ST LUCIA
General
The island of Et Lucia has an area of 238 square miles. The population in 1974 was estimated at 108,000. Castries, the
St Lucia was a great capital, has a population of about 50,000.
bone of contention between the British and the French throughout
French influence predominating the 17th and 18th centuries
until the island was finally ceded to the British in 1814 by the Treaty of Paris.
The
The island is mountainous, with magnificent scenery. most spectacular peaks are the Gros Fiton (2,619 feet) and the Petit Piton (2,461 feet) which are twin volcanic, forest-clad cones rising sheer out of the sea near the town of Soufriere on the Leeward coast. A fự miles away in an ancient crater are hot, sulphurous springs. The mountains are intersected by numerous short rivers. in places these rivers debouch into broad fertile and well cultivated valleys.
Political
The United
Et Lucia has been an Associated State since 1967. workers' Party (UWP), under the leadership of Mr John Compton,
At the last General Election held in has been in power since 1964.
May 1974, the UWP won 10 seats, with 7 seats going to the St Lucia Labour Party.
There are three nominated members (there are dormant
provisions in the Constitution for a fenate of 11 members).
Mir Compton had once been a leading advocate of closer political and economic association between the Associated States, but has now asked the United Kingdom Government for separate independence.
A constitutional conference took place in London in July. Agreement was not reached on some aspects of the proposed independence Constitution, and the Chairman, Mr Ted howlands MP, said that the British Government would take appropriate action in the light of the response in St Lucia to the draft Constitution, which it is hoped will be circulated there in September.
The leader of the LP and leader of the Opposition is fr Allan Louisy. A few months before the Election the SLP was joined by a breakaway group of the t Lucia Action Movement (LAM).
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