SAT Test Centers and Dates in Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia Overview

Saint Lucia [ snt lu ː ʃ ə ] island state (constitutional monarchy) in Central America, in the West Indies, which includes the eponymous island in the Lesser Antilles. It is of volcanic origin and severely cut up. The residents, descendants of African slaves, are predominantly black and mulatto, mostly Catholics. The main products of agriculture are bananas, cocoa, coconuts (copra and coconut oil) and citrus fruits, as well as livestock and dairy farming. Sugar cane cultivation was given up in 1963. Tourism became the most important source of foreign currency.

History: The former British colony became independent and a member of the Commonwealth in 1979. The head of state is the British monarch, represented by a governor-general.

Business

The most important branches of the economy are the export-oriented banana cultivation and tourism. However, both areas are very vulnerable to natural disasters. The country, which belongs to the Caribbean Community and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS), has a gross national income (GNI) of (2017) US $ 8,780 per resident. The agricultural sector, in which around 15% of all employees work, only accounts for 2.4% of the gross domestic product (GDP). In addition to bananas, other things are grown. also coconuts, cocoa and citrus fruits as well as vegetables and tubers. Sugar cane cultivation has ceased in 1963. Like many countries in the region, Saint Lucia only has a small domestic market that is barely accessible to industrialization. The manufacturing industry generates 13.4% of GDP. There are several export production zones at Castries and Vieux-Fort; the processing of agricultural products (including alcoholic beverages), the manufacture of textiles and cardboard and the assembly of electronic components dominate there.

Foreign trade: Since the mid-1970s, the total value of foreign trade has increased significantly with a strongly negative balance (import value 2017: US $ 430.6 million, export value: US $ 204.2 million). Main trading partners are the USA, Trinidad and Tobago as well. Great Britain.

Tourism

Tourism is the most important area of ​​the service sector: in 2015, 1.07 million foreign guests (including 677 400 cruise passengers) visited the island. The foreign exchange income from travel amounts to (2015) 396.9 million US- $. The most important countries of origin of the tourists are the USA, Great Britain and other Caribbean countries.

Transportation

The approximately 1,200 km long road network is only relatively well developed in the north and mostly asphalted; a ring road leads around the whole island. There are deep-water ports in Castries (including the Pointe Seraphine cruise terminal) and in Vieux-Fort. There is an oil terminal at Cul-de-Sac. The international airport Hewanorra is in the south of the island, the city airport Vigie near Castries is only of regional importance.

History

Saint Lucia was discovered around 1500. The resistance of the Caribs delayed European colonization; first English attempts at settlement between 1605 and 1638 failed. The French settled here in 1650. Ownership of the island changed hands fourteen times between France and Great Britain until it became British in 1814. In 1834 slavery was abolished. In 1838 the Crown Colony became part of the Windward Islands Association. 1958-62 Saint Lucia belonged to the West Indian Federation and received autonomy in 1967 within the framework of the West Indian Associated States. On February 22nd, 1979, Saint Lucia gained independence. Allen Michael Chastanet of the UWP has been Prime Minister since June 7, 2016.

Religion

The constitution guarantees freedom of religion; all religious communities are legally equal. – Over 61% of the population belong to the Catholic Church (Archdiocese of Castries), around 26% to Protestant denominations (especially Seventh-day Adventists [10.4%], Pentecostals [10.4%, of which Church of God 1.5%) ], Baptists [2.2%], Methodists [0.5%] etc.) and about 1.6% of the Anglican Church (Diocese of Windward Islands in the province of the West Indies). – Rastafaris (1.9% of the population), Hindus, Muslims and Bahais form small religious minorities.

Pitons Nature Reserve (World Heritage)

The world heritage includes the volcano landscape in the southwest of the island near the town of Soufrière. It consists of the large and small pitons, which are connected by a back. Tropical and subtropical rainforests dominate the area. The reef system on the coast has a diverse underwater world. Check barblejewelry to see St Lucia As a Tourist Country.

Pitons Conservation Area: Facts