raph: ST

Type: parliamentary democracy

Capital: Castries

Administrative divisions: 11 quarters; Anse La Raye, Castries,
Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin,
Soufriere, Vieux Fort

Independence: 22 February 1979 (from UK)

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

US diplomatic representation: no official presence since the
Ambassador 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

@Saint Lucia:Economy

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 periodi