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Saint Lucia

  ('shə, lū-sē'ə) pronunciation
St. Lucia
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St. Lucia
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An island country of the West Indies in the Windward Islands south of Martinique. The island was probably sighted by Columbus in 1502. Resistance from the Carib inhabitants defeated several attempts at colonization by the English in the early 17th century, although France succeeded in establishing a settlement in the mid-1600s. The island changed hands several times between the two powers until the end of the Napoleonic Wars (1814), when it passed definitively to Great Britain. St. Lucia joined the West Indies Federation (1958–1962), gaining self-government in 1967 and full independence in 1979. Castries is the capital. Population: 171,000.

 

 
 

Island country, Windward Islands, in the eastern Caribbean Sea. Area: 238 sq mi (617 sq km). Population (2005 est.): 161,000. Capital: Castries. Most of the population is of African descent. Languages: English (official), French patois. Religions: Christianity (Roman Catholic, Protestant); also Rastafarianism. Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar. Saint Lucia is of volcanic origin; within the Qualibou Caldera is Sulphur Springs, which continues to emit steam and gases and is a prime tourist attraction. Wooded mountains run north-south, culminating in Mount Gimie (3,145 ft [958.6 m]). The economy is based on agriculture and tourism. Saint Lucia is a constitutional monarchy with a parliament of two legislative houses; its chief of state is the British monarch represented by the governor-general, and the head of government is the prime minister. Caribs replaced early Arawak inhabitants c. AD 800 – 1300. Settled by the French in 1650, Saint Lucia was ceded to Great Britain in 1814 and became one of the Windward Islands in 1871. It became fully independent in 1979.

For more information on Saint Lucia, visit Britannica.com.

 
(sānt lū'shə, –sēə) , island nation (2005 est. pop. 166,000), 238 sq mi (616 sq km), West Indies, one of the Windward Islands. The capital is Castries. Morne Gimie (3,145 ft/959 m high) and the twin pyramidal cones known as the Pitons are the most imposing landmarks. The country is subject hurricanes; it suffered significant destruction in 1980, 1994, and 2007. The population is largely of African descent and Roman Catholicism is the dominant religion, although there is a large Protestant minority. English is the official language, but Kwéyòl, a French creole, is also widely spoken, and many St. Lucians also speak French or Spanish.

The economy is largely based on agriculture (bananas, cocoa, and other tropical products are exported) and tourism. Saint Lucia has moved to attract foreign investment to its offshore banking industry, and has diversified its industrial base to include light manufacturing, the assembly of electronic components, and oil refining and transshipment. The United States and France are the main trading partners.

The country is a parliamentary democracy governed under the constitution of 1979. There is a bicameral Parliament, with an 11-seat Senate and a 17-seat House of Assembly; the government is headed by the prime minister. The monarch of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, represented by a governor-general, is the head of state. Administratively, the country is divided into 11 districts called quarters.

History

Columbus may have sighted the island on his 1502 voyage. The British failed in their first attempts at colonization in the early 17th cent. The island was later settled by the French, who signed a treaty with the local Caribs in 1660. Thereafter Saint Lucia was much contested by the two European powers until the British secured it in 1814. It was part of the British Windward Islands colony, and joined the West Indies Federation (1958–62) when the colony was dissolved. In 1967, Saint Lucia became one of the six members of the West Indies Associated States, with internal self-government, and in 1979 it gained full independence under Sir John Compton. Compton, of the conservative United Workers party (UWP), was again prime minister from 1982 to 1996, when he was succeeded by Vaughn Lewis. Kenny Anthony of the Labor party was prime minister from 1997 to 2006, when the UWP, again led by Compton, won control of parliament. In May, 2007, after Compton suffered a series of ministrokes, Finance and External Affairs Minister Stephenson King became acting prime minister and then prime minister after Compton died in Sept., 2007.


 
Local Time: Saint Lucia

Local Time: Jul 19, 6:27 PM

 
Statistics: Saint Lucia
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Introduction

Background:The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Even after the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island, dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.

Geography

Location:Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Geographic coordinates:13 53 N, 60 58 W
Map references:Central America and the Caribbean
Area:total: 616 sq km
land: 606 sq km
water: 10 sq km
Area - comparative:3.5 times the size of Washington, DC
Land boundaries:0 km
Coastline:158 km
Maritime claims:territorial sea: 12 nm
contiguous zone: 24 nm
exclusive economic zone: 200 nm
continental shelf: 200 nm or to the edge of the continental margin
Climate:tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
Terrain:volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys
Elevation extremes:lowest point: Caribbean Sea 0 m
highest point: Mount Gimie 950 m
Natural resources:forests, sandy beaches, minerals (pumice), mineral springs, geothermal potential
Land use:arable land: 6.45%
permanent crops: 22.58%
other: 70.97% (2005)
Irrigated land:30 sq km (2003)
Natural hazards:hurricanes and volcanic activity
Environment - current issues:deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
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, Wetlands, Whaling
signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Geography - note:the twin Pitons (Gros Piton and Petit Piton), striking cone-shaped peaks south of Soufriere, are one of the scenic natural highlights of the Caribbean

People

Population:170,649 (July 2007 est.)
Age structure:0-14 years: 29.4% (male 25,869/female 24,248)
15-64 years: 65.5% (male 55,115/female 56,641)
65 years and over: 5.1% (male 3,200/female 5,576) (2007 est.)
Median age:total: 25.6 years
male: 24.8 years
female: 26.5 years (2007 est.)
Population growth rate:1.297% (2007 est.)
Birth rate:19.28 births/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Death rate:5.03 deaths/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Net migration rate:-1.28 migrant(s)/1,000 population (2007 est.)
Sex ratio:at birth: 1.07 male(s)/female
under 15 years: 1.067 male(s)/female
15-64 years: 0.973 male(s)/female
65 years and over: 0.574 male(s)/female
total population: 0.974 male(s)/female (2007 est.)
Infant mortality rate:total: 12.81 deaths/1,000 live births
male: 13.93 deaths/1,000 live births
female: 11.62 deaths/1,000 live births (2007 est.)
Life expectancy at birth:total population: 74.08 years
male: 70.53 years
female: 77.88 years (2007 est.)
Total fertility rate:2.15 children born/woman (2007 est.)
HIV/AIDS - adult prevalence rate:NA
HIV/AIDS - people living with HIV/AIDS:NA
HIV/AIDS - deaths:NA
Nationality:noun: Saint Lucian(s)
adjective: Saint Lucian
Ethnic groups:black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified 3.1% (2001 census)
Religions:Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)
Languages:English (official), French patois
Literacy:definition: age 15 and over has ever attended school
total population: 90.1%
male: 89.5%
female: 90.6% (2001 est.)

Government

Country name:conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Lucia
Government type:parliamentary democracy
Capital:name: Castries
geographic coordinates: 14 01 N, 61 00 W
time difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
Administrative divisions:11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
Independence:22 February 1979 (from UK)
National holiday:Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Constitution:22 February 1979
Legal system:based on English common law
Suffrage:18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette LOUISY (since September 1997)
head of government: Prime Minister Stephenson KING (since 9 September 2007); note - Sir John COMPTON died in office Friday, 7 September 2007
cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative branch:bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; six members appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote to serve five-year terms)
elections: House of Assembly - last held 11 December 2006 (next to be held in December 2011)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - UWP 50%, SLP 46.9%, other 3.1%; seats by party - UWP 11, SLP 6
Judicial branch:Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction extends to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Political parties and leaders:National Alliance or NA [George ODLUM]; Saint Lucia Freedom Party or SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth ANTHONY]; Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher HUNTE]; United Workers Party or UWP [Sir John COMPTON]
Political pressure groups and leaders:NA
International organization participation:ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO, ITU, ITUC, MIGA, NAM, OAS, OECS, OIF, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WCO, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTO
Diplomatic representation in the US:chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016
telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795
FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723
consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
Diplomatic representation from the US:the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia
Flag description:blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border

Economy

Economy - overview:Changes in the EU import preference regime and the increased competition from Latin American bananas have made economic diversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia. The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. Tourism is the main source of foreign exchange, with more than 700,000 arrivals in 2005. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to revitalize the banana industry. Economic fundamentals remain solid, even though unemployment needs to be cut.
GDP (purchasing power parity):$1.179 billion (2006 est.)
GDP (official exchange rate):$825 million (2005)
GDP - real growth rate:5.1% (2005 est.)
GDP - composition by sector:agriculture: 5%
industry: 15%
services: 80% (2005 est.)
Labor force:43,800 (2001 est.)
Labor force - by occupation:agriculture: 21.7%
industry: 24.7%
services: 53.6% (2002 est.)
Unemployment rate:20% (2003 est.)
Population below poverty line:NA%
Household income or consumption by percentage share:lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA%
Inflation rate (consumer prices):2.9% (2005 est.)
Budget:revenues: $141.2 million
expenditures: $146.7 million (2000 est.)
Agriculture - products:bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa
Industries:clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism; lime processing, coconut processing
Industrial production growth rate:-8.9% (1997 est.)
Electricity - production:304.2 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - consumption:282.9 million kWh (2005)
Electricity - exports:0 kWh (2005)
Electricity - imports:0 kWh (2005)
Oil - production:0 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - consumption:2,800 bbl/day (2004 est.)
Oil - exports:NA bbl/day
Oil - imports:NA bbl/day
Oil - proved reserves:0 bbl (1 January 2006)
Exports:$82 million (2004 est.)
Exports - commodities:bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Exports - partners:France 69.7%, US 10.2%, UK 8.8% (2006)
Imports:$410 million (2004 est.)
Imports - commodities:food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels
Imports - partners:US 21.1%, Trinidad and Tobago 14.9%, Italy 12.3%, France 11.8%, Venezuela 7.2%, UK 6.9%, Netherlands 5.8% (2006)
Debt - external:$257 million (2004)
Economic aid - recipient:$11.06 million (2005)
Currency (code):East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Exchange rates:East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2006), 2.7 (2005), 2.7 (2004), 2.7 (2003), 2.7 (2002)
Fiscal year:1 April - 31 March

Transportation

Airports:2 (2007)
Airports - with paved runways:total: 2
2,438 to 3,047 m: 1
1,524 to 2,437 m: 1 (2007)
Roadways:total: 910 km
paved: 48 km
unpaved: 862 km (2000)
Ports and terminals:Castries, Cul-de-Sac, Vieux-Fort

Military

Military branches:no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Coast Guard) (2007)
Manpower available for military service:males age 18-49: 42,742 (2005 est.)
Manpower fit for military service:males age 18-49: 33,539 (2005 est.)
Manpower reaching military service age annually:males age 18-49: 1,651 (2005 est.)
Military expenditures - percent of GDP:NA

Transnational Issues

Disputes - international:joins other Caribbean states to counter Venezuela's claim that Aves Island sustains human habitation, a criterion under UNCLOS, which permits Venezuela to extend its EEZ/continental shelf over a large portion of the eastern Caribbean Sea
Illicit drugs:transit point for South American drugs destined for the US and Europe


 
National Anthem: National Anthem of: Saint Lucia

Sons and daughters of St. Lucia,
Love the land that gave us birth,
Land of beaches, hills and valleys,
Fairest isle of all the earth.
Wheresoever you may roam,
Love, oh love your island home.
Gone the times when nations battled
For this 'Helen of the West,
Gone the days when strife and discord
Dimmed her children's toil and rest.
Dawns at last a brighter day,
Stretches out a glad new way.
May the good Lord bless our island,
Guard her sons from woe and harm!
May our people live united,
Strong in soul and strong in arm!
Justice, Truth and Charity,
Our ideal for ever be!

 
Wikipedia: Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia
Flag of Saint Lucia Coat of arms of Saint Lucia
Flag Coat of arms
Motto
"The Land, The People, The Light"
Anthem
Sons and Daughters of Saint Lucia
Location of Saint Lucia
Capital
(and largest city)
Castries
14°1′N, 60°59′W
Demonym Saint Lucian
Government Parliamentary democracy (constitutional monarchy)
 -  Queen Elizabeth II
 -  Governor-General Pearlette Louisy
 -  Prime Minister Stephenson King
Independence
 -  from the United Kingdom 22 February 1979 
Area
 -  Total  km² (193rd)
 sq mi 
 -  Water (%) 1.6
Population
 -  2005 census 160,765 
 -  Density 298/km² (41st)
 /sq mi
GDP (PPP) 2002 estimate
 -  Total $866 million (197th)
 -  Per capita $5,950 (98th)
HDI (2004) Green_Arrow_Up_Darker.svg 0.799 (medium) (71st)
Currency East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Time zone (UTC-4)
Internet TLD .lc
Calling code [[+1 758]]

Saint Lucia (IPA: [seɪnt ˈluːʃɪə]) is an island nation in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north of the islands of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It is also known as the "Helen of the West Indies" because the island switched between British and French control so often it was likened to the mythical Helen of Troy.

Saint Lucia is one of the Windward Islands, named for Saint Lucy of Syracuse. It was first visited by Europeans in about the year 1500 and first colonized successfully by France who signed a treaty with the native Carib peoples in 1660. Great Britain then took control of the island from 1663-1667 before going to war with France over it fourteen times. The British finally took complete control of the island in 1814. Representative government came about in 1924 (with universal adult suffrage from 1953) and from 1958 to 1962 the island was a member of the Federation of the West Indies. Finally, on February 22, 1979, Saint Lucia became an independent state of the Commonwealth of Nations. The island nation celebrates this every year with a public holiday.

History

Politics

Saint Lucia is a full member of the OECS and home to its headquarters.
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Saint Lucia is a full member of the OECS and home to its headquarters.
See also: Foreign relations of Saint Lucia

As a Commonwealth Realm, Saint Lucia recognizes Queen Elizabeth II as the Head of State of Saint Lucia, represented on the island by a Governor-General. Executive power, however, is in the hands of the prime minister and his cabinet. The prime minister is normally the head of the party winning the elections for the House of Assembly, which has 17 seats. The other chamber of Parliament, the Senate, has 11 appointed members.

Saint Lucia is a full and participating member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).

Quarters

Quarters of Saint Lucia
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Quarters of Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is divided into eleven quarters:

  1. Anse la Raye
  2. Canaries
  3. Castries
  4. Choiseul
  5. Dennery
  6. Gros Islet
  7. Laborie
  8. Micoud
  9. Soufrière
  10. Vieux Fort
Map of Saint Lucia
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Map of Saint Lucia

Geography


The volcanic island of Saint Lucia is more mountainous than many other Caribbean islands, with the highest point being Mount Gimie, at 950 metres above sea level. Two other mountains, the Pitons, form the island's most famous landmark. They are located between Soufrière and Choiseul on the western side of the island. Saint Lucia is also one of the few islands in the world that boasts a drive-in volcano.

The capital city of Saint Lucia is Castries, where about one third of the population lives. Major towns include Gros Islet, Soufrière and Vieux Fort. The local climate is tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds, with a dry season from January to April and a rainy season from May to November.

Economy

The recent change in the European Union import preference regime and the increased competition from Latin American bananas have made economic diversification increasingly important in Saint Lucia. The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries, which is the island's main source of revenue. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the government is trying to revitalize the banana industry. Despite negative growth in 2001, economic fundamentals remain solid, and GDP growth should recover in the future.

Demographics

The small population of Saint Lucia is of mostly African descent (upwards of 90% of the population). There is also a small but economically significant mulatto minority representing approximately 5%, with an Indo-Caribbean minority of some 3%. Just 1.1% are of pure European origin (descendants of French, British, and Irish colonists). Rounding out the population are small numbers of Lebanese and Syrians. The official language of the country is English, but Kwéyòl a Creole which has evolved from French, Carib and elements of African languages is spoken by 90% of the population. Saint Lucia is a member of La Francophonie.

St. Lucia boasts the highest ratio in the world for number of Nobel laureates produced with respect to the total population of the nation. Two winners have come from St. Lucia: Sir Arthur Lewis won the Bank of Sweden Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel ("Nobel Prize in Economics") in 1979, and Derek Walcott received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1992. Both were born on January 23rd, but not in the same year.

Religion

The majority of the population are Roman Catholics (c.68%). Seventh-day Adventists (9%), Pentecostalists (6%), Anglicans (2%), Evangelicals (2%) and Rastafari (2%) account for the remainder [1].

Culture

See also: Derek Walcott and Music of Saint Lucia

The culture of Saint Lucia is rich in history. The culture has been influenced by African, French and English heritage. One of the secondary languages is Kreole, a form of French patois.

Festivals

Saint Lucian cultural festivals include La Rose and La Marguerite, the one representing the Rosicrucian order, the other one representing Freemasonry, which can be clearly seen on a mural painted by Dunstan St. Omer, depicting the holy trinity of Osiris, Horus and Isis.

Traditionally, in common with other Caribbean countries, Saint Lucia held a carnival before Lent. In 1999, it was moved to mid-July in order to not to coincide with the much larger Trinidad and Tobago carnival, so as to attract more overseas visitors.

Music and dance

A popular folk dance is the Quadrille.

As well as other Caribbean music genres such as soca, zouk and reggae, Saint Lucia has a strong indigenous folk music tradition.

Each May since 1992, Saint Lucia has hosted an internationally-renowned Jazz Festival.

Tourism

Second only to bahamas, tourism is vital to St. Lucia's economy and it is expected that economic importance of tourism will continue to increase as the market for bananas becomes more competitive. Tourism tends to be more substantial during the dry season (January to April). St Lucia tends to be popular due to its tropical weather and scenery and for its large number of beaches and resorts.

Other tourist attractions include the world's only drive-in volcano, Sulfur Springs (at Soufriere), the Botanical Gardens, rain forests and Pigeon Island National Park, which is home to Fort Rodney, an old British military base.

The majority of tourists visit St. Lucia as part of a cruise. Most of their time tends to be spent in Castries, although Soufriere, Marigot Bay and Gros Islet are popular locations to visit.

With its white beaches and spectacular scenery, St. Lucia is a very popular location for weddings; close to 3,500 (an average of nearly ten per day) took place in 2006.[2]

Gallery

See also

External links

Geographic locale
International membership