Government and Politics

Government and Politics of Saint Lucia

Government structure, leadership, capital, military, and national symbols of Saint Lucia.

Government Structure

Constitutional foundations, branches, parties, and leadership.

Government Type: Westminster-style parliamentary democracy
Administrative Divisions: 11 quarters; Anse-la-Raye, Castries, Choiseul, Dauphin, Dennery, Gros-Islet, Laborie, Micoud, Praslin, Soufriere, Vieux-Fort
Legal System: based on English common law
Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal
Citizenship: citizenship by birth: yes citizenship by descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of Saint Lucia dual citizenship recognized: yes residency requirement for naturalization: 8 years
Executive Branch: chief of state: King CHARLES III (since 8 September 2022), represented by Governor General Sir Cyril Errol CHARLES (since 11 November 2021) head of government: Prime Minister Philip J. PIERRE (since 28 July 2021) and Deputy Prime Minister Ernest HILAIRE (since 28 July 2021) cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister elections: none; the monarch is hereditary; the governor general is appointed by the monarch; following legislative elections, the leader of the majority party or the leader of a majority coalition is usually appointed prime minister by the governor general; deputy prime minister appointed by the governor general
Legislative Branch: Bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate (11 seats; 6 members 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) and the House of Assembly (17 seats; members are elected by popular vote from single-member constituencies to serve five-year terms). Elections: House of Assembly - last held on 26 July 2021 (next to be held in 2026). Election results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP 50.4%, UWP 42.6%, other 7%; seats by party - SLP 13, UWP 2, independent 2.
Judicial Branch: Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court (jurisdiction extends to Anguilla, Antigua and Barbuda, the British Virgin Islands, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines)
Political Parties: National Alliance or NA [George ODLUM]; Saint Lucia Freedom Party or SFP [Martinus FRANCOIS]; Saint Lucia Labor Party or SLP [Kenneth ANTHONY]; Sou Tout Apwe Fete Fini or STAFF [Christopher HUNTE]; United Workers Party or UWP [Dr. Morella JOSEPH]
Head of State: King CHARLES III, represented by Governor General Sir Cyril Errol CHARLES
Head of Government: Prime Minister Philip J. PIERRE and Deputy Prime Minister Ernest HILAIRE
Cabinet: Cabinet appointed by the governor general on the advice of the prime minister
Elections: House of Assembly - last held on 26 July 2021 (next to be held in 2026).
Election Results: House of Assembly - percent of vote by party - SLP 50.4%, UWP 42.6%, other 7%; seats by party - SLP 13, UWP 2, independent 2.
Constitution: 22-Feb-79
Independence: 22 February 1979 (from UK)
National Holiday: Independence Day, 22 February (1979)
International Organization Participation: ACCT, ACP, C, Caricom, CDB, FAO, G-77, IBRD, ICAO, ICCt (signatory), ICFTU, ICRM, IDA, IFAD, IFC, IFRCS, ILO, IMF, IMO, Interpol, IOC, ISO (correspondent), ITU, NAM, OAS, OECS, OPANAL, OPCW, UN, UNCTAD, UNESCO, UNIDO, UPU, WCL, WFTU, WHO, WIPO, WMO, WTrO
Diplomatic Representation in the U.S.: chief of mission: Ambassador Sonia Merlyn JOHNNY chancery: 3216 New Mexico Avenue NW, Washington, DC 20016 telephone: [1] (202) 364-6792 through 6795 FAX: [1] (202) 364-6723 consulate(s) general: Miami, New York
U.S. Diplomatic Representation: the US does not have an embassy in Saint Lucia; the US Ambassador to Barbados is accredited to Saint Lucia

Capital City

Seat of government and political history.

Capital City: Castries
Location: 14 00 N, 61 00 W
Time Difference: UTC-4 (1 hour ahead of Washington, DC, during Standard Time)
History: in 1785, the village of Carenage was renamed Castries, after Charles Eugene Gabriel de La Croix de CASTRIES (1727-1801), who was then the French Minister of the Navy and Colonies

Embassy and Diplomatic Representation

Embassy location and contact details.

U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown Wildey Business park Wildey St. Michael, Barbados Telephone: (246) 227-4399 Emergency after-hours telephone: (246) 227-4000 Facsimile: (246) 431-0179 Email: BridgetownACS@state.gov Hours of operation are 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday, except Barbadian and U.S. holidays.

Military

Branches, service obligations, expenditures, and manpower.

Military Branches: no regular military forces; Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (includes Special Service Unit, Marine Unit)
Service Age and Obligation: 18 years of age for voluntary security service; no national army

National Symbols

Flag, anthem, and other symbols of national identity.

National Flag

Flag Symbolism: blue, with a gold isosceles triangle below a black arrowhead; the upper edges of the arrowhead have a white border
Flag History: The triangle represents the twin peaks of the Pitons, a geological formation of volcanic origin. The black and white symbolize the “two races living and working in unity”, the yellow symbolizes the constant sunshine and the blue stands for the Caribbean and the Atlantic Ocean.
Date of Adoption: 22 February 1979

National Anthem

Anthem Lyrics (English): 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!

Back to Saint Lucia