|
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.
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Geographic
coordinates: |
13 53 N, 60 68 W |
|
|
History: |
Amerindians
were the first inhabitants. 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);
French colonization began in 1650 and the
struggle for possession between the French and English ended in 1803
with the island becoming an English colony.it
was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Self-government was granted in 1967
and independence in 1979.. |
|
Elections: |
Last elections
were held on December 11, 2006. |
|
Ruling Party: |
St. Lucia Labor
Party (SLP). |
|
Major Political
Parties: |
United Workers
Party (UWP), St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP). |
|
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 1997, agriculture accounted for 8% of GDP and employed a similar
proportion of the labor force. Bananas are the leading export.
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 growth
potential. Initiatives are also being directed at developing an
informatics subsector.
Economic activities are supported by strategic infrastructure such as
the ports in Castries and Vieux Fort which have container transshipment
terminal facilities catering for banana exports. At Cul de Sac,
south of Castries, there is an oil transshipment terminal.
|
|
Airports: |
Hewanorra
International, George F. L. Charles |
|
Status:
Diplomatic
representation from the US:
|
Independent -
22 February 1979
|
The US
does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador in
Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia |
|
|
Capital: |
Castries |
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Head of
Government: |
Prime Minister
The Right Honourable Sir John George Melvin Compton
, former 82-year old Prime Minister & leader of The
United Workers Party (UWP) who led St. Lucia into independence from Great
Britain in 1979, came out of retirement last year to lead the UWP to
victory. Compton led St. Lucia from 1964 to 1979 and then from 1982 to
1996. |
|
The Cabinet of Ministers: |
Prime Minister
Sir John George Melvin Compton was sworn in at Government House on Friday
December 15 and introduced his Cabinet before the members took the
oath of allegiance, the oath of office and the oath of secrecy provided
for in section 66 of the Constitution of Saint Lucia.
The Cabinet of Ministers announced by the Prime Minister comprises :
Honourable Dr. Keith Mondesir – Minister for Home Affairs and National
Security; Honourable Richard Frederick
– Minister for Housing , Urban
Renewal and Local Government;
Honourable Arsene Vigil James – Minister for Education and Culture;
Honourable Lenard Montoute - Minister for Social Transformation, Human
Services, Family Affairs , Youth and Sports;
Honourable Stephenson King – Minister for Health and Labour Relations;
Honourable Ezekiel Joseph – Minister for Agriculture, Forestry and
Fisheries;
Honourable Guy Eardley Joseph – Minister for Communications,
Works, Transport and Public Utilities;
Honourable Rufus Bousquet , Minister for External Affairs, International
Financial Services, Information & Broadcasting.
Honourable Marcus Neil Nicholas
– Minister in the Ministry of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries
Honourable Edmund Estephane – Minister in the Ministry of Trade, Industry
and Commerce.
Five Senators were also included in the Cabinet of Ministers . They are :
Senator the Honourable George Guy Mayers - Minister for Trade, Industry
& Commerce;
Senator the Honourable Allen Chastanet Minister for
Tourism and Civil Aviation; Senator the Honourable Ausbert d' Auvergne –
Minister for Economic Affairs, Economic Planning, National Development and
Public Service;
Senator the Honourable Gaspard P.D. Charlemagne – Minister in the
Ministry of Education and Culture;
Senator the Honourable Charlotte E.T.Tessa Mangal
-
Minister in the Ministry of Social Transformation, Human Services, Family
Affairs, Youth and Sports responsible for Human Services and Family
Affairs.
|
|
Head of State: |
H.E. Dr.
Pearlette Louisy, Governor General |
|
Area: |
616 square
kilometres (238 square miles) |
|
Population: |
149,621
(mid-1997) |
|
Currency: |
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) |
|
GDP Per Capita (at
current market prices): |
EC$10,464 m (1997) |
|
Total Exports: |
EC$145.2 m
(1998) |
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Total Imports: |
EC$886 m (1998) |
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Intra-Regional
Exports: |
EC$28.4m (1998) |
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Intra-Regional
Imports: |
EC$190.3 Mn (1998) |
|
Date of CARICOM
Membership: |
1 May 1974 |
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Business hours: |
Commercial:
8:00-16:00 hrs Monday Friday
Government: 8:30-12:30, 13:30-16:30
Monday to Friday
|
|
National Holidays: |
New Year's Day (01
January); New Year's holiday (02 January); Carnival Day (10-11
February); Independence Day (22 February); Good Friday; Easter Monday; Labor
Day (01 May); Whit Monday; Corpus Christi (29 May); Emancipation
Day (04 August); Thanksgiving (06 October); National Day (13 December);
Christmas Day (25 December); Boxing Day (26 December)
Holidays that fall on Sunday are
celebrated on the Monday following
|
|
National Anthem: |
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 forever be!
|
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Highest National
Award: |
Grand Cross of St. Lucia |
|
National Dish: |
Green Fig and Salt
Fish |
