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Wikipedia

Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia (Saint Lucian Creole French: Sent Lisi, French: Sainte-Lucie) is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean.[9] The island was previously called Iouanalao and later Hewanorra, names given by the native Arawaks and Caribs, two Amerindian peoples.[10] Part of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles, it is located north/northeast of the island of Saint Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 617 km2 (238 square miles) with an estimated population of over 180,000 people as of 2022. The national capital is the city of Castries.

Saint Lucia
Motto: "The Land, The People, The Light"
Anthem: "Sons and Daughters of Saint Lucia"
Location of Saint Lucia (circled in red)

in the Caribbean

Capital
and largest city
Castries
13°53′00″N 60°58′00″W / 13.88333°N 60.96667°W / 13.88333; -60.96667Coordinates: 13°53′00″N 60°58′00″W / 13.88333°N 60.96667°W / 13.88333; -60.96667[1]
Official languagesEnglish
Vernacular
languages
St. Lucian Creole[2]
Ethnic groups
(2010[3])
Religion
(2010)[4]
Demonym(s)Saint Lucian
GovernmentUnitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy
• Monarch
Charles III
Errol Charles (acting)
Philip J. Pierre
LegislatureParliament
Senate
House of Assembly
Independence
1 March 1967
• Independence from the United Kingdom
22 February 1979
Area
• Total
617 km2 (238 sq mi) (178th)
• Water (%)
1.6
Population
• 2022 estimate
184,961 (189th)
• 2010 census
165,595
• Density
299.4/km2 (775.4/sq mi) (29th)
GDP (PPP)2022 estimate
• Total
$3.008 billion[5] (193rd)
• Per capita
$16,417[6] (92nd)
GDP (nominal)2022 estimate
• Total
$1.972 billion[6] (188th)
• Per capita
$10,763[6] (72nd)
Gini (2016)51.2[7]
high
HDI (2021) 0.715[8]
high · 106th
CurrencyE.C Dollar (XCD)
Time zoneUTC−4 (AST)
Driving sideleft
Calling code+1 758
ISO 3166 codeLC
Internet TLD.lc

The first proven inhabitants of the island, the Arawaks, are believed to have first settled in AD 200–400. Around 800 AD, the island would be taken over by the Kalinago. The French were the first Europeans to settle on the island, and they signed a treaty with the native Caribs in 1660. England took control of the island in 1663. In ensuing years, England and France fought 14 times for control of the island, and the rule of the island changed frequently. Eventually, the British took full control in 1814.[11] Because it switched so often between British and French control, Saint Lucia was also known as the "Helen of the West" after the Greek mythological character, Helen of Troy.[12]

Representative government was introduced in 1924 with universal suffrage being established in 1951.[13] From 1958 to 1962, the island was a member of the West Indies Federation. On 22 February 1979, Saint Lucia became an independent state, while remaining as a Commonwealth Realm.[9]

Saint Lucia is a member of the United Nations, the Organisation of American States, the World Trade Organization, CARICOM and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS). It is also a member of Organisation internationale de la Francophonie.[14]

Etymology

Saint Lucia was named after Saint Lucy of Syracuse (AD 283 – 304).[15] Saint Lucia and Ireland are the only two sovereign states in the world named after a woman (Ireland is named after the Celtic goddess of fertility Eire)[16] and Saint Lucia is the only one named after a human woman. Legend states that French sailors were shipwrecked on the island on 13 December, the feast day of St. Lucy, and therefore named the island in her honour.[17]

History

Pre-colonial period

The first proven inhabitants of Saint Lucia were the Arawaks, though there may have been other native peoples prior to them. The Arawak are believed to have come from northern South America sometime around AD 200–400, as there are numerous archaeological sites on the island where specimens of their well-developed pottery have been found. The Arawaks called the island Iouanalao, meaning 'Land of the Iguanas', due to the island's high number of iguanas.[18]

The Caribs arrived around AD 800, and seized control from the Arawaks by killing their men and assimilating the women into their own society.[18] They called the island Hewanarau, and later Hewanorra, which means "there where iguanas are found".[19]

Early European period

It is possible that Christopher Columbus may have sighted the island during his fourth voyage in 1502, but he does not mention the island in his log. Juan de la Cosa noted the island on his map of 1500, calling it El Falcon, and another island to the south Las Agujas. A Spanish cédula from 1511 mentions the island within the Spanish domain, and a globe in the Vatican made in 1520, shows the island as Sancta Lucia.[20]

In the late 1550s, the French pirate François le Clerc (known as Jambe de Bois, due to his wooden leg) set up a camp on Pigeon Island, from where he attacked passing Spanish ships. In 1605, an English vessel called the Oliphe Blossome was blown off-course on its way to Guyana, and the 67 colonists started a settlement on Saint Lucia, after initially being welcomed by the Carib chief Anthonie. By 26 September 1605, only 19 survived following continued attacks by the Carib chief Augraumart, so the settlers fled the island.[21] The English tried to settle the island again in 1638, but the Caribs continued to be hostile. Eventually, the French successfully claimed the island in 1650 and they signed a treaty with the Caribs in 1660.[22] In 1664, Thomas Warner (son of Sir Thomas Warner, the governor of St Kitts) claimed Saint Lucia for England but the English fled again in 1666, with the French gaining full control of the island after the signing of the Treaty of Breda. Saint Lucia was made an official French crown colony in 1674, as a dependency of Martinique.[23]

18th and 19th centuries

After the slave-based sugar industry developed, both the British and the French found the island attractive. During the 18th century, the island changed ownership, or was declared neutral territory, a dozen times, although the French settlements remained and the island was a de facto French colony well into the eighteenth century.

In 1722, George I of Great Britain granted both Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent to the 2nd Duke of Montagu. Montague appointed Nathaniel Uring, a merchant sea captain and adventurer, as deputy-governor. Uring went to the islands with a group of seven ships, and established settlement at Petit Carenage. Unable to get enough support from British warships, he and the new colonists were quickly run off by the French.[24]

During the Seven Years' War, Britain occupied Saint Lucia for a year, but handed the island back to the French in 1763, under the Treaty of Paris. Like the English and Dutch on other islands, in 1765, the French began to develop the land for the cultivation of sugar cane as a commodity crop on large plantations. The British occupied the island again in 1778.

From 1782 to 1803, control of the island switched multiple times. In January 1791, during the French Revolution, the National Assembly sent four commissaires to St Lucia to spread the revolutionary philosophy. By August 1791, slaves began to abandon their estates and Governor Jean-Joseph Sourbader de Gimat fled. In December 1792, Lt. Jean-Baptiste Raymond de Lacrosse arrived with revolutionary pamphlets, and the impoverished whites and free people of colour began to arm themselves as patriots. On 1 February 1793, France declared war on England and Holland, and General Nicolas Xavier de Ricard took over as Governor. The National Convention abolished enslavement on 4 February 1794. On 1 April 1794, St. Lucia was captured by a British expeditionary force led by Vice Admiral John Jervis. Morne Fortune was renamed Fort Charlotte. Soon, a combined force of French Revolutionary Army soldiers and maroons, L'Armee Française dans les Bois, began to fight back, starting the First Brigand War.[25]

A short time later, the British invaded the island as a part of the war with France that had recently broken out. On 21 February 1795, French forces under the nominal control of Victor Hugues, defeated a battalion of British troops at Vieux Fort and Rabot. In 1796, Castries was burned as part of the conflict. Leading the 27th Inniskilling Fusiliers, General John Moore retook Fort Charlotte in 1796, after two days of bitter fighting. As an honour, the Fusiliers' regimental colour was displayed on the flagstaff of the captured fortress at Morne Fortune for an hour before being replaced by the Union Jack.[26] Upon the capture of the fort, Moore's superior, Ralph Abercromby, departed the island and placed Moore in charge of the British garrison. Moore remained at this post until falling ill with yellow fever, leading to his return to Britain before 1798.

In 1803, the British regained control of the island. Many members of the L'Armee Française dans les Bois escaped into the thick rainforest where they evaded capture and established maroon communities.[27]

Slavery on the island continued for a short time, but anti-slavery sentiment was rising in Britain. The British stopped the import of slaves by anyone, white or coloured, when they abolished the slave trade in 1807.

France and Great Britain continued to contest Saint Lucia until the British secured it in 1814, as part of the Treaty of Paris, ending the Napoleonic Wars. Thereafter, Saint Lucia was considered one of the British Windward Islands colonies.

The institution of slavery was abolished on the island in 1834, as it was throughout the British Empire. After abolition, all former slaves had to serve a four-year "apprenticeship", to accustom them to the idea of freedom. During that period, they worked for their former masters for at least three-quarters of the work week. Full freedom was duly granted by the British in 1838. By that time, people of African ethnicity greatly outnumbered those of ethnic European background. People of Carib descent also comprised a minority on the island.

 

20th century

Saint Lucia's first representative government was introduced in 1924, with the first election taking place in 1925. Many Saint Lucians served during the Second World War, and the conflict visited the island directly during the Battle of the Caribbean, when a German U-boat attacked and sank two British ships in Castries harbour on March 9, 1942. The United States used the island as a military hub during the war, including setting up a secondary naval base in Gros Islet and using what is now the island's international airport as an air force base.

Universal suffrage was introduced in 1951 and elections were held the same year. In 1958, Saint Lucia joined the West Indies Federation, although the federation was dissolved just years later in 1962. In 1967, Saint Lucia became one of the six members of the West Indies Associated States, with internal self-government. Independence was peacefully gained in 1979 under Sir John Compton of United Workers Party, with the island remaining within the British Commonwealth, keeping then-Queen Elizabeth II as Monarch, represented locally by a Governor-General.

Post-independence era

Despite leading the country to independence, Compton's initial term as Prime Minister lasted only a few months, being defeated by the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) under Allan Louisy in the 1979 Saint Lucian general election. In 1980, Hurricane Allen struck the island, destroying much of its infrastructure and reducing economic growth. Compton returned to power after the 1982 Saint Lucian general election after much instability during the labour government's term.[28] During Compton's 2nd time as the island's leader, banana exports significantly increased and easily became the nation's main source of revenue. There were also improvements to infrastructure, and education was expanded to rural areas. Saint Lucia was also key to the US invasion of Grenada.[29] During the 90s and 2000s, the nation's economy began shifting away from agriculture to tourism under the leadership of Kenny Anthony. The 9/11 attacks saw the deaths of 2 Saint Lucians, and caused an economic slowdown in the country, although growth remained decent until the beginning of the Great Recession. The recession, as well as the landfall of Hurricane Tomas in 2010, led to slow economic growth during the early 2010s, although the economy picked up during the later part of the decade and avoided contraction until 2020, after the Covid-19 pandemic caused major economic problems globally.

Geography

 
A map of Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia has a total area of 617 square kilometers (238 sq mi). As a volcanic island, Saint Lucia is very mountainous, with its highest point being Mount Gimie, at 950 metres (3,120 feet) above sea level.[15][30] The Pitons, two mountainous volcanic plugs, form the island's most famous landmark.[15][30] Saint Lucia is also home to the world's only drive in volcano, the Sulphur Springs. There are a number of small islands off the coast, the largest of which are the Maria Islands, located in the south-east of the island.

Saint Lucia lies between latitude 14° N and longitude 61° W. The population tends to be concentrated around the coast, with the interior more sparsely populated, due to the presence of dense forests.[15][30] Many species are endemic to the island, including the Anolis luciae, a species of lizard,[31][32] and the Boa orophias, a species of boid snake.

Saint Lucia has five terrestrial ecoregions: Windward Islands moist forests, Leeward Islands dry forests, Windward Islands dry forests, Windward Islands xeric scrub, and Lesser Antilles mangroves.[33] The country had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6.17/10, ranking it 84th globally out of 172 countries.[34]

Climate

Saint Lucia has a tropical climate, specifically a tropical rainforest climate (Af), moderated by northeast trade winds, with a dry season from 1 December to 31 May, and a wet/rainy season from 1 June to 30 November.

Average daytime and nighttime temperatures are around 30 °C (86.0 °F), and 24 °C (75.2 °F) respectively. Being fairly close to the equator, the island's temperature does not fluctuate much between winter and summer.

Climate data for St Lucia
Month Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec Year
Average high °C (°F) 29
(84)
29
(84)
29
(84)
30
(86)
31
(88)
31
(88)
31
(88)
31
(88)
31
(88)
31
(88)
30
(86)
29
(84)
30
(86)
Daily mean °C (°F) 26
(79)
26
(79)
26
(79)
27
(81)
28
(82)
28
(82)
28
(82)
28
(82)
28
(82)
28
(82)
27
(81)
26
(79)
27
(81)
Average low °C (°F) 23
(73)
23
(73)
24
(75)
24
(75)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
25
(77)
24
(75)
24
(75)
24
(76)
Average precipitation mm (inches) 125
(4.9)
95
(3.7)
75
(3.0)
90
(3.5)
125
(4.9)
200
(7.9)
245
(9.6)
205
(8.1)
225
(8.9)
260
(10.2)
215
(8.5)
160
(6.3)
2,020
(79.5)
Average precipitation days 14 9 10 10 11 15 18 16 17 20 18 16 174
Mean monthly sunshine hours 248 226 248 240 248 240 248 248 240 217 240 248 2,891
Source: climatestotravel[35]

Geology

 
Geologic map of Saint Lucia.
 
Topography of the Soufriere Volcanic Complex

The geology of St. Lucia can be described as composing three main areas. The oldest, 16–18 Ma, volcanic rocks are exposed from Castries northward and consist of eroded basalt and andesite centres. The middle, central highlands, portion of the island consists of dissected andesite centres, 10.4 to 1 Mya, while the lower southwest portion of the island contains recent activity from the Soufriere Volcanic Centre (SVC). This SVC, centred about the Qualibou depression, contains pyroclastic flow deposits, lava flows, domes, block and ash flow deposits, and explosion craters. This depression's perimeter includes the town of Soufriere, Mount Tabac, Mt. Gimie, Morne Bonin, and Gros Piton. At 10 kilometres (6.2 mi) in diameter, though the western portion is open towards the Grenada basin, the depression formed as recently as 100 kya. The depression is noted for its geothermal activity, especially at Sulphur Springs and Soufrière Estates, a phreatic eruption in 1776, and recent seismic activity (2000–2001).[36]

Eroded andesitic stratovolcanoes to the north east of the depression include Mt. Gimie, Piton St Esprit, and Mt. Grand Magazin, all greater than 1 Ma in age. Andesitic and dacite pyroclastic flows from these volcanoes are found at Morne Tabac dome (532 ka), Morne Bonin dome (273 kya), and Bellevue (264 kya). Avalanche deposits from the formation of the Qualibou depression are found offshore, and in the massive blocks of Rabot, Pleisance, and Coubaril. The dacitic domes of Petit Piton (109 kya) and Gros Piton (71 kya) were then extruded onto the depression floor accompanied by the Anse John (104 kya) and La Pointe (59.8 kya) pyroclastic flows. Later, pyroclastic flows include pumice-rich Belfond and Anse Noir (20 kya). Finally, the dacitic domes of Terre Blanche (15.3 kya) and Belfond (13.6 kya) formed within the depression.[36]

Government

Like most Caribbean countries, Saint Lucia is a unitary state with a parliamentary system. It is a Commonwealth realm and a constitutional monarchy, with the current monarch being Charles III, who is represented on the island by a governor-general, currently Errol Charles. The prime minister (currently Philip J. Pierre) is the head of government, the head of the cabinet, and is normally the leader of the largest party in the House of Assembly. The house has 17 seats, with each member being elected via a plurality of votes in their constituency. The upper chamber of Parliament is the Senate which has 11 appointed members, the majority of which are appointed by the Prime Minister.

Administrative divisions

 
The 10 Districts of Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is made up of 10 districts. The districts were created and named by French colonials, and the British chose to keep the names in an anglicised form. The largest district in both size and population is Castries, where the nation's capital of the same name is located. The following are the 10 districts placed in alphabetical order:

Law and crime

Saint Lucia is a mixed jurisdiction,[37] meaning that it has a legal system based in part on both the civil law and English common law. The Civil Code of St. Lucia of 1867 was based on the Quebec Civil Code of 1866, as supplemented by English common law-style legislation. The British Privy Council is Saint Lucia's final court of appeal, although there are plans to switch to the Caribbean Court of Justice.[38]

Saint Lucia's homicide rate has hit record highs in recent years. There were 75 homicides in 2021, a 34.5% increase compared with 55 homicides in 2020. 2021 saw the island record the most homicides in its history, and also its highest murder rate in its history, at 40 murders per 100,000 people.

Foreign relations

Saint Lucia is a member of the Caribbean Community, OECS, the Organization of American States and La Francophonie. As a Commonwealth Realm, Saint Lucia has relatively friendly relations with United Kingdom and Canada. France is also a major ally, in part due to Saint Lucia's border with Martinique. The United States is the island's largest trading partner, and Saint Lucia was key to the US invasion of Grenada in 1983, and voted against condemning the invasion. Saint Lucia became the 152nd member of the United Nations on December 9, 1979.

Saint Lucia does not have a military although the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has a Special Service Unit (SSU) and a Coast Guard. The island signed the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2018.

Economy

 
A proportional representation of Saint Lucia exports, 2019
 
Saint Lucia electricity production by source

Saint Lucia is a Small Island Developing State, a designation similar to a developing country with a few substantial differences due to Saint Lucia's island nature.[39][40] The service sector is the largest sector of the economy, accounting for 86.9% of GDP in 2020, followed by industrial and agricultural sectors at 10.9% and 2.2%, respectively.[3]

Saint Lucia has been able to attract foreign business and investment due to its educated workforce and improvements in roads, communications, water supply, sewerage, and port facilities. Like most small islands, Tourism and offshore banking are Saint Lucia's main sources of revenue.[41] Agriculture, specifically the banana industry, was previously the largest sector of the economy, although its importance has declined significantly. The island's manufacturing sector has been called the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean, with goods such as plastic being produced on a large scale.

Saint Lucia's currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$), a regional currency shared among members of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECU). The country's main trade partners are the US, UK, EU and other CARICOM countries.

Tourism

 
Gros Islet and Rodney Bay, as seen from Pigeon Island

Tourism is easily the largest contributor to Saint Lucia's economy. Tourist numbers tend to be more substantial during the dry season (January to April), often referred to as the tourist season. Saint Lucia's tropical weather, scenery, beaches and resorts have made it a popular tourist destination, with 1.29 million visitors arriving in 2019.[42]

Some of Saint Lucia's tourist attractions include the Sulphur Springs, the Botanical Gardens, Pigeon Island and The Pitons.

Agriculture

The agricultural sector was once the main contributor to Saint Lucia's economy. This was especially thanks to the exporting of bananas. However, its importance to the economy has declined significantly, in part due to increased competition from South American countries in the banana industry. Nevertheless, agriculture is still an important part of the country's economy, providing 7.9% of jobs and contributing to 2.2% of the GDP in 2021.

About 18% of land is used for agricultural practices.[43] Bananas remain the main agricultural product grown in Saint Lucia, as well as coconuts, cocoa beans, mangoes, avocados, vegetables, citrus fruits, and root crops such as yams and sweet potatoes.

Saint Lucia also has a small livestock sector, which is dominated by poultry. The island is self-sufficient in egg production and production of poultry and pork has increased in recent years. Fishing has also been of considerable importance to the nation's economy.

Infrastructure

Saint Lucia has a wide ranging public bus network which covers most of the island. Busses are owned by private individuals, whilst the government is responsible for setting up routes and hubs. The road network covers most of the island, although some rural areas still lack access to proper roads.

The island has two airports, including one International airport. Cruising and yachting are very important to the country's economy, with the main sea port being located in Castries, while the main marina is located in Rodney Bay. Meanwhile, the nation's main oil refinery is located in Bexon.[44]

The main source of electricity in Saint Lucia is oil, although solar energy is also a major source. There have also been attempts to introduce geothermal and wind energy to the island.

Demographics

A census is normally held in Saint Lucia every 10 years. In the last census, held in 2010, Saint Lucia reported a population of 165,595 in 58,920 households.[45] This was a 5.1% increase from the 157,490 recorded at the previous census in 2001.[46] Ages 0–14 made up 24.1% of the population whilst those 65 and over made up 8.6%. Nearly 40% of the island's population lived in the District of Castries, where the nation's capital of the same name is located.

Saint Lucia had a fertility rate of 1.4 children per woman in 2021, the lowest in the Americas. This is much lower than in 1990, when the birth rate was 3.4 children per woman, and significantly lower than in 1959, when the birth rate peaked at 6.98 children per woman.[47] Most emigration from Saint Lucia is primarily to Anglophone countries, with the United Kingdom having almost 10,000 Saint Lucian-born citizens, and over 30,000 of Saint Lucian heritage. Many Saint Lucian emigrants call The United States home, especially areas such as Miami and New York. Canada is also home to many Saint Lucians. The median age of Saint Lucians was 33.1 years in 2021.[48]

Ethnic groups

Saint Lucia was originally populated by Amerindian peoples. However, European colonisation led to a significant drop in the indigenous populations. Whilst most residents of the island were white planters, African slaves and Indentured servants brought by the Europeans would eventually outnumber them. Because of this, Saint Lucia's population is predominantly of African and mixed descent. As of 2010, 85.3% of the population are black and 10.9% are of multiracial descent. Other groups include Indo-Caribbean persons (2.2%), whites (0.6%), and Indigenous Persons (0.6%).

Languages

The official language of Saint Lucia is English. However, there are other widely spoken languages on the island, namely Saint Lucian French Creole (Kwéyòl). Referred to colloquially as Patois ("Patwa"), it is spoken by a majority of the population.[49] It developed during the early period of French colonisation and is derived chiefly from French and West African languages. There have been some attempts to make the language official, but they have not yet been successful.

Religion

Religion in Saint Lucia (2010 census)[3]

  Christianity (90.3%)
  Irreligion (5.9%)
  Rastafari (1.9%)
  Other Religions (0.5%)
  Not Stated (1.4%)

In the 2010 census, a majority of Saint Lucians identified as Christians. This can be traced back to the nation's colonization by French and British settlers. Due to heavy French influence, most Christians on the island are Catholics, with 61.5% of the island's residents identifying as such. 25.5% of the island's residents identify as Protestants. In addition, 1.9% of the population identified as members of the Rastafari movement. The number of residents claiming no religion stood at 5.9% in 2010.

There is no state religion in Saint Lucia. The nation's constitution guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits forcing persons to take oath to any religion in which they do not follow. Religious groups are also guaranteed the freedom to establish places of education.[50]

Education

Most primary and secondary schools in Saint Lucia are operated by the government. Education is free and compulsory for children aged 5 to 15. This includes 7 years of primary school and 3 of 5 years of secondary school.[51] In the last two years of secondary school, students are allowed to choose the subjects that they would like to do, in preparation for regional CSEC examinations. In 2020, public spending on education was at 3.6%.[52]

Tertiary educational facilities on the island are normally private institutions. These include Monroe College and International American University. However, there are still a few public institutions, including the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and the University of the West Indies.

Healthcare

 
The OKEU Hospital, opened in 2020, is the main healthcare facility in Saint Lucia.

Health services in Saint Lucia are split between the government and private institutions. The island is served by 2 public hospitals and multiple health centers, although most dental and vision services are private. Public expenditure on healthcare stood at 2.1% in 2019.

In 2021, life expectancy was at 71.1 years (67.8 for men and 74.7 for women). This was compared to 73.4 years in 2019.[53] The drop in life expectancy was largely attributed to the Covid-19 Pandemic, as well as a large increase in homicides.

Culture

The culture of Saint Lucia has been influenced by African, East Indian, French, and English heritage. The main secondary language of the island is Saint Lucian Creole (Kwéyòl), a French based creole spoken by most of the population.[2][54] The island boasts the highest ratio of Nobel laureates produced with respect to the total population of any sovereign country in the world.[a] Two winners have come from Saint Lucia: Sir Arthur Lewis, who won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1979,[55] and the poet Derek Walcott, who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1992.[56] Saint Lucia has two flower festivals, the La Rose festival, celebrated on August 30, and the La Marguerite festival, celebrated on October 17. Every summer, the island hosts a carnival as a way to present the country's culture and music. Annually, there are normally many festivals, most of them being music related.

Music

Saint Lucian music is heavily influenced by elements of African music, especially rhythmically. The most popular music genres in Saint Lucia are calypso, soca, dancehall, reggae, zouk, and folk music. Dennery Segment, a subgenre of soca, was developed on the island. The internationally renowned Saint Lucia Jazz Festival is held annually, and the festival is a major source of revenue for the country's economy.

Food

Saint Lucia's cuisine is a unique blend of European (mainly British and French) and Indian cuisine. Some common dishes include macaroni pie, stewed chicken, rice and peas, roti and soups packed full with fresh locally produced vegetables. All mainstream meat and poultry are eaten in St. Lucia; meat and seafood are normally stewed and browned to create a rich gravy sometimes served over ground provisions or rice. Johnny Cakes (known as bakes) are also common, and are served with different sides, such as saltfish. The national dish of Saint Lucia is green figs and saltfish.

Sports

 
The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Beausejour.

Like most Caribbean islands, cricket is the most popular sport in Saint Lucia. The Windward Islands cricket team includes players from Saint Lucia and plays in the West Indies regional tournament. Daren Sammy became the first Saint Lucian to represent the West Indies on his debut in 2007, and was made captain in 2010.[57] Sailing is also a major sport in Saint Lucia, with the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC) race beginning in the Canary Islands and ending on the island. Other sports that are popular on the island include football, basketball, swimming, tennis, golf and volleyball. Karate and boxing have also seen increased popularity in recent years.

See also

Notes

References

  1. ^ Saint Lucia in Geonames.org (cc-by)
  2. ^ a b . Castries, St. Lucia: St. Lucia Tourist Board. Archived from the original on 5 June 2013. The official language spoken in Saint Lucia is English although many Saint Lucians also speak a French dialect, Creole (Kwéyòl).
  3. ^ a b c "Saint Lucia". CIA World Factbook. Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  4. ^ "Religions in St Lucia | PEW-GRF".
  5. ^ https://www.imf.org/external/datamapper/profile/LCA
  6. ^ a b c "St. Lucia". International Monetary Fund. 2016.
  7. ^ "Gini Index coefficient". CIA World Factbook. Retrieved 3 August 2021.
  8. ^ "Human Development Report 2021/2022" (PDF). United Nations Development Programme. 8 September 2022. Retrieved 8 September 2022.
  9. ^ a b "The Saint Lucia Constitution" (1978-December-20 effective 1979-February-22), Government of St. Lucia, December 2008.
  10. ^ Hyacinth-Gideon, C. (29 July 2014). Saint Lucia. Author House. ISBN 978-1-4969-8483-8.
  11. ^ "Saint Lucia". CARICOM. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  12. ^ "History of Saint Lucia". embassyofsaintlucia. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  13. ^ "Election Timeline of Saint Lucia".
  14. ^ (PDF). Undp.org. 2008. Archived from the original on 12 January 2012.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  15. ^ a b c d "CIA World Factbook – St Lucia". Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  16. ^ Hartston, William (21 February 2016). "Top 10 facts about St Lucia". Express.co.uk. Retrieved 13 June 2016.
  17. ^ Harmsen, Ellis & Devaux 2014, p. 14.
  18. ^ a b "All About St. Lucia". All About St. Lucia.
  19. ^ Harmsen, Ellis & Devaux 2014, p. 10.
  20. ^ "Saint Lucia". CARICOM. Retrieved 2 December 2022.
  21. ^ Harmsen, Ellis & Devaux 2014, pp. 16–21.
  22. ^ "Saint Lucia - History | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  23. ^ "Saint Lucia – History | Britannica". www.britannica.com. Retrieved 29 November 2022.
  24. ^   This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domainChichester, Henry Manners (1894). "Montagu, John (1688?-1749)". In Lee, Sidney (ed.). Dictionary of National Biography. Vol. 38. London: Smith, Elder & Co.
  25. ^ Harmsen, Ellis & Devaux 2014, pp. 60–65.
  26. ^ Trimble, Copeland (1876). Historical record of the 27th (Inniskilling) Regiment from the period of its institution as a volunteer corps till the present time. William Clowes. p. 49.
  27. ^ They Called Us the Brigands. The Saga of St. Lucia's Freedom Fighters by Robert J Devaux
  28. ^ "St. Lucia Premier Quits Over a Series of Strikes". The New York Times. 17 January 1982. Retrieved 22 February 2010.
  29. ^ "Sir John Compton". the Guardian. 9 September 2007. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  30. ^ a b c "Encyclopædia Britannica – St Lucia". Retrieved 30 June 2019.
  31. ^ Beolens, Bo; Watkins, Michael; Grayson, Michael (2011). The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles. Baltimore: Johns Hopkins University Press. xiii + 296 pp. ISBN 978-1-4214-0135-5. ("Lucia", p. 162).
  32. ^ Species Anolis luciae at The Reptile Database . www.reptile-database.org
  33. ^ Dinerstein, Eric; et al. (2017). "An Ecoregion-Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm". BioScience. 67 (6): 534–545. doi:10.1093/biosci/bix014. ISSN 0006-3568. PMC 5451287. PMID 28608869.
  34. ^ Grantham, H. S.; et al. (2020). "Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40% of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity – Supplementary Material". Nature Communications. 11 (1): 5978. Bibcode:2020NatCo..11.5978G. doi:10.1038/s41467-020-19493-3. ISSN 2041-1723. PMC 7723057. PMID 33293507.
  35. ^ "St Lucia climate". Climates to travel. Retrieved 14 November 2018.
  36. ^ a b Lindsay, Jan; Trumbull, Robert; Schmitt, Axel; Stockli, Daniel; Shane, Phil; Howe, Tracy (2013). "Volcanic stratigraphy and geochemistry of the Soufriere Volcanic Centre, Saint Lucia with implications for volcanic hazards". Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research. 258: 126–142. Bibcode:2013JVGR..258..126L. doi:10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2013.04.011.
  37. ^ Mixed Legal Systems. juriglobe.ca
  38. ^ "Pierre - British Government have no objection to St Lucia joining CCJ | Loop St. Lucia". Loop News. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  39. ^ "Small Island Developing States". New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  40. ^ "List of Small Island Developing States". New York: United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development. Retrieved 13 March 2018.
  41. ^ "Find a business in Saint Lucia". London: Commonwealth of Nations.
  42. ^ "'Saint Lucia's tourism industry way behind required pace' - Fedee | Loop St. Lucia". Loop News. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  43. ^ "CIA Factobook, Saint Lucia". Central Intelligence Agency. Retrieved 22 August 2021.
  44. ^ "Google Earth". earth.google.com. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  45. ^ https://unstats.un.org/unsd/demographic/sources/census/wphc/Saint_Lucia/SL_PreCensusRepApr11.pdf
  46. ^ https://stats.gov.lc/wp-content/uploads/2018/07/2001-Population-and-Housing-Census-Report.pdf
  47. ^ "Fertility rate: children per woman". Our World in Data. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  48. ^ "Median age". Our World in Data. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  49. ^ . Government of Saint Lucia. Archived from the original on 2 April 2012. Retrieved 22 August 2008.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link)
  50. ^ https://www.govt.lc/media.govt.lc/www/resources/legislation/ConstitutionOfSaintLucia.pdf
  51. ^ http://stluciateachersunion.com/simages/Saint%20Lucia%20Education%20Act%201999.pdf
  52. ^ "Total government expenditure on education". Our World in Data. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
  53. ^ "Saint Lucia data | World Health Organization". data.who.int. Retrieved 12 December 2022.
  54. ^ Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs (U.S. Department of State) (12 August 2011). "Background Note: Saint Lucia". United States Department of State. Retrieved 11 November 2011. Languages: English (official); a French patois is common throughout the country.
  55. ^ "The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 1979". Nobel Prize. Retrieved 12 March 2022.
  56. ^ "The Nobel Prize in Literature 1992". NobelPrize.org. Retrieved 19 December 2022.
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Sources

  • Harmsen, Jolien; Ellis, Guy; Devaux, Robert (2014). A History of St Lucia. Vieux Fort: Lighthouse Road. ISBN 9789769534001.
  •   This article incorporates public domain material from "Saint Lucia". World Factbook. CIA.

External links

  • Official website  
  •   Wikimedia Atlas of Saint Lucia
  • Saint Lucia at Curlie
  • from UCB Libraries GovPubs
  • St. Lucia from the BBC News
  • Key Development Forecasts for Saint Lucia from International Futures
  • Office of the Prime Minister

saint, lucia, this, article, about, country, other, uses, disambiguation, creole, french, sent, lisi, french, sainte, lucie, island, country, west, indies, eastern, caribbean, island, previously, called, iouanalao, later, hewanorra, names, given, native, arawa. This article is about the country For other uses see Saint Lucia disambiguation Saint Lucia Saint Lucian Creole French Sent Lisi French Sainte Lucie is an island country of the West Indies in the eastern Caribbean 9 The island was previously called Iouanalao and later Hewanorra names given by the native Arawaks and Caribs two Amerindian peoples 10 Part of the Windward Islands of the Lesser Antilles it is located north northeast of the island of Saint Vincent northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique It covers a land area of 617 km2 238 square miles with an estimated population of over 180 000 people as of 2022 The national capital is the city of Castries Saint LuciaFlag Coat of armsMotto The Land The People The Light Anthem Sons and Daughters of Saint Lucia source source Location of Saint Lucia circled in red in the CaribbeanCapitaland largest cityCastries13 53 00 N 60 58 00 W 13 88333 N 60 96667 W 13 88333 60 96667 Coordinates 13 53 00 N 60 58 00 W 13 88333 N 60 96667 W 13 88333 60 96667 1 Official languagesEnglishVernacular languagesSt Lucian Creole 2 Ethnic groups 2010 3 85 3 Black African 10 9 Mixed2 2 Indian1 6 Other UnspecifiedReligion 2010 4 90 3 Christianity5 9 No religion1 9 Rastafari0 5 Other1 5 Not StatedDemonym s Saint LucianGovernmentUnitary parliamentary constitutional monarchy MonarchCharles III Governor GeneralErrol Charles acting Prime MinisterPhilip J PierreLegislatureParliament Upper houseSenate Lower houseHouse of AssemblyIndependence Associated State1 March 1967 Independence from the United Kingdom22 February 1979Area Total617 km2 238 sq mi 178th Water 1 6Population 2022 estimate184 961 189th 2010 census165 595 Density299 4 km2 775 4 sq mi 29th GDP PPP 2022 estimate Total 3 008 billion 5 193rd Per capita 16 417 6 92nd GDP nominal 2022 estimate Total 1 972 billion 6 188th Per capita 10 763 6 72nd Gini 2016 51 2 7 highHDI 2021 0 715 8 high 106thCurrencyE C Dollar XCD Time zoneUTC 4 AST Driving sideleftCalling code 1 758ISO 3166 codeLCInternet TLD lcThe first proven inhabitants of the island the Arawaks are believed to have first settled in AD 200 400 Around 800 AD the island would be taken over by the Kalinago The French were the first Europeans to settle on the island and they signed a treaty with the native Caribs in 1660 England took control of the island in 1663 In ensuing years England and France fought 14 times for control of the island and the rule of the island changed frequently Eventually the British took full control in 1814 11 Because it switched so often between British and French control Saint Lucia was also known as the Helen of the West after the Greek mythological character Helen of Troy 12 Representative government was introduced in 1924 with universal suffrage being established in 1951 13 From 1958 to 1962 the island was a member of the West Indies Federation On 22 February 1979 Saint Lucia became an independent state while remaining as a Commonwealth Realm 9 Saint Lucia is a member of the United Nations the Organisation of American States the World Trade Organization CARICOM and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States OECS It is also a member of Organisation internationale de la Francophonie 14 Contents 1 Etymology 2 History 2 1 Pre colonial period 2 2 Early European period 2 3 18th and 19th centuries 2 4 20th century 2 5 Post independence era 3 Geography 3 1 Climate 3 2 Geology 4 Government 4 1 Administrative divisions 4 2 Law and crime 4 3 Foreign relations 5 Economy 5 1 Tourism 5 2 Agriculture 5 3 Infrastructure 6 Demographics 6 1 Ethnic groups 6 2 Languages 6 3 Religion 6 4 Education 6 5 Healthcare 7 Culture 7 1 Music 7 2 Food 7 3 Sports 8 See also 9 Notes 10 References 10 1 Sources 11 External linksEtymology EditSaint Lucia was named after Saint Lucy of Syracuse AD 283 304 15 Saint Lucia and Ireland are the only two sovereign states in the world named after a woman Ireland is named after the Celtic goddess of fertility Eire 16 and Saint Lucia is the only one named after a human woman Legend states that French sailors were shipwrecked on the island on 13 December the feast day of St Lucy and therefore named the island in her honour 17 History EditMain article History of Saint Lucia Pre colonial period Edit The first proven inhabitants of Saint Lucia were the Arawaks though there may have been other native peoples prior to them The Arawak are believed to have come from northern South America sometime around AD 200 400 as there are numerous archaeological sites on the island where specimens of their well developed pottery have been found The Arawaks called the island Iouanalao meaning Land of the Iguanas due to the island s high number of iguanas 18 The Caribs arrived around AD 800 and seized control from the Arawaks by killing their men and assimilating the women into their own society 18 They called the island Hewanarau and later Hewanorra which means there where iguanas are found 19 Early European period Edit It is possible that Christopher Columbus may have sighted the island during his fourth voyage in 1502 but he does not mention the island in his log Juan de la Cosa noted the island on his map of 1500 calling it El Falcon and another island to the south Las Agujas A Spanish cedula from 1511 mentions the island within the Spanish domain and a globe in the Vatican made in 1520 shows the island as Sancta Lucia 20 In the late 1550s the French pirate Francois le Clerc known as Jambe de Bois due to his wooden leg set up a camp on Pigeon Island from where he attacked passing Spanish ships In 1605 an English vessel called the Oliphe Blossome was blown off course on its way to Guyana and the 67 colonists started a settlement on Saint Lucia after initially being welcomed by the Carib chief Anthonie By 26 September 1605 only 19 survived following continued attacks by the Carib chief Augraumart so the settlers fled the island 21 The English tried to settle the island again in 1638 but the Caribs continued to be hostile Eventually the French successfully claimed the island in 1650 and they signed a treaty with the Caribs in 1660 22 In 1664 Thomas Warner son of Sir Thomas Warner the governor of St Kitts claimed Saint Lucia for England but the English fled again in 1666 with the French gaining full control of the island after the signing of the Treaty of Breda Saint Lucia was made an official French crown colony in 1674 as a dependency of Martinique 23 18th and 19th centuries Edit Main articles British West Indies and British Windward Islands After the slave based sugar industry developed both the British and the French found the island attractive During the 18th century the island changed ownership or was declared neutral territory a dozen times although the French settlements remained and the island was a de facto French colony well into the eighteenth century In 1722 George I of Great Britain granted both Saint Lucia and Saint Vincent to the 2nd Duke of Montagu Montague appointed Nathaniel Uring a merchant sea captain and adventurer as deputy governor Uring went to the islands with a group of seven ships and established settlement at Petit Carenage Unable to get enough support from British warships he and the new colonists were quickly run off by the French 24 During the Seven Years War Britain occupied Saint Lucia for a year but handed the island back to the French in 1763 under the Treaty of Paris Like the English and Dutch on other islands in 1765 the French began to develop the land for the cultivation of sugar cane as a commodity crop on large plantations The British occupied the island again in 1778 From 1782 to 1803 control of the island switched multiple times In January 1791 during the French Revolution the National Assembly sent four commissaires to St Lucia to spread the revolutionary philosophy By August 1791 slaves began to abandon their estates and Governor Jean Joseph Sourbader de Gimat fled In December 1792 Lt Jean Baptiste Raymond de Lacrosse arrived with revolutionary pamphlets and the impoverished whites and free people of colour began to arm themselves as patriots On 1 February 1793 France declared war on England and Holland and General Nicolas Xavier de Ricard took over as Governor The National Convention abolished enslavement on 4 February 1794 On 1 April 1794 St Lucia was captured by a British expeditionary force led by Vice Admiral John Jervis Morne Fortune was renamed Fort Charlotte Soon a combined force of French Revolutionary Army soldiers and maroons L Armee Francaise dans les Bois began to fight back starting the First Brigand War 25 A short time later the British invaded the island as a part of the war with France that had recently broken out On 21 February 1795 French forces under the nominal control of Victor Hugues defeated a battalion of British troops at Vieux Fort and Rabot In 1796 Castries was burned as part of the conflict Leading the 27th Inniskilling Fusiliers General John Moore retook Fort Charlotte in 1796 after two days of bitter fighting As an honour the Fusiliers regimental colour was displayed on the flagstaff of the captured fortress at Morne Fortune for an hour before being replaced by the Union Jack 26 Upon the capture of the fort Moore s superior Ralph Abercromby departed the island and placed Moore in charge of the British garrison Moore remained at this post until falling ill with yellow fever leading to his return to Britain before 1798 In 1803 the British regained control of the island Many members of the L Armee Francaise dans les Bois escaped into the thick rainforest where they evaded capture and established maroon communities 27 Slavery on the island continued for a short time but anti slavery sentiment was rising in Britain The British stopped the import of slaves by anyone white or coloured when they abolished the slave trade in 1807 France and Great Britain continued to contest Saint Lucia until the British secured it in 1814 as part of the Treaty of Paris ending the Napoleonic Wars Thereafter Saint Lucia was considered one of the British Windward Islands colonies The institution of slavery was abolished on the island in 1834 as it was throughout the British Empire After abolition all former slaves had to serve a four year apprenticeship to accustom them to the idea of freedom During that period they worked for their former masters for at least three quarters of the work week Full freedom was duly granted by the British in 1838 By that time people of African ethnicity greatly outnumbered those of ethnic European background People of Carib descent also comprised a minority on the island Flag of Saint Lucia 1939 1967 20th century Edit Saint Lucia s first representative government was introduced in 1924 with the first election taking place in 1925 Many Saint Lucians served during the Second World War and the conflict visited the island directly during the Battle of the Caribbean when a German U boat attacked and sank two British ships in Castries harbour on March 9 1942 The United States used the island as a military hub during the war including setting up a secondary naval base in Gros Islet and using what is now the island s international airport as an air force base Universal suffrage was introduced in 1951 and elections were held the same year In 1958 Saint Lucia joined the West Indies Federation although the federation was dissolved just years later in 1962 In 1967 Saint Lucia became one of the six members of the West Indies Associated States with internal self government Independence was peacefully gained in 1979 under Sir John Compton of United Workers Party with the island remaining within the British Commonwealth keeping then Queen Elizabeth II as Monarch represented locally by a Governor General Post independence era Edit Despite leading the country to independence Compton s initial term as Prime Minister lasted only a few months being defeated by the Saint Lucia Labour Party SLP under Allan Louisy in the 1979 Saint Lucian general election In 1980 Hurricane Allen struck the island destroying much of its infrastructure and reducing economic growth Compton returned to power after the 1982 Saint Lucian general election after much instability during the labour government s term 28 During Compton s 2nd time as the island s leader banana exports significantly increased and easily became the nation s main source of revenue There were also improvements to infrastructure and education was expanded to rural areas Saint Lucia was also key to the US invasion of Grenada 29 During the 90s and 2000s the nation s economy began shifting away from agriculture to tourism under the leadership of Kenny Anthony The 9 11 attacks saw the deaths of 2 Saint Lucians and caused an economic slowdown in the country although growth remained decent until the beginning of the Great Recession The recession as well as the landfall of Hurricane Tomas in 2010 led to slow economic growth during the early 2010s although the economy picked up during the later part of the decade and avoided contraction until 2020 after the Covid 19 pandemic caused major economic problems globally Geography EditMain article Geography of Saint Lucia A map of Saint Lucia Saint Lucia has a total area of 617 square kilometers 238 sq mi As a volcanic island Saint Lucia is very mountainous with its highest point being Mount Gimie at 950 metres 3 120 feet above sea level 15 30 The Pitons two mountainous volcanic plugs form the island s most famous landmark 15 30 Saint Lucia is also home to the world s only drive in volcano the Sulphur Springs There are a number of small islands off the coast the largest of which are the Maria Islands located in the south east of the island Saint Lucia lies between latitude 14 N and longitude 61 W The population tends to be concentrated around the coast with the interior more sparsely populated due to the presence of dense forests 15 30 Many species are endemic to the island including the Anolis luciae a species of lizard 31 32 and the Boa orophias a species of boid snake Saint Lucia has five terrestrial ecoregions Windward Islands moist forests Leeward Islands dry forests Windward Islands dry forests Windward Islands xeric scrub and Lesser Antilles mangroves 33 The country had a 2019 Forest Landscape Integrity Index mean score of 6 17 10 ranking it 84th globally out of 172 countries 34 Climate Edit Saint Lucia has a tropical climate specifically a tropical rainforest climate Af moderated by northeast trade winds with a dry season from 1 December to 31 May and a wet rainy season from 1 June to 30 November Average daytime and nighttime temperatures are around 30 C 86 0 F and 24 C 75 2 F respectively Being fairly close to the equator the island s temperature does not fluctuate much between winter and summer Climate data for St LuciaMonth Jan Feb Mar Apr May Jun Jul Aug Sep Oct Nov Dec YearAverage high C F 29 84 29 84 29 84 30 86 31 88 31 88 31 88 31 88 31 88 31 88 30 86 29 84 30 86 Daily mean C F 26 79 26 79 26 79 27 81 28 82 28 82 28 82 28 82 28 82 28 82 27 81 26 79 27 81 Average low C F 23 73 23 73 24 75 24 75 25 77 25 77 25 77 25 77 25 77 25 77 24 75 24 75 24 76 Average precipitation mm inches 125 4 9 95 3 7 75 3 0 90 3 5 125 4 9 200 7 9 245 9 6 205 8 1 225 8 9 260 10 2 215 8 5 160 6 3 2 020 79 5 Average precipitation days 14 9 10 10 11 15 18 16 17 20 18 16 174Mean monthly sunshine hours 248 226 248 240 248 240 248 248 240 217 240 248 2 891Source climatestotravel 35 Geology Edit Geologic map of Saint Lucia Topography of the Soufriere Volcanic Complex The geology of St Lucia can be described as composing three main areas The oldest 16 18 Ma volcanic rocks are exposed from Castries northward and consist of eroded basalt and andesite centres The middle central highlands portion of the island consists of dissected andesite centres 10 4 to 1 Mya while the lower southwest portion of the island contains recent activity from the Soufriere Volcanic Centre SVC This SVC centred about the Qualibou depression contains pyroclastic flow deposits lava flows domes block and ash flow deposits and explosion craters This depression s perimeter includes the town of Soufriere Mount Tabac Mt Gimie Morne Bonin and Gros Piton At 10 kilometres 6 2 mi in diameter though the western portion is open towards the Grenada basin the depression formed as recently as 100 kya The depression is noted for its geothermal activity especially at Sulphur Springs and Soufriere Estates a phreatic eruption in 1776 and recent seismic activity 2000 2001 36 Eroded andesitic stratovolcanoes to the north east of the depression include Mt Gimie Piton St Esprit and Mt Grand Magazin all greater than 1 Ma in age Andesitic and dacite pyroclastic flows from these volcanoes are found at Morne Tabac dome 532 ka Morne Bonin dome 273 kya and Bellevue 264 kya Avalanche deposits from the formation of the Qualibou depression are found offshore and in the massive blocks of Rabot Pleisance and Coubaril The dacitic domes of Petit Piton 109 kya and Gros Piton 71 kya were then extruded onto the depression floor accompanied by the Anse John 104 kya and La Pointe 59 8 kya pyroclastic flows Later pyroclastic flows include pumice rich Belfond and Anse Noir 20 kya Finally the dacitic domes of Terre Blanche 15 3 kya and Belfond 13 6 kya formed within the depression 36 Government EditMain article Politics of Saint Lucia Like most Caribbean countries Saint Lucia is a unitary state with a parliamentary system It is a Commonwealth realm and a constitutional monarchy with the current monarch being Charles III who is represented on the island by a governor general currently Errol Charles The prime minister currently Philip J Pierre is the head of government the head of the cabinet and is normally the leader of the largest party in the House of Assembly The house has 17 seats with each member being elected via a plurality of votes in their constituency The upper chamber of Parliament is the Senate which has 11 appointed members the majority of which are appointed by the Prime Minister Administrative divisions Edit Main article Districts of Saint Lucia The 10 Districts of Saint Lucia Saint Lucia is made up of 10 districts The districts were created and named by French colonials and the British chose to keep the names in an anglicised form The largest district in both size and population is Castries where the nation s capital of the same name is located The following are the 10 districts placed in alphabetical order Anse la Raye Canaries Castries Choiseul Dennery Gros Islet Laborie Micoud Soufriere Vieux FortLaw and crime Edit Main article Crime in Saint LuciaSaint Lucia is a mixed jurisdiction 37 meaning that it has a legal system based in part on both the civil law and English common law The Civil Code of St Lucia of 1867 was based on the Quebec Civil Code of 1866 as supplemented by English common law style legislation The British Privy Council is Saint Lucia s final court of appeal although there are plans to switch to the Caribbean Court of Justice 38 Saint Lucia s homicide rate has hit record highs in recent years There were 75 homicides in 2021 a 34 5 increase compared with 55 homicides in 2020 2021 saw the island record the most homicides in its history and also its highest murder rate in its history at 40 murders per 100 000 people Foreign relations Edit Main article Foreign relations of Saint Lucia Saint Lucia is a member of the Caribbean Community OECS the Organization of American States and La Francophonie As a Commonwealth Realm Saint Lucia has relatively friendly relations with United Kingdom and Canada France is also a major ally in part due to Saint Lucia s border with Martinique The United States is the island s largest trading partner and Saint Lucia was key to the US invasion of Grenada in 1983 and voted against condemning the invasion Saint Lucia became the 152nd member of the United Nations on December 9 1979 Saint Lucia does not have a military although the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force has a Special Service Unit SSU and a Coast Guard The island signed the UN Treaty on the Prohibition of Nuclear Weapons in 2018 Economy EditMain article Economy of Saint Lucia A proportional representation of Saint Lucia exports 2019 Saint Lucia electricity production by source Saint Lucia is a Small Island Developing State a designation similar to a developing country with a few substantial differences due to Saint Lucia s island nature 39 40 The service sector is the largest sector of the economy accounting for 86 9 of GDP in 2020 followed by industrial and agricultural sectors at 10 9 and 2 2 respectively 3 Saint Lucia has been able to attract foreign business and investment due to its educated workforce and improvements in roads communications water supply sewerage and port facilities Like most small islands Tourism and offshore banking are Saint Lucia s main sources of revenue 41 Agriculture specifically the banana industry was previously the largest sector of the economy although its importance has declined significantly The island s manufacturing sector has been called the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean with goods such as plastic being produced on a large scale Saint Lucia s currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar EC a regional currency shared among members of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union ECU The country s main trade partners are the US UK EU and other CARICOM countries Tourism Edit Main article Tourism in Saint Lucia Gros Islet and Rodney Bay as seen from Pigeon Island Tourism is easily the largest contributor to Saint Lucia s economy Tourist numbers tend to be more substantial during the dry season January to April often referred to as the tourist season Saint Lucia s tropical weather scenery beaches and resorts have made it a popular tourist destination with 1 29 million visitors arriving in 2019 42 Some of Saint Lucia s tourist attractions include the Sulphur Springs the Botanical Gardens Pigeon Island and The Pitons Agriculture Edit The agricultural sector was once the main contributor to Saint Lucia s economy This was especially thanks to the exporting of bananas However its importance to the economy has declined significantly in part due to increased competition from South American countries in the banana industry Nevertheless agriculture is still an important part of the country s economy providing 7 9 of jobs and contributing to 2 2 of the GDP in 2021 About 18 of land is used for agricultural practices 43 Bananas remain the main agricultural product grown in Saint Lucia as well as coconuts cocoa beans mangoes avocados vegetables citrus fruits and root crops such as yams and sweet potatoes Saint Lucia also has a small livestock sector which is dominated by poultry The island is self sufficient in egg production and production of poultry and pork has increased in recent years Fishing has also been of considerable importance to the nation s economy Infrastructure Edit Saint Lucia has a wide ranging public bus network which covers most of the island Busses are owned by private individuals whilst the government is responsible for setting up routes and hubs The road network covers most of the island although some rural areas still lack access to proper roads The island has two airports including one International airport Cruising and yachting are very important to the country s economy with the main sea port being located in Castries while the main marina is located in Rodney Bay Meanwhile the nation s main oil refinery is located in Bexon 44 The main source of electricity in Saint Lucia is oil although solar energy is also a major source There have also been attempts to introduce geothermal and wind energy to the island Demographics EditMain article Demographics of Saint Lucia A census is normally held in Saint Lucia every 10 years In the last census held in 2010 Saint Lucia reported a population of 165 595 in 58 920 households 45 This was a 5 1 increase from the 157 490 recorded at the previous census in 2001 46 Ages 0 14 made up 24 1 of the population whilst those 65 and over made up 8 6 Nearly 40 of the island s population lived in the District of Castries where the nation s capital of the same name is located Saint Lucia had a fertility rate of 1 4 children per woman in 2021 the lowest in the Americas This is much lower than in 1990 when the birth rate was 3 4 children per woman and significantly lower than in 1959 when the birth rate peaked at 6 98 children per woman 47 Most emigration from Saint Lucia is primarily to Anglophone countries with the United Kingdom having almost 10 000 Saint Lucian born citizens and over 30 000 of Saint Lucian heritage Many Saint Lucian emigrants call The United States home especially areas such as Miami and New York Canada is also home to many Saint Lucians The median age of Saint Lucians was 33 1 years in 2021 48 Ethnic groups Edit Saint Lucia was originally populated by Amerindian peoples However European colonisation led to a significant drop in the indigenous populations Whilst most residents of the island were white planters African slaves and Indentured servants brought by the Europeans would eventually outnumber them Because of this Saint Lucia s population is predominantly of African and mixed descent As of 2010 85 3 of the population are black and 10 9 are of multiracial descent Other groups include Indo Caribbean persons 2 2 whites 0 6 and Indigenous Persons 0 6 Languages Edit The official language of Saint Lucia is English However there are other widely spoken languages on the island namely Saint Lucian French Creole Kweyol Referred to colloquially as Patois Patwa it is spoken by a majority of the population 49 It developed during the early period of French colonisation and is derived chiefly from French and West African languages There have been some attempts to make the language official but they have not yet been successful Religion Edit Religion in Saint Lucia 2010 census 3 Christianity 90 3 Irreligion 5 9 Rastafari 1 9 Other Religions 0 5 Not Stated 1 4 In the 2010 census a majority of Saint Lucians identified as Christians This can be traced back to the nation s colonization by French and British settlers Due to heavy French influence most Christians on the island are Catholics with 61 5 of the island s residents identifying as such 25 5 of the island s residents identify as Protestants In addition 1 9 of the population identified as members of the Rastafari movement The number of residents claiming no religion stood at 5 9 in 2010 There is no state religion in Saint Lucia The nation s constitution guarantees freedom of religion and prohibits forcing persons to take oath to any religion in which they do not follow Religious groups are also guaranteed the freedom to establish places of education 50 Education Edit Further information Education in Saint Lucia Most primary and secondary schools in Saint Lucia are operated by the government Education is free and compulsory for children aged 5 to 15 This includes 7 years of primary school and 3 of 5 years of secondary school 51 In the last two years of secondary school students are allowed to choose the subjects that they would like to do in preparation for regional CSEC examinations In 2020 public spending on education was at 3 6 52 Tertiary educational facilities on the island are normally private institutions These include Monroe College and International American University However there are still a few public institutions including the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College and the University of the West Indies Healthcare Edit Main article Health in Saint Lucia The OKEU Hospital opened in 2020 is the main healthcare facility in Saint Lucia Health services in Saint Lucia are split between the government and private institutions The island is served by 2 public hospitals and multiple health centers although most dental and vision services are private Public expenditure on healthcare stood at 2 1 in 2019 In 2021 life expectancy was at 71 1 years 67 8 for men and 74 7 for women This was compared to 73 4 years in 2019 53 The drop in life expectancy was largely attributed to the Covid 19 Pandemic as well as a large increase in homicides Culture EditMain article Culture of Saint Lucia The culture of Saint Lucia has been influenced by African East Indian French and English heritage The main secondary language of the island is Saint Lucian Creole Kweyol a French based creole spoken by most of the population 2 54 The island boasts the highest ratio of Nobel laureates produced with respect to the total population of any sovereign country in the world a Two winners have come from Saint Lucia Sir Arthur Lewis who won the Nobel Prize in Economics in 1979 55 and the poet Derek Walcott who received the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1992 56 Saint Lucia has two flower festivals the La Rose festival celebrated on August 30 and the La Marguerite festival celebrated on October 17 Every summer the island hosts a carnival as a way to present the country s culture and music Annually there are normally many festivals most of them being music related Music Edit Main article Music of Saint Lucia Saint Lucian music is heavily influenced by elements of African music especially rhythmically The most popular music genres in Saint Lucia are calypso soca dancehall reggae zouk and folk music Dennery Segment a subgenre of soca was developed on the island The internationally renowned Saint Lucia Jazz Festival is held annually and the festival is a major source of revenue for the country s economy Food Edit Main article Saint Lucian cuisine Saint Lucia s cuisine is a unique blend of European mainly British and French and Indian cuisine Some common dishes include macaroni pie stewed chicken rice and peas roti and soups packed full with fresh locally produced vegetables All mainstream meat and poultry are eaten in St Lucia meat and seafood are normally stewed and browned to create a rich gravy sometimes served over ground provisions or rice Johnny Cakes known as bakes are also common and are served with different sides such as saltfish The national dish of Saint Lucia is green figs and saltfish Sports Edit Main article Sport in Saint Lucia The Daren Sammy Cricket Ground in Beausejour Like most Caribbean islands cricket is the most popular sport in Saint Lucia The Windward Islands cricket team includes players from Saint Lucia and plays in the West Indies regional tournament Daren Sammy became the first Saint Lucian to represent the West Indies on his debut in 2007 and was made captain in 2010 57 Sailing is also a major sport in Saint Lucia with the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers ARC race beginning in the Canary Islands and ending on the island Other sports that are popular on the island include football basketball swimming tennis golf and volleyball Karate and boxing have also seen increased popularity in recent years See also Edit Geography portal North America portal Caribbean portalBritish African Caribbean people Chief Justice of the Leeward Islands Index of Saint Lucia related articles List of Caribbean islands List of colonial governors and administrators of Saint Lucia List of Saint Lucians Outline of Saint Lucia West Indies FederationNotes Edit See List of countries by Nobel laureates per capita for more information References Edit Saint Lucia in Geonames org cc by a b About St Lucia Castries St Lucia St Lucia Tourist Board Archived from the original on 5 June 2013 The official language spoken in Saint Lucia is English although many Saint Lucians also speak a French dialect Creole Kweyol a b c Saint Lucia CIA World Factbook Central Intelligence Agency Retrieved 13 March 2018 Religions in St Lucia PEW GRF https www imf org external datamapper profile LCA a b c St Lucia International Monetary Fund 2016 Gini Index coefficient CIA World Factbook Retrieved 3 August 2021 Human Development Report 2021 2022 PDF United Nations Development Programme 8 September 2022 Retrieved 8 September 2022 a b The Saint Lucia Constitution 1978 December 20 effective 1979 February 22 Government of St Lucia December 2008 Hyacinth Gideon C 29 July 2014 Saint Lucia Author House ISBN 978 1 4969 8483 8 Saint Lucia CARICOM Retrieved 2 December 2022 History of Saint Lucia embassyofsaintlucia Retrieved 29 November 2022 Election Timeline of Saint Lucia Human development indices PDF Undp org 2008 Archived from the original on 12 January 2012 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link a b c d CIA World Factbook St Lucia Retrieved 30 June 2019 Hartston William 21 February 2016 Top 10 facts about St Lucia Express co uk Retrieved 13 June 2016 Harmsen Ellis amp Devaux 2014 p 14 a b All About St Lucia All About St Lucia Harmsen Ellis amp Devaux 2014 p 10 Saint Lucia CARICOM Retrieved 2 December 2022 Harmsen Ellis amp Devaux 2014 pp 16 21 Saint Lucia History Britannica www britannica com Retrieved 19 December 2022 Saint Lucia History Britannica www britannica com Retrieved 29 November 2022 This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Chichester Henry Manners 1894 Montagu John 1688 1749 In Lee Sidney ed Dictionary of National Biography Vol 38 London Smith Elder amp Co Harmsen Ellis amp Devaux 2014 pp 60 65 Trimble Copeland 1876 Historical record of the 27th Inniskilling Regiment from the period of its institution as a volunteer corps till the present time William Clowes p 49 They Called Us the Brigands The Saga of St Lucia s Freedom Fighters by Robert J Devaux St Lucia Premier Quits Over a Series of Strikes The New York Times 17 January 1982 Retrieved 22 February 2010 Sir John Compton the Guardian 9 September 2007 Retrieved 19 December 2022 a b c Encyclopaedia Britannica St Lucia Retrieved 30 June 2019 Beolens Bo Watkins Michael Grayson Michael 2011 The Eponym Dictionary of Reptiles Baltimore Johns Hopkins University Press xiii 296 pp ISBN 978 1 4214 0135 5 Lucia p 162 Species Anolis luciae at The Reptile Database www reptile database org Dinerstein Eric et al 2017 An Ecoregion Based Approach to Protecting Half the Terrestrial Realm BioScience 67 6 534 545 doi 10 1093 biosci bix014 ISSN 0006 3568 PMC 5451287 PMID 28608869 Grantham H S et al 2020 Anthropogenic modification of forests means only 40 of remaining forests have high ecosystem integrity Supplementary Material Nature Communications 11 1 5978 Bibcode 2020NatCo 11 5978G doi 10 1038 s41467 020 19493 3 ISSN 2041 1723 PMC 7723057 PMID 33293507 St Lucia climate Climates to travel Retrieved 14 November 2018 a b Lindsay Jan Trumbull Robert Schmitt Axel Stockli Daniel Shane Phil Howe Tracy 2013 Volcanic stratigraphy and geochemistry of the Soufriere Volcanic Centre Saint Lucia with implications for volcanic hazards Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research 258 126 142 Bibcode 2013JVGR 258 126L doi 10 1016 j jvolgeores 2013 04 011 Mixed Legal Systems juriglobe ca Pierre British Government have no objection to St Lucia joining CCJ Loop St Lucia Loop News Retrieved 19 December 2022 Small Island Developing States New York United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development Retrieved 13 March 2018 List of Small Island Developing States New York United Nations Department of Economic and Social Affairs Division for Sustainable Development Retrieved 13 March 2018 Find a business in Saint Lucia London Commonwealth of Nations Saint Lucia s tourism industry way behind required pace Fedee Loop St Lucia Loop News Retrieved 19 December 2022 CIA Factobook Saint Lucia Central Intelligence Agency Retrieved 22 August 2021 Google Earth earth google com Retrieved 19 December 2022 https unstats un org unsd demographic sources census wphc Saint Lucia SL PreCensusRepApr11 pdf https stats gov lc wp content uploads 2018 07 2001 Population and Housing Census Report pdf Fertility rate children per woman Our World in Data Retrieved 19 December 2022 Median age Our World in Data Retrieved 19 December 2022 Kweyolphone Countries Take Stock of the Language s Growth Government of Saint Lucia Archived from the original on 2 April 2012 Retrieved 22 August 2008 a href Template Cite web html title Template Cite web cite web a CS1 maint bot original URL status unknown link https www govt lc media govt lc www resources legislation ConstitutionOfSaintLucia pdf http stluciateachersunion com simages Saint 20Lucia 20Education 20Act 201999 pdf Total government expenditure on education Our World in Data Retrieved 19 December 2022 Saint Lucia data World Health Organization data who int Retrieved 12 December 2022 Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs U S Department of State 12 August 2011 Background Note Saint Lucia United States Department of State Retrieved 11 November 2011 Languages English official a French patois is common throughout the country The Sveriges Riksbank Prize in Economic Sciences in Memory of Alfred Nobel 1979 Nobel Prize Retrieved 12 March 2022 The Nobel Prize in Literature 1992 NobelPrize org Retrieved 19 December 2022 Charles eager to learn from Dessie Haynes Windies cricket Archived from the original on 8 February 2013 Retrieved 29 July 2012 Sources Edit Harmsen Jolien Ellis Guy Devaux Robert 2014 A History of St Lucia Vieux Fort Lighthouse Road ISBN 9789769534001 This article incorporates public domain material from Saint Lucia World Factbook CIA External links EditSaint Lucia at Wikipedia s sister projects Definitions from Wiktionary Media from Commons News from Wikinews Quotations from Wikiquote Texts from Wikisource Textbooks from Wikibooks Travel information from Wikivoyage Resources from Wikiversity Official website Wikimedia Atlas of Saint Lucia Saint Lucia at Curlie Saint Lucia from UCB Libraries GovPubs St Lucia from the BBC News Key Development Forecasts for Saint Lucia from International Futures Office of the Prime Minister Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Saint Lucia amp oldid 1135183519, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,

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