Saint Lucia
Today's Flag
Saint Lucia - Arawak Indians called the island "Louanaloo," or Island of the Iguanas as early as 200 AD. Later Carib Indians named it "Hewanorra," when they arrived circa 800 AD. The inhabitants resisted colonization repeatedly, defending their island home against waves of Dutch, French and British settlers during the 1600s. François "Jambe de bois" Le Clerc, the first pirate of the modern era with a wooden peg-leg, made his base here with 330 men in the 1500s. Finally purchased from Caribs in 1651 by a member of the French West India Company in order to create a French colony, Britain immediately sent a thousand people to contest it. Conflict raged back and forth until finally, it was finally ceded to the British by France in 1815. Historically sugar, and presently bananas, cocoa, avocadoes and other crops make up most of the island's economy along with a strong tourist sector. As an associated state of the United Kingdom, and member of the short-lived West Indies Federation, Saint Lucia has had responsible self-government from 1967. Full independence was achieved in 1979 and Saint Lucia maintains its historic connection to the Commonwealth with King Charles III as head of state. First adopted on 1 March 1967, and altered slightly at Independence, the blue of the flag stands for the sky and sea of the Caribbean; black and white are for the people who inhabit Saint Lucia; gold represents sunshine and prosperity while the two major triangles are symbols of the twin volcanic plugs: Gros Piton and Petit Piton, that dominate the geography of the island.
Quick Facts
Short Form: St. Lucia
Government Type: Constitutional Monarchy
Head of State: King Charles the Third, by Grace of God, King of Saint Lucia and of His other Realms and Territories, Head of the Commonwealth
Representative: His Excellency Errol Charles (11 November 2021)
Title: (Acting) Governor General
Head of Government: The Right Honourable Philip J. Pierre, MP
Title: Prime Minister
First in Office: 1997 (re-elected 2021)
Governing Body: House of Assembly
Founded: 22 February 1979 (independence from United Kingdom)
Population: 180,654 (click here for current statistic)
Citizens of Saint Lucia are called: Saint Lucians
State Religion: n/a
Currency: East Caribbean Dollar
Capital: Castries
Population: 20,000
Flag Adopted: 01 March 1967, artist: Dunstan St. Omer
Special National Holidays: Independence Day, 22 February; National Day, 13 December