The St. Vincent and the Grenadines Coast Guard is now better positioned to patrol the waters of the multi-island state following the commissioning of a new coast guard vessel on Monday, according to a report on Caribbean Net News). Speaking at a ceremony to commission the vessel, Minister of National Security, Sir Vincent Beache, said the vessel is the second to be purchased by the state since the multi-island state became independent in 1979. The first was the George McIntosh. The other vessels in the fleet were small boats received as gifts from the United States. Sir Vincent said there was substantial savings in the purchase of the vessel that was bought for just under US$1m (EC$2.3m).