Saint Lucia General Information Area: 616.3 sq km (238 sq miles). Population: 153,703 (official estimate 1999). Population Density: 249.4 per sq km. Capital: Castries. Population: 61,823 (official estimate 1999). GEOGRAPHY: St Lucia is the second largest of the Windward Islands. It has some of the finest mountain scenery in the West Indies, rich with tropical vegetation. For such a small island, 43km (27 miles) by 23km (14 miles), St Lucia has a great variety of plant and animal life. Orchids and exotic plants of the genus anthurium grow wild in the rainforests and the roadsides are covered with many colourful tropical flowers. Flamboyant trees spread shade and blossom everywhere. Indigenous wildlife includes a species of ground lizard unique to St Lucia, and the agouti and the manicou, two rodents, common throughout the island. The Amazon versicolor parrot is another, though more elusive, inhabitant of the deep interior rainforest. The highest peak is Mount Gimie at 950m (3117ft). Most spectacular are Gros Piton and Petit Piton, ancient, volcanic forest-covered cones which rise out of the sea on the west coast. Soufri (vents in a volcano which exude hydrogen sulphide, steam and other gases) and boiling waterpools can be seen here. The mountains are intersected by short rivers which in some areas form broad fertile valleys. The island has excellent beaches and is surrounded by a clear, warm sea. Government: Constitutional monarchy. Gained independence from the UK in 1979. Head of State: Queen Elizabeth II, represented locally by Governor General Pearlette Louisy since 1988. Head of Government: Prime Minister Kenny Anthony since 1997. Language: English and local French patois. Religion: Seventy-eight per cent Roman Catholic, also Anglican, Methodist, Seventh Day Adventist and Baptist. Time: GMT - 4. Electricity: 220 volts AC, 50Hz. Communications:   Telephone IDD is available. Country code: 1 758. Outgoing international code: 011. Mobile telephone TDMA network, system A is operated by Caribbean Cellular (website: www.caribcell.com). Internet ISPs include Cable & Wireless (website: www.candw.lc). Public access is available at the Internet kiosk at Pointe Seraphine. Three Internet cafes are also run by Cable & Wireless. Fax Available to the public in Castries at the offices of Cable & Wireless and at some hotels. Telegram Facilities limited to main towns, hotels and Cable & Wireless. Post Airmail to Western Europe takes up to a week. Poste Restante mail will only be released on presentation of suitable identification. Post office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1630, Sat 0900-1330. Press The main newspapers are The Voice of St Lucia, The Star, The Mirror and The Crusader. Visions Magazine is published by the St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association. BBC World Service and Voice of America frequencies: From time to time these change. BBC (website: www.bbc.co.uk/worldservice): MHz 15.19 12.10 6.195 5.975 Voice of America (website: www.voa.gov): MHz 13.79 9.455 6.130 5.995 Passport/Visa   Passport Required? Visa Required? Return Ticket Required? British Yes No/3 Yes Australian Yes No Yes Canadian 1 No/2 Yes USA 1 No/2 Yes OtherEU Yes No/2 Yes Japanese Yes No Yes PASSPORTS: Valid passport required by all except: 1. nationals of Canada and the USA with valid proof of identity and holding return/onward tickets (for visits of up to six months) and nationals of OECS countries (Auguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, St Kitts & Nevis, and St Vincent & the Grenadines). VISAS: Required by all except the following for stays of up to 28 days. A valid return ticket is also required: (a) nationals of countries shown in the chart above; (b) nationals of Commonwealth countries, except Mozambique and Namibia; (c) nationals of CIS countries; (d) nationals of Albania, Argentina, Brazil, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Czech Republic, Dominican Republic, Ecuador, El Salvador, Estonia, Guatemala, Honduras, Hungary, Iceland, Israel, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Nicaragua, Norway, Panama, Peru, Philippines, Poland, San Marino, Slovenia, Surinam, Switzerland, Taiwan, Tunisia, Uruguay and Venezuela; (e) nationals of Chile, Haiti and South Africa for stays of up to 90 days; (f) those continuing to a third country by the same aircraft without leaving the airport. Note: 2. Nationals of some countries (including Canada, Germany and the USA) may stay for up to six months without a visa. Check with Consulate or High Commission for further details. 3. UK nationals are permitted to stay for a period of up to 42 days. Types of visa and cost: Single-entry Tourist. Cost depends on nationality of the applicant, but is usually about £35. Postal applications must include an additional £5 postage fee. Validity: Up to six weeks. Extensions to visas can be made at the Immigration Department in St Lucia. Application to: Consulate (or Consular section at Embassy or High Commission); see Contact Addresses section. Application requirements: (a) Valid passport. (b) Completed application form. (c) Passport-size photo. (d) Sufficient funds to cover duration of stay and proof of accommodation. (e) Fee payable by cash (postal order for postal applications). (f) Valid return or onward ticket. Working days required: Dependent upon nationality of applicant, normally two to three days. Temporary residence: Refer applications or enquiries to Consulate, Embassy or High Commission. Processed through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Castries. Money Currency: Eastern Caribbean Dollar (EC$) = 100 cents. Notes are in denominations of EC$100, 50, 20, 10 and 5. Coins are in denominations of EC$1, and 50, 25, 10, 5, 2 and 1 cents. US Dollars are also accepted as legal tender. Note: The Eastern Caribbean Dollar is tied to the US Dollar. Currency exchange: US Dollars ensure a better exchange rate. Most banks have ATMs. Credit & debit cards: MasterCard, American Express, Diners Club and Visa are all widely accepted. Check with your credit or debit card company for details of merchant acceptability and other services which may be available. Travellers cheques: Accepted. US Dollar cheques preferred and will help to avoid additional exchange rate charges. Currency restrictions: There are no restrictions on the import and export of local or foreign currency. Exchange rate indicators The following figures are included as a guide to the movements of the Eastern Caribbean Dollar against Sterling and the US Dollar: Date Feb ’02 Aug ’02 Nov ’02 Feb ’03 £1.00= 3.86 4.12 4.27 4.29 $1.00= 2.70 2.70 2.70 2.70 Banking hours: Generally Mon-Thurs 0830-1500, Fri 0830-1700. Some banks open Sat 0800-1200. Duty Free The following items may be imported into St Lucia without incurring customs duty: 200 cigarettes or 250g tobacco products; 1l of alcoholic beverage. Public Holidays Dec 13 2002 National Day. Dec 25-26 Christmas. Jan 1-2 2003 New Year. Feb 22 Independence Day. Apr 18 Good Friday. Apr 21 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. Jun 9 Whit Monday. Jun 19 Corpus Christi. Aug 1 Emancipation Day. Oct 6 Thanksgiving Day. Dec 13 National Day. Dec 25-26 Christmas. Jan 1-2 2004 New Year. Feb 22 Independence Day. Apr 9 Good Friday. Apr 12 Easter Monday. May 1 Labour Day. May 31 Whit Monday. Jun 10 Corpus Christi. Aug 6 Emancipation Day. Oct 4 Thanksgiving Day. Dec 13 National Day. Dec 25-26 Christmas. Health   Special Precautions Certificate Required Yellow Fever No 1 Cholera No No Typhoid and Polio No N/A Malaria No N/A 1: A yellow fever vaccination certificate is required from travellers over one year of age arriving from infected areas. Food & drink: Mains water is normally chlorinated, and whilst relatively safe may cause mild abdominal upsets. Bottled water is available and is advised for the first few weeks of the stay. Milk is pasteurised and dairy products are safe for consumption. Local meat, poultry, seafood, fruit and vegetables are generally considered safe to eat. Other risks: Hepatitis A occurs along with dengue fever, cutaneous leishmaniasis and lymphatic filariasis. Bilharzia (schistosomiasis) is present. Avoid swimming and paddling in fresh water. Swimming pools which are well chlorinated and maintained are safe. Immunisation against hepatitis B, diphtheria and tuberculosis is sometimes advised. Health care: Costs of health care are high and full health insurance is essential. Travel - International AIR: St Lucia is served by Air Canada (AC), Air Jamaica, British Airways (BA), British West Indies Airways (BWIA), Virgin Atlantic, American Eagle, Helen Air and LIAT. Approximate flight times: From Castries to London is 8 hours, to Barbados is 30 minutes, to Los Angeles is 9 hours, to New York is 4 hours and to Singapore is 33 hours. International airports: George F L Charles (SLU) and Hewanorra (UVF), 3km (2 miles) and 67km (42 miles) from Castries respectively. Taxis or buses are available from both airports to Castries. Both runways are equipped for jets. Airport facilities at George F L Charles include a bar/restaurant and car hire; at Hewanorra there is a bar/restaurant, left luggage and lockers (0800-1600), shops, tourist information, outgoing duty-free shop and car hire (Avis, Budget, Dollar, Hertz and National). Departure tax: EC$54. Transit passengers and children under 12 years of age are exempt. SEA: L’Express des Isles, a high-speed catamaran service, operates between St Lucia and Dominica, calling at Martinique (travel times – St Lucia–Martinique – 1 hour 20 minutes; Martinique–Dominica – 1 hour 20 minutes). St Lucia is also served by a number of cruise lines as well as local passenger/freight lines. Lines include Cunard, Costa, P&O and Royal Olympic Cruises. The main ports are Castries, Vieux Fort and Soufrière. The duty-free port at Pointe Seraphine offers two-berth cruise-ship facilities, duty-free shopping, restaurants and bars; it may be visited by anyone, although a valid passport and an airline ticket are required to make duty-free purchases. Travel - Internal AIR: Charter flights operate between George F L Charles and Hewanorra airports. SEA: Boat charters are easily available at Castries, Marigot Bay and Rodney Bay. ROAD: All major centres are served by a reasonably good road network. The main cross-island route runs from Vieux Fort in the south of the island to Castries in the north. Traffic drives on the left. Seat belts must be worn at all times. Drinking and driving is against the law. Bus: Services connect rural areas with the capital. There is a good service from Castries to Gros Islet in the north of the island with buses departing every 30 minutes during the day. Taxi: Hiring a taxi is easy and cheap, with standard trips having fixed rates. Tipping is unnecessary. Car hire: Cars can be obtained either in Castries, Soufrière and Vieux Fort, or through hotels. Mini-mokes are particularly popular. Hotels and local tour operators run coach trips for groups. Documentation: On presentation of a national driving licence or International Driving Permit, a local licence will be issued by the police or car hire firm. Accommodation HOTELS: St Lucia has a range of accommodation to suit every taste and every budget, from deluxe hotels to self-catering apartments. All-inclusive holidays are also proving very popular and several hotels now offer this option. Most hotels provide some form of entertainment in the evening, from calypso music to the ever-popular limbo dancing. Details are available from hotels’ reservation desks. A government tax of eight per cent and service charge of ten to 15 per cent are added to bills. A leaflet giving hotel and guest-house rates is produced by the St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association, PO Box 545, Castries (tel: 452 5978; fax: 452 7967; e-mail: slhta@candw.lc; website: www.stluciatravel.com.lc). The Tourist Board also publishes an accommodation rate sheet. Grading: Many hotels in the Caribbean offer accommodation according to one of a number of plans. AP is American Plan: room with three meals; MAP is Modified American Plan: breakfast and dinner included with the price of the room plus, in some places, British-style afternoon tea; CP is Continental Plan: room and breakfast only; EP is European Plan: room only. Hotels in St Lucia are also graded on a scale from 3 to 5 stars. GUEST-HOUSES: A wide range is available; some offer self-catering facilities. Introduction St Lucia is a beautiful volcanic island with lush rainforests, undulating agricultural land and unspoiled beaches. Considerable French influence is still felt here. There are several boat trips which offer the visitor an exhilarating day viewing the island from the sea and possibly weighing anchor to picnic at an interesting location. Alternative means of transport include brigs, catamarans and private yachts. CASTRIES: Castries is one of the most beautifully situated Caribbean cities. Surrounded by hills, its large, safe harbour at the head of a wide bay is a constant hive of activity. Castries is a major port of call for cruise ships, which dock at Pointe Seraphine. The spacious Derek Walcott Square features the 19th-century Catholic Cathedral standing in the shade of a 400-year-old samaan tree. There is also a colourful, bustling market. Morne Fortune, ‘hill of good luck’, affords the visitor the chance to inspect the fortification which defends Castries. It also provides a magnificent panorama of the city and the surrounding area. THE NORTH: Gros Islet, on the northwest coast of the island, stages a street party every Friday. Nearby Pigeon Island National Landmark has a small museum telling the history of the island. It was from here that Admiral Rodney set sail in 1782 and destroyed the French Fleet in one of the most decisive engagements in European history. This end of the island is now being developed as a centre for tourism. Anse La Raye, on the west coast south of Castries, is a colourful fishing village where locals make boats from gum trees. Marigot Bay, also on the west coast, is a secluded, palm-fringed yachtsman’s paradise. Above Marigot Bay lies Cul de Sac, an area of three large banana plantations. From above, they look like gently moving oceans of green leaves. It was here that the original Dr Doolittle was filmed. SOUFRIÈRE: Soufrière is the second-largest settlement on the island. This deep-water port stands at the foot of two extinct volcanoes, the Pitons. Rising to 798m (2619ft) above sea level, these are probably St Lucia’s most famous landmarks. The town itself is typically West Indian, a cluster of brightly painted arcaded buildings set hard against the jungle. THE SOUTH: The road between Soufrière and Fond St Jacques runs eastwards through the rainforest; here are the Diamond Waterfalls and Sulphur Springs. The picturesque little villages of Choiseul and Laborie are surrounded by splendid vegetation. The Morne Coubaril Estate is also worth a visit. On the east of the island, the headlands project into the ocean; a visit to Dennery and Micoud is highly recommended. Sport & Activities Watersports: St Lucia is one of the world’s breeziest places, where the trade winds blow in from the sea to the southern shore. The sandy beach of Anse de Sable offers ideal windsurfing conditions for both novice and expert. The west coast, too, offers a selection of resorts and hotels geared to the special needs of the active watersports enthusiast, while elsewhere on the island guests can enjoy water-skiing or scuba diving. Enthusiasts’ equipment can be accommodated by British Airways and BWIA, with windsurfers’ boards carried as excess baggage and charged according to size. All west coast beaches have good swimming. The Atlantic coast has rugged surf and is not recommended to anyone with little experience and ability, and even an extremely proficient swimmer should not go unaccompanied. Many of the sports facilities are available free of charge. Sailing: Hotels hire out hobbycats, dinghies and small speedboats by the hour or half-day. From Marigot Bay and Rodney Bay, the more experienced sailor can hire a variety of craft from comparatively basic, small yachts to larger 12m (40ft) and 18m (60ft) vessels, with crew if required. Tour operators can also arrange for stays of a week or more on the island to be coupled with a ‘free floating’ holiday on board a chartered yacht visiting the neighbouring islands. Nature trails and hikes: St Lucia Forestry Department and the National Trust organise a variety of rainforest, mountain and plantation walks. Local guides are available to help climbers tackle the Pitons. The main areas designated for birdwatching are the Bois d’Orange Swamp, the Rain Forest and Boriel’s Pond. Arrangements can be made through the St Lucia Forestry Department. Other: The International Riding Stables in Gros Islet offer fully insured horseriding for all levels. Another facility, Trims Riding School, is located at Cas en Bas. There are golf courses at Cap Estate, the northern tip of the island, and at La Toc. All the main hotels have tennis courts and arrangements can be made through hotels to play at St Lucia Tennis Club. Sea fishing trips are possible, fishing for barracuda, mackerel, kingfish and so on. Social Profile Food & Drink: Most hotels have restaurants, in addition to a wide range in the major towns serving many different types of food. Waiter service is the norm. Local dishes include langouste (local lobster) cooked in a variety of ways, lambi (conch) and other fresh seafood, breadfruit and other local fruit and vegetables. Pepper pot and fried plantain are two local specialities worth trying. In general, the food is a combination of Creole with West Indian and French influences. Many imported spirits are available, but the local drink is rum, often served in punch and cocktails. Caribbean beer, including the locally brewed Piton and Heineken, and plenty of delicious fresh fruit juices are also available. Nightlife: Centres mainly in hotels and some restaurants. On Friday nights, the village of Gros Islet hosts a weekly ‘jump up’, popular with locals and visitors alike. Indies and The Late Lime are two of St Lucia’s most popular nightclubs, both featuring live entertainment. During summer, there is little nightlife, but during the winter the resorts are lively, with plenty of local music and dance. Shopping: Special purchases include unique batik and silkscreen designs made into shifts, sports shirts, table mats, cocktail napkins and shopping bags produced at a studio on the road between Castries and La Toc. Other craft outlets sell locally made bowls, beads, straw hats, flour-sack shirts, sisal rugs, bags, sandals and woodwork. The recently expanded Pointe Seraphine features over 30 duty-free shops (open seven days a week), bars and restaurants placed around an open piazza. Another duty-free shopping complex has recently been opened at La Place Carenage. Duty-free shopping is available to all visitors, provided they present their passport or airline ticket when purchasing goods. Shopping hours: Mon-Fri 0830-1230 and 1330-1600, Sat 0800-1200 and 0900-2100 in shopping malls. Special Events: Carnival and the jazz festival are calendar highlights, the latter regularly featuring internationally renowned artists such as Wynton Marsallis and Herbie Hancock. For more detailed information and a full list of events, contact the St Lucia Tourist Board. The following lists important annual events for 2003: Jan 17-19 Heineken Regatta. Mar 3-4 St Lucia Carnival. Mar 20 International Francophone Day. Apr 22 Earth Day. May Comedy Festival. May 2-11 St Lucia Jazz Festival. May 21 West Indies vs. Australia. Jun Fisherman’s Feast; Dennery Village Fish Festival. Jun 14-15 Carnival. Aug 29 Miss St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association Pageant. Aug 30 Feast of St Rose of Lima (flower festival and street parade). Oct 1-31 Creole Heritage Month; Bill Fish Tournament. Oct 26 Jounnen Kweyol Entanasyonnal (International Creole Day). Nov 22 St Cecilia’s Day (Feast of the Musicians). Dec Atlantic Rally for Cruisers. Dec 13 Festival of Lights and Renewal; St Lucia Christmas Folk Festival. Social Conventions: Some French influences still remain alongside the West Indian style of life. The people are friendly and hospitable, and encourage visitors to relax and enjoy their leisurely lifestyle. The madras and foulards are not often seen in towns, but are sometimes worn at festivals such as the Feast of St Rose of Lima in August. Casual wear is acceptable, although some hotels and restaurants encourage guests to dress for dinner. Beachwear should not be worn in towns. Tipping: Ten to 15 per cent is added to bills. Taxi drivers do not expect tips. Business Profile Economy: St Lucia’s economy still relies heavily on agriculture but has broadened during the last 15 years. Light industry has been a key part of this process: the establishment of export processing zones and the successful attraction of foreign investment have created a healthy sector producing plastic, textiles and industrial gases and assembling electronic components. There is also a significant construction industry. The main agricultural exports are bananas, coconuts and cocoa. The decline of banana exports – especially in the wake of the adverse World Trade Organisation ruling on preferential Caribbean access to traditional European markets – has lately been a particular cause of concern and was largely responsible for the one per cent contraction of the economy in both 1997 and 1998. The Government is focusing its efforts on further diversification, principally directed towards the creation of a service sector based on tourism and financial services. It has also decided to privatise the bulk of state-owned enterprises. St Lucia is a member of the regional trading bloc, CARICOM, and the region’s principal political co-operative grouping, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. The USA and the UK are the main trading partners, the USA for imports and the UK for exports. Business: Short- or long-sleeved shirt and tie or a safari suit are suitable for most business visits. Office hours: Mon-Fri 0800-1630, Sat 0830-1230. Commercial Information: The following organisation can offer advice: St Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture, PO Box 482, Vide Bouteille, Castries (tel: 452 3165; fax: 453 6907; e-mail: info@stluciachamber.org; website: www.stluciachamber.org). Conferences/Conventions: A number of hotels offer conference and back-up facilities, with seating for up to 200 persons. St Lucia Tourist Board publishes a brochure with details. For further information, contact Solar Tours and Travel, 20 Bridge Street, PO Box 1519, Castries (tel: 452 5898; fax: 452 5428; e-mail: solartours@candw.lc; website: www.solartoursandtravel.com). Climate Hot, tropical climate tempered by trade winds throughout most of the year. The driest period is from January to April and there is increased rainfall in summer and towards the end of the year. History and Government History: Fierce resistance from the indigenous Carib Indians kept British and French colonists away from the island for 50 years. Then, between the signing of a peace treaty with the French in 1660 and the British take over of the island in 1814, ownership changed no less than 14 times. The British maintained control until 1979, when St Lucia was granted independence. Recent politics have been dominated by the three-way struggle between the conservative United Workers’ Party (UWP), the social democratic St Lucia Labour Party (SLP) and the left-leaning Progressive Labour Party (PLP), which split from the SLP in 1981. St Lucia is a member of the Organisation of American States and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States. The UWP dominated the island’s politics during the early 1990s, until the SLP was reinvigorated under the leadership of Kenny Anthony, who took over the party in 1996 and led it to electoral victory at the 1997 general election. Since then, the SLP has won an overwhelming majority at the most recent poll, held in December 2001. The UWP has just three seats, while the PLP has ceased to exist as an electoral force. On taking power in 1997, the new SLP government took a new tack in the country’s foreign policy, by establishing diplomatic relations with the People’s Republic of China, which was to provide the finance for educational materials, construction of a national stadium, a cultural centre, a new highway and a free-trade zone. Previously, St Lucia had generally followed a uniformly pro-US line (including participation in the 1983 invasion of the fellow Caribbean island of Grenada). Taiwan severed relations with St Lucia in protest. Within the Caribbean, St Lucia leads the lobby for the creation of a unitary Eastern Caribbean state, although progress has been slow, as many of the islands favour a more gradual process of political and economic integration. St Lucia has therefore reached agreement on a more limited union with three other like-minded islands – Dominica, Grenada and St Vincent. Government: Under the independence constitution, the head of state is the British monarch, represented by a Governor-General. Legislation is the responsibility of the 17-member House of Assembly, which is directly elected by universal adult suffrage for a five-year term, and the 11-member Senate, composed of appointees of the prime minister (six nominations), the leader of the main opposition party (three nominations) and the Governor-General (two nominations). Copyright © 2003 Columbus Publishing Ltd.