Saint Lucia

After almost two centuries of controversy between England and France, the British ultimately established ownership of Saint Lucia in 1814. Slavery was abolished two decades later; however, this Caribbean island remained agricultural, chiefly producing bananas, mangos, and avocados. In 1979, Saint Lucia gained its independence and became more urbanized (28 percent). By the 21st century, the chief industry was tourism. Currently, 80 percent of the workforce is employed in services. The island has a per capita income of $10,900 and is ranked 69th on the United Nations Development Programme's (UNDP) list of countries with Very High Human Development. The island is relatively homogeneous in both ethnicity and religion. More than 82 percent of islanders are black, and more than 67 percent are Roman Catholic. Saint ...