North & Central America and Caribbean
Saint Lucia
Last reviewed: 9 February 2009
Country information
- Saint Lucia today
- Economy
- History
- International relations
- Geography
- Trade and Investment
- Politics
ST LUCIA TODAY
Country Facts
Area: 620 sq km
Population: 171,100(2007EIU estimate)
Capital City: Castries
Languages: English is the official and commercial language but a broken French or patois (known as Kweyol) is also widely spoken.
Religion(s): The principal denominations are Roman Catholic, (93%), Anglican, Methodist and Baptist. There are also small Jewish, Hindu and Muslim minorities.
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar (EC$)
Major political parties: United Workers Party (UWP), Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), People’s Progressive Movement (PPM)
Government: A Westminster-style parliamentary democracy. There are two chambers, the 17 member House of Assembly, whose members are elected for five-year terms, and the 11-Member Senate, whose members are nominated (six by the Prime Minister, three by the Leader of the opposition, two by the Governor General).
Head of State: Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy, (since September 1997)
Prime Minister: Hon Stephenson King
Foreign Minister: Hon Rufus Bousquet
Membership of international groups/organisations: ACCT (associate), ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, CFATF, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Intelsat (nonsignatory user), Interpol, IOC, ISO (subscriber), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
DID YOU KNOW?
- Legal System: Based on English common law
- Currency: The Eastern Caribbean Dollar is shared with other members of the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union and is pegged to the US dollar (US$1 = EC$2.7)
- National holiday: Independence Day, 22 February
- Nobel Laureates: St Lucia boasts more Nobel Laureates per head of population than any other country - Derek Walcott (Laureate for Literature in 1992) and Sir Arthur Lewis (Laureate for Economics in 1979)
HEALTH
Life expectancy (2002 est.): 74 years
Infant mortality rate (2006 WHO est.): 14 deaths per 1000 live births
HIV/AIDS
The incidence of HIV/AIDS in the Caribbean region is second only to sub-Sahara Africa. Heterosexual transmission is the largest known mode of infection (25%). It is officially accepted that reported cases represent only 20- 25% of the true estimate of HIV/AIDS infection in St Lucia.
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Country information
- Saint Lucia today
- Economy
- History
- International relations
- Geography
- Trade and Investment
- Politics
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contacts
St Lucia, Castries, British High Commission
Address:
Karl Burrows
Resident British Commissioner
British High Commission
Francis Compton Building
2nd Floor
(PO Box 227)
Waterfront
Castries
St Lucia
Telephone:
(001) (758) 452 2484/5
Fax:
(001) (758) 453 1543
Email: britishhc@candw.lc
Office hours:
GMT:
Mon-Thurs: 1200-1630 / 1700-2000
Fri: 1200-1700
Local Time:
Mon-Thurs: 0800-1230 / 1300-1600 Fri: 0800-1300
Open to public 0800 - 1230 Mon - Fri