| Motto:
|
The Land, The People,
The Light |
|
|
|
Coat
of Arms |
National
Flower (Rose)
|
Flag |
|
| 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 2002. Next elections due in 2007 |
| Ruling
Party: |
St. Lucia Labour Party (SLLP). |
| Major
Political Parties: |
United Workers Party (UWP), St.
Lucia Labour Party (SLLP). |
| Head
of State: |
H.E. Dr. Perlette Louisy, Governor
General |
| Head
of Government: |
|
| |
Dr.
the Hon. Kenny D. Anthony
Prime Minister
DATE
OF BIRTH: 8 January 1951
MARITAL
STATUS: Married
EDUCATION:
- Attorney-at-law,
Middle Temple, England
- B.Sc.
Government and History, UWI
- LL.B.,
UWI
- LL.M.,
UWI
- Ph.D.
Law, University of Birmingham
PROFESSIONAL/POLITICAL
CAREER:
- 1978
-1979: Part time tutor, Faculty of Social
Sciences, St. Augustine, UWI
- 1979:
Special Advisor, Ministry of Education and
Culture, Saint Lucia
- 1980:
Minister of Education
- 1981:
Part-time tutor, temporary assistant lecturer,
assistant lecturer and lecturer, Teaching
Department of Law, Cave Hill, UWI.
- 1983:
Head,Teaching Department of Law, Cave Hill,
UWI
- 1993-1996:
Assistant General Counsel, Caribbean Community
Secretariat
- 1996
(April): Political Leader, Saint Lucia Labour
Party Consultant to draft an education ordinance
for Anguilla; Advisor to the Regional Constituent
Assembly of the Windward Islands; OECS consultant
to draft a model Education Bill for the OECS
states; UNDP Consultant to draft a Public
Service Employment Bill for the Government
of St. Kitts and Nevis
- 1997:
Prime Minister
|
| 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 labour
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
sub-sector.
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; George F. L. Charles |
| Status: |
Independent - 22 February 1979 |
| Capital: |
Castries |
| Area: |
616 km2 (238 miles2) |
| Population: |
153,624 (1999) |
| Currency: |
Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) |
| GDP
Per Capita (at current prices): |
EC$11,729 million(1999) |
| Total
Exports: |
EC$150.3 million (1999) |
| Total
Imports: |
EC$957.3 million m (1999) |
| Intra-Regional
Exports: |
EC$32.5
million (1999) |
| Intra-Regional
Imports: |
EC$207.2 million (1999) |
| 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; Labour 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 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 |
| Favourite
Dish: |
Green Fig and Salt Fish |
| Date
of CARICOM Membership: |
1 May 1974 |
| Government
web page: |
http://www.stlucia.gov.lc |
|