History And Geography

History

The Arawaks are considered to be the first known inhabitants to have resided on the island of St. Lucia. Records state that they first came to the island from northern part of South America in 200-400 AD. A number of excavation sites on the island have produced specimens that bear witness to the Arawaks' well-developed pottery. During the period 800-1000 AD, the Caribs took over control of the island. The Spanish were the first to land on the island in either 1492 or 1502 thus establishing the first European presence. During the period that followed, the Dutch, French and English all tried to establish trading outposts on St. Lucia but faced severe hostility from the Caribs.

The island of St. Lucia was found to be an attractive option following a rapid development in the sugar industry in 1765. The French as well as the English, with their headquarters in Barbados, capitalized on the situation. A battle ensued, which was won by the British and resulted in France permanently ceding St. Lucia in 1815. St. Lucia was officially amalgamated into the British Windward Islands administration, headquartered in Barbados in 1838. In the same year, St Lucia was incorporated as a part of the British Windward Islands, which was administered from their headquarters in Barbados. The 20th-century history of St. Lucia has been marked with increased self-government. A constitution developed in 1924 gave the inhabitants a chance to elect their own government, which had a minority of elected members in the previously all-nominated legislative council.

Universal adult right or the privilege to vote was established in 1951. The ministerial form of government was introduced in 1956 and in 1958 the island joined the short-lived West Indies Federation, which was a semi-autonomous formation that depended on the United Kingdom. Jamaica's withdrawal in 1962 led to the collapse of the federation and attempts were made to form another smaller federation. This second attempt too resulted in an abrupt failure. United Kingdom and six windward and leeward islands - Grenada, Antigua, St. Kitts-Nevis-Anguilla, St. Vincent and St. Lucia established a new form of cooperation called associated statehood. Enjoying the status of being an associated state of the United Kingdom from 1967 to 1979, the island of St. Lucia had full responsibility for self-government but left all its external affairs and defense responsibilities to the United Kingdom. This provisional arrangement ended on 22nd February 1979 when it achieved complete independence. However, the island still continues to regard Queen Elizabeth II as the titular head of state and is also an active member of the Commonwealth.

It has also established cordial relations with its neighbors through the Caribbean community and common market (CARICOM), Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the East Caribbean Common Market (ECCM).

Geography

The island of St. Lucia is one of many small islands, which form the insular group known as the Windward Islands. Its total land area is 619 sq. km. (238 sq. mi.) and is located on the geographic coordinates 13°53'N and 61°00'W. The total land area is considered to be 3.5 times the entire area of Washington DC.

It is situated in the Caribbean, in between the Caribbean Sea and North Atlantic Ocean, north of Trinidad and Tobago. It is established on a formation of volcanic rock that came into existence long after most of the region had already been formed. The topography of St. Lucia is more mountainous than most other islands in the Caribbean and has a number of broad fertile valleys. The highest point of elevation on the island is Mount Gimie that is situated at an altitude of 950m above sea level.

Two famous mountains called the Pitons prove to be an important landmark on the island. They lie on the western side of the island between Soufrière and Choiseul. The island enjoys a tropical humid climate all throughout the year that is regulated by northeast trade winds.