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Also known as: |
Helen of the West
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Motto:
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The
Land, The People, The Light |
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Location: |
Saint Lucia is
located in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with
the Atlantic Ocean. Part of the Lesser Antilles, it is
located north of the islands of St. Vincent and the
Grenadines and south of Martinique. |
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History: |
Amerindians
were the first inhabitants.. French colonisation began
in 1650 and the struggle for possession between the French
and
English ended in 1815 with the island becoming an English
colony. It gained independence in 1979. |
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Elections: |
Last elections
2011. Next elections due in 2015 |
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Ruling Party:
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Saint Lucia
Labour Party (SLP) |
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Major Political Parties:
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United Workers
Party (UWP), Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), National
Alliance, Saint Lucia Freedom Party |
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Head of State: |
H.E. Dame Perlette
Louisy, GCMG, PhD, Governor General |
| Head of Government:
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Dr. The Honourable Kenny D. Anthony
Prime Minister
Date of Birth: 8
January 1951
Marital Status:
Married
Education:
1976: B.Sc. Government and History (1st Class Hons.) -
University of the West Indies
1983: LL.B. (1st Class Hons.)
- University of the West Indies
1986:LL.M., University of
the West Indies
1988: Ph.D., University of Birmingham,
England
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
and Lecturer in the Teaching Department of Law, Cave Hill,
UWI
1983: Head of the Teaching
Department of Law, Cave Hill, UWI
1993-1996:General Counsel, Caribbean Community
Secretariat
1996: Elected Political Leader of the Saint Lucia
Labour Party; served as 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: Elected Prime Minister
2001: Re-elected Prime Minister
2006: Leader of the Opposition
2011: Re-elected Prime Minister
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Economic Summary:
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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. |
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Airports:
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Hewanorra
International (Vieux Fort)
George F. L. Charles International (Vigie) |
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Status: |
Independent
- 22 February 1979 |
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Capital: |
Castries |
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Area: |
616 sq km |
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Population:
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172,034
(2009) |
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Currency: |
Eastern Caribbean
Dollar (EC$) |
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GDP:
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EC$2,751Mn
(2008) |
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Total Exports:
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EC$445 Mn
(2008) |
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Total Imports: |
EC$1,776 Mn (2008) |
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Intra-Regional Exports: |
EC$195 Mn (2008) |
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Intra-Regional Imports: |
EC$541 Mn (2008) |
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Date of CARICOM Membership:
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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 |
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National Holidays: |
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 |
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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! |
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Highest National Award |
Grand Cross of St. Lucia |
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National Dish: |
Green Fig and
Salt Fish |
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Government website: |
http://www.stlucia.gov.lc |
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 National Flag of Saint Lucia | |
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