Saint Lucia Facts and Culture

What is Saint Lucia famous for?

• Cultural Attributes: Social relations are important and are strongly influenced by the Catholic religion. More
• Family: The traditional family is found among the upper classes. The Female as a single parent is more common at other... More
• Personal Apperance: Modern Western style of clothing is worn. The traditional costume consists of a madras head-tie and skirt with large petticoats... More
• Recreation: Cricket is the most popular sport. Beach parties, and dances are popular recreational activities. More
• Food and Recipes: The national dish is saltfish and green figs. Other favorite dishes include fish shop, callaloo, (crabmeat stew) and plantains. Most... More

What is the capital of Saint Lucia?

Capital	Castries
Government Type	parliamentary democracy under a constitutional monarchy; a Commonwealth realm
Currency	East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
Total Area	238 Square Miles 616 Square Kilometers
Location	Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Language	English (official), French patois
GDP - real growth rate	1.8%
GDP - per capita (PPP)	$12,000.00 (USD)

What is the population of Saint Lucia?

Ethnic Groups	black 90%, mixed 6%, East Indian 3%, white 1%
Nationality Noun	Saint Lucian(s)
Population	166,487
Population Growth Rate	0.36%
Population in Major Urban Areas	CASTRIES (capital) 21,000
Urban Population	17.500000

What type of government does Saint Lucia have?

Executive Branch	chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022); represented by Acting Governor General Errol CHARLES (since 11 November 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Philip J. PIERRE (since 28 July 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections/appointments: the monarchy is hereditary; governor general appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or majority coalition usually appointed prime minister by governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by governor general
Suffrage	18 years of age; universal
Citizenship	citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Saint Lucia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
National Holiday	Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Constitution	history: previous 1958, 1960 (preindependence); latest presented 20 December 1978, effective 22 February 1979 amendments: proposed by Parliament; passage requires at least two-thirds majority vote by the House of Assembly membership in the final reading and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments to various constitutional sections, such as those on fundamental rights and freedoms, government finances, the judiciary, and procedures for amending the constitution, require at least three-quarters majority vote by the House and assent of the governor general; passage of amendments approved by the House but rejected by the Senate require a majority of votes cast in a referendum; amended several times, last in 2008
Independence	22 February 1979 (from the UK)

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What environmental issues does Saint Lucia have?

Climate	tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season from January to April, rainy season from May to August
Environment - Current Issues	deforestation; soil erosion, particularly in the northern region
Environment - International Agreements	party to: Biodiversity, Climate Change, Climate Change-Kyoto Protocol, Desertification, Endangered Species, Environmental Modification, Hazardous Wastes, Law of the Sea, Marine Dumping, Ozone Layer Protection, Ship Pollution, Wetlands, Whaling signed, but not ratified: none of the selected agreements
Terrain	volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys

How big is the Saint Lucia economy?

Economic Overview	The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. Tourism is Saint Lucia's main source of jobs and income - accounting for 65% of GDP - and the island's main source of foreign exchange earnings. The manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area. Crops such as bananas, mangos, and avocados continue to be grown for export, but St. Lucia's once solid banana industry has been devastated by strong competition. Saint Lucia is vulnerable to a variety of external shocks, including volatile tourism receipts, natural disasters, and dependence on foreign oil. Furthermore, high public debt - 77% of GDP in 2012 - and high debt servicing obligations constrain the CHASTANET administration's ability to respond to adverse external shocks. St. Lucia has experienced anemic growth since the onset of the global financial crisis in 2008, largely because of a slowdown in tourism - airlines cut back on their routes to St. Lucia in 2012. Also, St. Lucia introduced a value added tax in 2012 of 15%, becoming the last country in the Eastern Caribbean to do so. In 2013, the government introduced a National Competitiveness and Productivity Council to address St. Lucia's high public wages and lack of productivity.
Industries	clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing
Currency Name and Code	East Caribbean Dollar (XCD)
Export Partners	UK 48.5%, US 27.3%, Barbados 7.6%
Import Partners	Brazil 46.1%, US 18.6%, Trinidad and Tobago 10.3%

What current events are happening in Saint Lucia?
Source: Google News

What makes Saint Lucia a unique country to travel to?

Country Description

St. Lucia is an English-speaking, developing Caribbean island nation. Tourist facilities are widely available.

Crime

Crime, including armed robbery, does occur and is rising in St. Lucia. Violent crime, including gun violence and targeted homicides, is often connected to narcotics trafficking. Petty crime also occurs, with tourists being targeted often.

Efforts by the St. Lucian authorities to improve public safety on the island are ongoing. Visitors should inquire about their hotel's security arrangements before making reservations. Valuables left unattended on beaches and in rental cars are vulnerable to theft. Visitors should use caution, especially at night and in less frequented areas.

Take some time before travel to learn how to improve your personal security-things are not the same everywhere as they are in the United States. Here are some useful tips for personal security.

Don't buy counterfeit and pirated goods, even if they are widely available. Not only are the bootlegs illegal to bring back into the United States, if you purchase them you may also be breaking local law.

Criminal Penalties

While you are traveling in St. Lucia, you are subject to its laws even if you are a U.S. citizen. Foreign laws and legal systems can be vastly different than our own. In some places you may be taken in for questioning if you don't have your passport with you. In some places, it is illegal to take pictures of certain buildings. In some places driving under the influence could land you immediately in jail. These criminal penalties will vary from country to country. There are also some things that might be legal in the country you visit, but still illegal in the United States, and you can be prosecuted under U.S. law if you buy pirated goods. Engaging in sexual conduct with children or using or disseminating child pornography in a foreign country is a crime prosecutable in the United States. If you break local laws in St. Lucia, your U.S. passport won't help you avoid arrest or prosecution. It's very important to know what's legal and what's not where you are going.

Persons violating St. Lucian laws, even unknowingly, may be expelled, arrested or imprisoned. Penalties for possession, use, or trafficking in illegal drugs in St. Lucia are severe, and convicted offenders can expect long jail sentences and heavy fines.

IF ARRESTED: If you are arrested in St. Lucia, authorities of St. Lucia are required to notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest. If you are concerned the Department of State may not be aware of your situation, you should request the police or prison officials to notify the nearest U.S. embassy or consulate of your arrest.

Medical Facilities and Health Information

There are two public hospitals and one private hospital in St. Lucia.

Victoria Hospital, Castries - Tel No. (758) 452-2421 - is the main hospital.

St. Jude's Hospital, George Odlum Stadium, Vieux Fort - Tel No. (758) 454-6041 is the second public hospital.

The original St. Jude's Hospital in Vieux Fort was destroyed by fire on September 9, 2009. What started as a temporary facility operating out of the George Odlum Stadium is now operating as a fully functional hospital with two operating rooms, an ER Department, as well as a Medical, Paediatric and a Surgical Ward. There is also an ICU Unit and an Out Patient's Clinic.

Tapion Hospital, La Toc Road, Castries is the private hospital - Tel No. (758) 459-2000. A new hyperbaric chamber capable of treating 6 patients is now in operation at this facility. They are certified personnel in the hyperbaric field who operate the chamber. The Chamber is undergoing the accreditation process by DAN (Divers Alert Network) and continues to be fully operational. However, to-date the certification process has not been completed.

Serious medical problems requiring hospitalization and/or medical evacuation to the United States can cost thousands of dollars. Doctors and hospitals often expect immediate cash payment for health services.

Traffic Safety and Road Conditions

While in a foreign country, U.S. citizens may encounter road conditions that differ significantly from those in the United States. The information below concerning St. Lucia is provided for general reference only, and may not be totally accurate in a particular location or circumstance.

Vehicles travel on the left side of the road in St. Lucia. Roads are reasonably well paved but poorly marked, narrow and winding, with steep inclines/declines throughout the island. There are few guardrails in areas that have precipitous drop-offs from the road. In spite of these conditions, drivers often travel at excessive speed, and accidents are common. The drive from Hewanorra International Airport to Castries or to Rodney Bay is a winding road through mountainous terrain and takes between 60 to 90 minutes.

St. Lucia is served by privately owned and operated mini-buses, plying licensed designated routes. While most such services operate only on weekdays during daylight hours, some may operate at night and on weekends and holidays. Taxis are available at generally reasonable rates, but tourists are vulnerable to being overcharged. When using minibus or taxi services, travelers should agree to a fare ahead of time. The most commonly used trips such as Castries to Rodney Bay and Castries to Hewanora International Airport are fixed fares, and any dispute should be brought to the attention of the Tourism Authority U.S. dollars are widely accepted, but with less than competitive exchange rates. When using minibus or taxi services, travelers should agree to a fare ahead of time. When hiring a service at night, travelers should take precautions such as having their hotel call a reputable company for service. A local temporary driver's license is required. These can be purchased at all car rental offices and from the Transportation Office in Gros Islet.