List – Saint Vincent and the Grenadines does not fully comply with the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking; however, it is making significant efforts to do so; authorities investigated three trafficking cases in 2013 but did not report prosecuting or convicting any offenders; the government did not proactively identify any victims or refer them to care in 2013, a decline from the previous year; anti-trafficking awareness efforts in schools have increased; a national action plan awaits parliamentary approval but lacks resources for implementation (2014)
  Illicit drugs:
  transshipment point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe; small-scale cannabis cultivation

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