GeographicalArea: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Terrain and Climate: volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys, tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
Population: 159,585 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnicity: black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified 3.1% (2001 census)
Capital: Castries
Government: Parliamentary democracy, 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 to serve five-year terms)
Major Languages: English (official), French patois
Major Religion: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)
Life Expectancy: 76.25 years
Monetary Unit:East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Exchange Controls and Taxation: Yes
Stamp Tax: Yes
Main Exports: bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Compulsory Education: Up to age 15
GDP: $10,700 (2007 est.)
Annual Growth Rate: 3.2%
Major Industry: clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism; lime processing, coconut processing
Communication: Broad Spectrum Evaluation, adequate system domestic: system is automatically switched
Internet: .lc
International dialing code: 1 + 758
Known as “low-tax” for qualified individuals
Number of Banks: Around 8, 4 considered major
Head of State:Chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy (since September 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Stephenson King (since 9 September 2007
Radio: AM 2, FM 7
Television: 2 (1 commercial broadcast station and 1 community antenna television or CATV channel) (2003)
Time Zone: GMT -04:00, East Coast Time + 1
Airport: 2
Banks
Bank of Nova Scotia
First Caribbean International Bank (formerly Barclays Bank Plc)
RBTT Bank Caribbean Ltd
Royal Bank of Canada
Bank of St.Lucia
Bank Crozier International Ltd.
Saint Lucia
Full Name: Saint Lucia
GeographicalArea: Caribbean, island between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago
Terrain and Climate: volcanic and mountainous with some broad, fertile valleys, tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds; dry season January to April, rainy season May to August
Population: 159,585 (July 2008 est.)
Ethnicity: black 82.5%, mixed 11.9%, East Indian 2.4%, other or unspecified 3.1% (2001 census)
Capital: Castries
Government: Parliamentary democracy, 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 to serve five-year terms)
Major Languages: English (official), French patois
Major Religion: Roman Catholic 67.5%, Seventh Day Adventist 8.5%, Pentecostal 5.7%, Rastafarian 2.1%, Anglican 2%, Evangelical 2%, other Christian 5.1%, other 1.1%, unspecified 1.5%, none 4.5% (2001 census)
Life Expectancy: 76.25 years
Monetary Unit:East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
Exchange Controls and Taxation: Yes
Stamp Tax: Yes
Main Exports: bananas 41%, clothing, cocoa, vegetables, fruits, coconut oil
Compulsory Education: Up to age 15
GDP: $10,700 (2007 est.)
Annual Growth Rate: 3.2%
Major Industry: clothing, assembly of electronic components, beverages, corrugated cardboard boxes, tourism; lime processing, coconut processing
Communication: Broad Spectrum Evaluation, adequate system domestic: system is automatically switched
Internet: .lc
International dialing code: 1 + 758
Known as “low-tax” for qualified individuals
Number of Banks: Around 8, 4 considered major
Head of State:Chief of state: Queen Elizabeth II (since 6 February 1952); represented by Governor General Dame Pearlette Louisy (since September 1997) head of government: Prime Minister Stephenson King (since 9 September 2007
Radio: AM 2, FM 7
Television: 2 (1 commercial broadcast station and 1 community antenna television or CATV channel) (2003)
Time Zone: GMT -04:00, East Coast Time + 1
Airport: 2
Banks
Bank of Nova Scotia
First Caribbean International Bank (formerly Barclays Bank Plc)
RBTT Bank Caribbean Ltd
Royal Bank of Canada
Bank of St.Lucia
Bank Crozier International Ltd.
