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SAINT LUCIA
The island, with its fine natural harbor at Castries, was contested between
England and France throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries (changing
possession 14 times); it was finally ceded to the UK in 1814. Self-government
was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.
History
St. Lucia was first settled by Arawak Indians around 200 A.D., though by 800
their culture had been superseded by that of the Caribs. These early Amerindian
cultures called the island "Iouanalao" and "Hewanorra," meaning "Island of the
Iguanas." The history of the island's European discovery is a bit hazy. It was
long believed that Columbus had discovered St. Lucia in 1502, but recent
evidence suggests that he merely sailed close by. An alternative discoverer is
Juan de la Cosa, a lesser-known explorer who had served at one time as Columbus'
navigator. There are some indications that de la Cosa may have discovered the
island in 1499, although there is also evidence suggesting that he didn't find
the island until 1504. In any case, there was no European presence established
on the island until its settlement in the 1550s by the notorious buccaneer
Francois le Clerc, a.k.a. Jambe de Bois, or Wooden Leg. Peg-Leg le Clerc set up
a fine little base on Pigeon Island, from whence he issued forth to prey upon
unwitting and treasure-laden Spanish galleons. Around 1600, the Dutch arrived,
establishing a fortified base at Vieux Fort. The first attempt at colonization
occurred just a few years later, in 1605. An unfortunate party of English
colonists, headed to Guyana on the good ship Olive Branch, landed on St. Lucia
after having been blown off course. In all, sixty-seven colonists waded ashore,
where they purchased land and huts from the resident Caribs. After a month, the
party had been reduced to only nineteen, and those were soon forced to flee from
the Caribs in a canoe. A few decades later, in 1639, a second party of English
colonists under Sir Thomas Warner also failed in their settlement attempt. By
mid-century the French had arrived, and had even "purchased" the island for the
French West India Company. Needless to say, the persevering British were less
than enchanted with this idea, and Anglo-French rivalry for the island continued
for more than a century and a half. The island's first settlements and towns
were all French, beginning with Soufriere in 1746. By 1780, twelve settlements
and a large number of sugar plantations had been established. Two years earlier,
the British launched their first invasion effort at the "Battle of Cul de Sac."
By 1814, after a prolonged series of enormously destructive battles, the island
was finally theirs.Over the next century St. Lucia settled into the stable
democracy and multicultural society that it is today. The country remained under
the British crown until it became independent within the British Commonwealth in
1979. Despite the length of British rule, the island's French cultural legacy is
still evident in its Creole dialect.
Population
St. Lucia's population is predominantly of African and mixed African-European
descent, with small East Indian and European minorities. English is the official
language, although many St. Lucians speak a French patois. Ninety percent of the
population is Roman Catholic, a further reflection of early French influence on
the island. The population of just over 162,000 is evenly divided between urban
and rural areas, although the capital, Castries, contains more than one-third of
the population. Despite a high emigration rate, the population is growing
rapidly, about 5.4% per year.
Economy
Changes in the EU import preference regime and the increased competition from
Latin American bananas have made economic diversification increasingly important
in Saint Lucia. The island nation has been able to attract foreign business and
investment, especially in its offshore banking and tourism industries. The
manufacturing sector is the most diverse in the Eastern Caribbean area, and the
government is trying to revitalize the banana industry. Economic fundamentals
remain solid, even though unemployment needs to be cut.
Currency
Official currency is the East Caribbean Dollar (represented as EC$). Check at
your bank or online for current exchange rates. Sometimes prices are listed in
EC$, others in US$.
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