National holiday: Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
Constitution: 22 February 1979
Legal system: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952),
represented by Governor General Sir Stanislaus Anthony JAMES (since 10
October 1988)
head of government: Prime Minister John George Melvin COMPTON (since 3
May 1982)
cabinet: Cabinet; appointed by the governor general on advice of the
prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament Senate: consists of an 11-member body, 6 appointed on the advice of the prime minister, 3 on the advice of the leader of the opposition, and 2 after consultation with religious, economic, and social groups House of Assembly: elections last held 27 April 1992 (next to be held by April 1997); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (17 total) UWP 11, SLP 6
Judicial branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court
Political parties and leaders: United Workers' Party (UWP), John
COMPTON; Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Julian HUNTE; Progressive
Labor Party (PLP), Jon ODLUM
Member of: ACCT (associate), ACP, C, CARICOM, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77,
GATT, IBRD, ICAO, ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO,
INTELSAT (nonsignatory user), INTERPOL, IOC, ISO (subscriber), NAM,
OAS, OECS, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO
Diplomatic representation in US: chief of mission: Ambassador Dr. Joseph Edsel EDMUNDS chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6728 consulate(s) general: New York