St Lucia 

Key facts

POPULATION (Census 2001): 157,775
AREA: 616 sq km
CAPITAL: Castries
LOCAL GOVERNMENT CONTRIBUTION TO GDP: 0.46%
CURRENCY: East Caribbean dollar (XCD)
HEAD OF STATE: HM Queen Elizabeth II
GOVERNOR-GENERAL: Dame Pearlette Louisy
HEAD OF GOVERNMENT: Prime Minister Stephenson King
FORM OF GOVERNMENT: constitutional monarchy and parliamentary democracy
PARLIAMENTARY SYSTEM: bicameral
STATE STRUCTURE: unitary
LANGUAGES: English (official) French Patois (recognised)
NATIONAL ELECTIONS: last: 2006; turnout: 58.5%; next: 2011
LOCAL ELECTIONS: There is no elected local government

Summary

St Lucia is a constitutional monarchy with two levels of government: central and local. The constitution makes reference to local government but contains no specific provisions or protection. The main legislative texts governing local government are the Local Government Ordinance 1947 and the Castries Corporation Act 1967. There are 13 administrative divisions, known as ‘quarters’, and one city. The 13 quarters comprise three town councils, six village councils and four district councils. Local elections were suspended in 1979, and since then the Ministry of Physical Development, Housing, Urban Renewal and Local Government is responsible for the nomination of all councils. The functions and responsibilities of local government have been discharged by centralised authorities since 1980, and many of the services provided are carried out in tandem with other governmental agencies.

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