Executive branch:
chief of state: Queen ELIZABETH II (since 6 February 1952), a
hereditary monarch, is 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) was appointed by the governor general
cabinet: Cabinet was appointed by the governor general on advice of
the prime minister
Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament
Senate: consists of an 11-member body, six 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
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, jurisdiction
extends to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin
Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint
Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines
Political parties and leaders: United Workers' Party (UWP), Vaughn
LEWIS; Saint Lucia Labor Party (SLP), Julian HUNTE; Progressive
Labor Party (PLP), Jon ODLUM; Citizen's Democratic Party (CDP)
Calixte GEORGE
International organization participation: ACCT (associate), ACP,
C, Caricom, CDB, ECLAC, FAO, G-77, 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, UNMIH, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
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
US diplomatic representation: the US does not have an embassy in
Saint Lucia; the Ambassador to Saint Lucia resides in Bridgetown
(Barbados)
Flag: blue with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead;
the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
Economy ———-
Economic overview: Though foreign investment in manufacturing and information processing in recent years has increased Saint Lucia's industrial base, the economy remains vulnerable due to its heavy dependence on banana production, which is subject to periodic droughts and tropical storms. Indeed, the destructive effect of Tropical Storm Iris in mid-1995 caused the loss of 20% of the year's banana crop. Increased competition from Latin American bananas will probably further reduce market prices, exacerbating Saint Lucia's need to diversify its economy in coming years, e.g., by expanding tourism, manufacturing, and construction.