Also known as:
Helen of the West
Motto:
The Land, The People, The Light
Location:
One of the Windward Islands between Martinique (39.9 km (21 miles) to the north) and St. Vincent (49.4 km (26 miles) to the south). It is 209 km (110 miles) northwest of Barbados.
History:
Amerindians were the first inhabitants.. French colonisation began in 1650 and the struggle for possession between the French and English ended in 1803 with the island becoming an English colony. It gained independence in 1979
Elections:
Last elections 2006. Next elections due in 2011
Ruling Party:
United Workers Party (UWP)
Major Political Parties:
United Workers Party (UWP), Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), National Alliance, Saint. Lucia Freedom Party
Head of State:
H.E. Dame Perlette Louisy, GCMG, PhD, Governor General
Head of Government:Honourable Stephenson King
Prime Minister
Political Career:
1992: Minister of Health and Local Government
2006: Minister for Health and Labour Relations
2007: Appointed Prime Minister. Also Minister of Finance, International Financial Services, External Affairs, Home Affairs and National Security
Economic Summary:
Generally, the economy is diversified with Tourism being the main source of foreign exchange. Pleasant climate and sandy beaches are among the natural features supporting the development of this sector.
In the agriculture sector bananas are the leading crop but world market price continues to decline. There is also some export production of flowers and foliage plants.
The Manufacturing Sector spans a range of activities. These include paper products, food processing, beverage production, clothing and assembly of electronic components. There is also a small offshore financial sector with much potential to attract good-quality business. Initiatives are also being directed at developments in informatics.
Economic activities are supported by strategic infrastructure such as the ports in Castries and Vieux Fort which have container trans-shipment terminal facilities catering for banana exports. At Cul de Sac, south of Castries, there is an oil trans-shipment terminal.
Airport:
Hewanorra International (Vieux Fort)
George F. L. Charles International (Vigie)
Status:
Independent - 22 February 1979
Capital:
Castries
Area:
616 sq km
Population:
162,434 (2004)
Currency
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$)
GDP:
EC$2,064.6 Mn (2004)
GDP Per Capita:
EC$12,711(2004)
Total Exports:
EC$275.4 Mn (2004)
Total Imports:
EC$1,489 Mn (2004)
Intra-Regional Exports:
EC$98.0 Mn (2004)
Intra-Regional Imports:
EC$324.4 Mn (2004)
Business Hours:
Commercial: 8:00-16:00 hrs Monday Friday
Government: 8:30-12:30, 13:30-16:30 Monday to Friday
New Year's Day (01 January); New Year's holiday (02 January); Independence Day (22 February); Good Friday; Easter Monday; Labour Day (01 May); Whit Monday; Corpus Christi; Carnival Monday (third Monday in July); Emancipation Day (01 August); Thanksgiving Day (First Monday in October); National Day (13 December); Christmas Day (25 December); Boxing Day (26 December) Holidays that fall on Sunday are celebrated on the Monday following
Date of CARICOM Membership:
1 May 1974
Sons and Daughters of St. Lucia
Love the Land that gave you 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 time 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 forever be!
Highest National Award:
Grand Cross of St. Lucia
National dish:
Green Fig and Salt Fish
Government web page:
