Saint Lucia, a Caribbean island country and one of the Windward Islands, was a British colony until it became an associated state with limited self-government in 1967, and attained full independence on February 22, 1979. It has a population of 173,765 (2009 census). Its gross domestic [Page 1357]product (GDP) per capita in 2011 was estimated at $7,769, and $12,927 when adjusted for purchasing power parity because of the relatively low cost of living in Saint Lucia compared with many other countries.

The island of Saint Lucia had been inhabited by the Caribs until the arrival of the French and the English in the 17th century. Saint Lucia was fought over for some time, with the French winning and establishing a number of sugar plantations that proved ...