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ST
LUCIA
Saint Lucia is an island nation 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 Saint Vincent and the
Grenadines and south of Martinique.
History
Arawak Amerindians first settled on the island in the 3rd century, while the
Caribs later took over. European discovery of the island is somewhat vague,
but it was probably discovered around 1500 by the Spanish explorer Juan de
la Cosa. After some early failed attempts to settle there, the French and
British fought over the island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries,
during the 17th and 18th centuries (changing possession 14 times), until
Britain finally obtained control in 1814. The island was granted self-government
in 1967 and independence in February 22, 1979.
Politics
Being a Commonwealth Realm, the head of state of Saint Lucia is the British
monarch, represented on the island by a Governor-General. Executive power,
however, is in the hands of the prime minister and his cabinet. The prime
minister is normally the head of the party winning the elections for the
House of Assembly, which has 17 seats. The other chamber of parliament, the
Senate, has 11 appointed members.
Quarters
The island of Saint Lucia is divided into 11 quarters:
Anse-la-Raye
Castries
Choiseul
Dauphin
Dennery
Gros Islet
Laborie
Micoud
Praslin
Soufrière
Vieux Fort
Geography
The volcanic island of Saint Lucia is more mountainous than many other
Caribbean islands, with the highest point being Mount Gimie, at 950 m above
sea level. Two other mountains, the Pitons, form the island's most famous
landmark. They are located near Soufrière, on the western side of the island.
The capital city of Saint Lucia is Castries, where about one third of the
population lives. Major towns include Gros Islet, Soufrière and Vieux Fort.
The local climate is tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds, with a
dry season from January to April and a rainy season from May to August.
Demographics
The small population of Saint Lucia is mostly black or of mixed descent;
just 1% are of European origin, with an East Indian minority of some 3%. The
official language of the country is English, but a patois based mainly on
French is also spoken. The majority of the population are Roman Catholics (ca.
90%); the rest are Anglicans (3%) or other Protestants (7%).
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