Saint Lucia
Geography - People - Economy - Government - Communications - Transportation - Military - Transnational IssuesCountry name - conventional long form : none
Country name - conventional short form : Saint Lucia
Government type : parliamentary democracy
Capital - name : Castries
Capital - time difference : UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
National holiday : Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Population : 159,585 (July 2008 est.)
Nationality - noun : Saint Lucian(s)
Nationality - adjective : Saint Lucian
Languages : English (official), French patois
Currency (code) : East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Currency code : XCD
Saint Lucia is located Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago. The climate is tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August. The terrain is volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys.
Background
This entry usually highlights major historic events and current issues and may include a statement about one or two key future trends.Background : 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. Even after the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia remained an agricultural island, dedicated to producing tropical commodity crops. Self-government was granted in 1967 and independence in 1979.
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