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NAVIGATION
Saint Lucia
GOVERNMENT
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Country name:
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conventional long form: none
conventional short form: Saint Lucia |
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Government type:
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Westminster-style parliamentary democracy |
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Capital:
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Castries |
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Administrative divisions:
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11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort |
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Independence:
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22 February 1979 (from UK) |
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National holiday:
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Independence Day, 22 February (1979) |
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Constitution:
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22 February 1979 |
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Legal system:
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based on English common law |
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Suffrage:
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18 years of age; universal |
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Executive branch:
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chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), represented by Governor General Dr. Perlette LOUISY (since September 1997)
elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister head of government: Prime Minister Kenneth Davis ANTHONY (since 24 May 1997) and Deputy Prime Minister Mario MICHEL (since 24 May 1997) |
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Legislative branch:
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bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; six members appointed on the advice of the prime minister, three on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and two after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups) and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms)
election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP 55%, UWP 37%, NA 3.5%; seats by party - SLP 14, UWP 3 elections: House of Assembly - last held 3 December 2001 (next to be held NA December 2006) |
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Judicial branch:
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Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction extends to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines) |
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Political parties and leaders:
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National Alliance or NA [George ODLUM]; Saint Lucia Freedom Party or SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth ANTHONY]; Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher HUNTE]; United Workers Party or UWP [Dr. Morella JOSEPH] |
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Political pressure groups and leaders:
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NA |
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International organization participation:
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ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO |
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Diplomatic representation in the US:
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chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY
chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6728 consulate(s) general: Miami and New York |
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Diplomatic representation from the US:
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the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador in Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia |
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Flag description:
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blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border |
ECONOMY
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Economy - overview:
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The recent 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. |
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GDP:
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purchasing power parity - $866 million (2002 est.) |
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GDP - real growth rate:
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3.3% (2002 est.) |
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GDP - per capita:
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purchasing power parity - $5,400 (2002 est.) |
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GDP - composition by sector:
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agriculture: 7%
industry: 20% services: 73% (2002 est.) |
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Population below poverty line:
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NA% |
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Household income or consumption by percentage share:
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lowest 10%: NA%
highest 10%: NA% |
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Inflation rate (consumer prices):
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3% (2001 est.) |
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Labor force:
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43,800 |
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Labor force - by occupation:
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agriculture 21.7%, services 53.6%, industry, commerce, and manufacturing 24.7% (2002 est.) |
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Unemployment rate:
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16.5% (1997 est.) |
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Budget:
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revenues: $141.2 million
expenditures: $146.7 million, including capital expenditures of $25.1 million (2000 est.) |
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Industries:
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clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism, lime processing, coconut processing |
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Industrial production growth rate:
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-8.9% (1997 est.) |
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Electricity - production:
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120.2 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - production by source:
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fossil fuel: 100%
hydro: 0% other: 0% (2001) nuclear: 0% |
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Electricity - consumption:
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111.8 million kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - exports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Electricity - imports:
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0 kWh (2001) |
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Oil - production:
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0 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - consumption:
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2,400 bbl/day (2001 est.) |
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Oil - exports:
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NA (2001) |
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Oil - imports:
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NA (2001) |
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Agriculture - products:
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bananas, coconuts, vegetables, citrus, root crops, cocoa |
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Exports:
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$68.3 million (2000 est.) |
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Exports - commodities:
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bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil |
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Exports - partners:
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UK 50%, US 24%, Caricom countries 16% (1995) |
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Imports:
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$319.4 million (2000 est.) |
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Imports - commodities:
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food 23%, manufactured goods 21%, machinery and transportation equipment 19%, chemicals, fuels |
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Imports - partners:
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US 36%, Caricom countries 22%, UK 11%, Japan 5%, Canada 4% (1995) |
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Debt - external:
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$214 million (2000) |
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Economic aid - recipient:
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$51.8 million (1995) |
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Currency:
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East Caribbean dollar (XCD) |
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Currency code:
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XCD |
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Exchange rates:
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East Caribbean dollars per US dollar - 2.7 (2002), 2.7 (2001), 2.7 (2000), 2.7 (1999), 2.7 (1998) |
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Fiscal year:
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1 April - 31 March |