Saint Lucia

Political Status: Former British dependency; joined West Indies Associated States in 1967; independent member of the Commonwealth since February 22, 1979.

Area: 238 sq. mi. (616 sq. km.).

Population: 162,982 (2001C); including adjustment for underennumeration; 168,400 (2008E).[Page 1228]

Major Urban Center (2005E): CASTRIES (14,600).

Official Language: English.

Monetary Unit: East Caribbean Dollar (official rate December 1, 2009: 2.70 dollars = $1US).

Sovereign: Queen ELIZABETH II.

Governor General: Dame Perlette LOUISY; sworn in September 17, 1997, succeeding Sir W. George MALLET.

Prime Minister: Stevenson KING (United Workers’ Party); named acting prime minister on May 1, 2007, following the incapacitation of Sir John George Melvin COMPTON; inaugurated as prime minister on September 9 after Compton’s death on September 7.

The Country

The second largest of the former West Indies Associated States, St. Lucia lies between Martinique ...