St Lucia / History, Population, Politics

History

St Lucia has been battled over constantly during the last five hundred years and it changed hands a staggering fourteen times, mainly between the French, who still own the nearby island of Martinique, and the British. As a result the population is a thoroughgoing mix of African, British and French. It eventually became British in 1816, but despite this it has retained a strong French Creole character. Although virtually all St Lucians speak and understand English, many islanders, particularly those living in rural areas, still speak French Creole or Kweyol. The language is recognisably French when you hear it, but it is not mutually comprehensible with French. 

Population

The population of St Lucia is around 160,000. The greatest concentration of people lives around the capital, Castries, and in the north of the island. They are mostly of African descent but there is a mix of European and so you will see varied skin tones. 

Politics

St Lucia has been an independent nation since 1979, when it took its independence from Britain. It is still a member of the British Commonwealth and it retains a Parliamentary system with a Prime Minister at its head and a Governor General, appointed by the British Queen as the official head of state.  St Lucia is led by Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Affairs, Planning and Social Security  the Hon. Dr Kenny Anthony of the St Lucia Labour Party (SLP), having won the General Election on 28 November 2011,  taking eleven of the seventeen seats.