A fond welcome to locals and visitors!
When you arrive in St Lucia it will not take you long to see why the island became known as the ‘Helen of the West Indies’ – and why the French and British empires spent almost two centuries fighting to possess her.
At Caribbean1st we refer to St Lucia as our ‘Island of Balance’. This is because St Lucia can boast an incomparable balance between unspoilt natural splendour and calm on one side equaled by productivity and frenzied motion on the other- and both working together quite harmoniously.
Look one way and see its beauty and feel its tranquillity, look the other way and see its industriousness and feel its vibrancy.
St Lucia is an island under constant development and yet so many areas remain untouched, unspoilt and simply beautiful.
St Lucia has it all. Enjoy…
- TIME ZONE: ATLANTIC STANDARD TIME
- CAPITAL CITY: THE VALLEY
- LANGUAGE: ENGLISH
- INDEPENDENCE: BRITISH OVERSEAS TERRITORY
- ETHNICITY: BLACK 90.1% MULTI RACIAL 4.6%
- POPULATION: 15,000 (2011)
- NATIONAL DISH: PIGEON PEAS & RICE
- CURRENCY: EASTERN CARIBBEAN DOLLAR (XCD)
Cerulean Blue represents fidelity and reflects our tropical sky and our emerald surrounding waters:
Gold signifies prosperity and the prevailing sunshine.
The black and white is symbolic of the people, living and working in unity.
The design impresses the dominance of the Negro culture vis-à-vis that of Europe, against a background of sunshine and ever-blue sea. This is represented by the three triangles in the centre of the flag.
The isosceles triangle, is reminiscent of the island’s famous twin Pitons situated within the district of Soufriere. They rising majestically out of the sea, towards the sky -themselves, a symbol of the hope and aspirations of the people.”
The Rose, that appears on the coat of arms, tells us about England. At one time England was the “mother” country, in charge of laws and affairs that governed the island.
The Fleur-De-Lis is a reminder that St Lucia belonged to France as many as seven times. Control of St Lucia was strongly fought for.
The Bamboo is the national plant and forms the cross of the shield.
The little African Stool in the centre is symbolic of our ancestors that were shipped from Africa during the slave trade.
To light us on our way is a Torch, which is held up high.
The Saint Lucian Parrot ‘Amazona Versicolor’ is the national bird and guards each side of the Coat of Arms.
Island Motto “THE LAND, THE PEOPLE, THE LIGHT”, can be found at the bottom of the shield.’
Sons and daughters of St. Lucia,
Love the land that gave us birth,
Land of beaches, hills and valleys,
Fairest isle of all the earth.
Wheresoever you may roam,
Love, oh love your island home.
Gone the times when nations battled
For this ‘Helen of the West,
Gone the days when strife and discord
Dimmed her children’s toil and rest.
Dawns at last a brighter day,
Stretches out a glad new way.
May the good Lord bless our island,
Guard her sons from woe and harm!
May our people live united,
Strong in soul and strong in arm!
Justice, Truth and Charity,
Our ideal for ever be!
SIR NEVILLE CENAC
GOVERNOR GENERAL
ALLEN CHASTANET
PRIME MINISTER
Governors
SIR ALLEN MONTGOMERY LEWIS
(1909–1993)
TOOK OFFICE: 22/02/1979 – LEFT OFFICE: 19/06/1980
BOSWELL WILLIAMS
(1926–2014)
TOOK OFFICE: 19/06/1980 – LEFT OFFICE: 13/12/1982
SIR ALLEN MONTGOMERY LEWIS
(1909–1993)
TOOK OFFICE: 13/12/1982 – LEFT OFFICE: 30/04/1987
VINCENT FLOSSAIC
(1928–2010)
TOOK OFFICE: 30/04/1987 – LEFT OFFICE: 10/10/1988
SIR STANISLAUS A. JAMES
(1919–2011)
TOOK OFFICE: 10/10/1988 – LEFT OFFICE: 01/06/1996
SIR GEORGE MALLET
(1923–2010)
TOOK OFFICE: 01/06/1996 – LEFT OFFICE: 17/09/1997
DAME PEARLETTE LOUISY
(1946– )
TOOK OFFICE: 17/09/1997 – LEFT OFFICE: 31/12/2017
SIR NEVILLE CENAC
(1939– )
TOOK OFFICE: 12/01/2018 – INCUMBENT
Prime Ministers
SIR JOHN COMPTON
(1925–2007)
TOOK OFFICE: 22/02/1979 – LEFT OFFICE: 02/07/1979
ALLAN LOUISY
(1916–2011)
TOOK OFFICE: 02/07/1979 – LEFT OFFICE: 04/05/1981
WINSTON CENAC
(1925–2004)
TOOK OFFICE: 04/05/1981 – LEFT OFFICE: 17/01/1982
MICHAEL PILGRIM (acting)
(1947–)
TOOK OFFICE: 17/01/1982 – LEFT OFFICE: 03/05/1982
SIR JOHN COMPTON
(1925–2007)
TOOK OFFICE: 03/05/1982 – LEFT OFFICE: 02/04/1996
VAUGHAN LEWIS
(1940–)
TOOK OFFICE: 02/04/1996 – LEFT OFFICE: 24/05/1997
KENNY ANTHONY
(1951–)
TOOK OFFICE: 24/05/1997 – LEFT OFFICE: 11/12/2006
SIR JOHN COMPTON
(1925–2007)
TOOK OFFICE: 11/12/2006 – LEFT OFFICE: 07/09/2007
STEPHENSON KING
(1958–)
TOOK OFFICE: 07/09/2007 – LEFT OFFICE: 30/11/2011
KENNY ANTHONY
(1951–)
TOOK OFFICE: 30/11/2011 – LEFT OFFICE: 07/06/2016
ALLEN CHASTANET
(1960–)
TOOK OFFICE: 07/06/2016 – INCUMBENT
ST. LUCIA MUST STOPS
Sulphur Springs St Lucia is a volcano that has been visited by some of the most influential people in the world: Richard Branson, Oprah, and many international singers. A visit to St Lucia is already memorable and enjoyable, but this tour makes a huge difference in how you remember the island.
The Soufriere Volcano (Sulphur Springs) last erupted in the 1700’s – over 200 years! It originated from a weak spot in the crust of a collapsed volcanic crater and is considered to be a dormant volcano. One of the best features of the volcano is the ability to dive into the mud baths.
The mud baths at Sulphur Springs attract people from all over the world because it detoxifies the body and helps heal sun burns, eczema, arthritis, sore joints, and more.
Official Website: www.sulphurspringstlucia.com
The Pitons, St Lucia’s two volcanic mountains, are certainly some of the island’s best features, and a Gros Piton hike is an experience unlike any other. Gros Piton stands a remarkable 2,619 feet above sea level, and coupled with Petit Piton, it is the hallmark of St Lucia’s western coast. From the peak of your Gros Piton hike, you can see Soufriere, Vieux Fort, and the island of Saint Vincent, while below you is a view of Choiseul and the Maria Islands. You can see the different colours of the rooftops in the local fishing villages and the islands many coconut groves, all blending together seamlessly.
Information courtesy of grospiton.com
Located in Rodney Bay, Pigeon Island National Historic Park is one of the most popular Saint Lucia attractions in the area. Once a separate island, the 40-acre islet and reserve was connected to the mainland by a sandy causeway in the 1970s.
Like many other Caribbean islands, Pigeon Island was formed by volcanic activity. It is mountainous and has a tropical showery climate moderated by the northeast trade winds.
Most of the coastline is rocky but there are two sandy beaches with shady palm trees. The water is beautifully clear for swimming and snorkelling. There are also numerous historic ruins, barracks and more that are well-worth exploring.
There are a couple of local restaurants serving food in this wonderful location. The Jambe de Bois restaurant is in a waterfront position with unrivalled sea views and serves good food throughout the day at reasonable prices.
Information courtesy of calabashcove.com
The Derek Walcott Square is at the heart of the St. Lucia’s capital, Castries. It is named after the Honourable Derek Walcott, the St. Lucian author who, in 1992, won the Nobel Prize for Literature. There is a monument to St. Lucia’s war dead, and a large Samaan tree, known locally as the Massav tree. It is said to be over 400 years old. At the eastern end of the square is the Cathedral of the Immaculate Conception, the illustrations on the interior walls and the altarpiece are the work of local artist Dunstan St. Omer. The Central Library is on the western corner of the square.
Information courtesy of slucia.com
WATCH THIS:
Listen to the sounds of Curmiah Lisette, a beautiful Caribbean Ambassador as she so eloquently expresses her depth of feeling for the wonderful island of St Lucia.
Check out her website find out a little more about Curmiah, and give her your support.
History of St. Lucia
“Adorned with the radiant robe of virginity, thou wast betrothed to Christ the Lifegiver, and didst disdain all mortal love. Therefore thou didst bring to the Lord as a bridal gift the streams of thy martyr’s blood. Intercede with Him fo us all, O Virgin Martyr Lucia”
St. Lucia was born in Syracuse, Sicily, in the third century. When her mother was ill of an incurable disease, Lucia visited the grave of St. Agatha in Catania and there, St. Agatha appeared to her. Lucia’s mother was then miraculously healed. In the year 304 Lucy suffered greatly. She distributed all her dowry to the poor and devoted her life to Christ in virginity and prayer. This embittered her betrothed, who accused her of being a Christian before Paschasius the judge. The wicked judge ordered that she be taken to a brothel to be defiled. However, by the power of God she remained immovable, as if rooted to the earth, and not even a multitude of people were able to move her from where she stood.
An enraged pagan pierced her throat with a sword at which point, she relinquished her undefiled soul to God. Her name, Lucia, or Lucy, means light. It is the same as Photini in Greek. Her intercessions have been credited with restoring sight to many who were blind. One legend says that before she was finally killed by a sword, her eyes were removed with a fork as part of her torture. Here she can be seen holding a pair of eyes in a chalice.
St. Lucia is a nation in the Windward Islands in the Caribbean Sea. It was believed that Christopher Columbus first saw the island on St. Lucy’s Day, December 13. Although historians dispute this, the island, under the name of St. Lucia, can be seen on a Vatican map dated 1502
The population is descended from West African slaves who worked for both French and British plantation owners. St. Lucia alternated between French and British control fourteen times before it became a British Crown Colony under the Treaty of Paris in 1814. Although the British ruled the island for 165 years without interruption, the cultural influence of the French persists to the present day. It is reflected in the islanders’ Catholicism, in their French-based patois (dialect), and in such customs as its Flower Festivals.
In the twentieth century, St. Lucia gradually moved toward self-government. In 1958 it joined the short-lived West Indies Federation. On February 22, 1979, St. Lucia became an independent state within the British Commonwealth. Replacing a dependence on sugar as the basis of its economy, St. Lucia today produces a large banana crop.
WATCH THIS:
Follow recipes from renowned chef Robby Skeete.
Watch Robby cook a St Lucian favourite: Smash Plantain.