Facts about Saint Lucia

• Area of 238 sq miles (619 sq km)
• Tropical climate and mountainous terrain
• Population approximately 170,000
• The island was heavily contested for 150 years by the British and the French (14 battles- 7 times British and 7 times French)
• English is the official language
• British-based parliamentary and legal systems
• Member of the British Commonwealth
• Member of the United Nations
• Official currency is the Eastern Caribbean Dollar ($EC)
• Fixed rate of exchange (US$1-EC$2.70) since 1976
• Economic sectors are tourism, financial services, and agriculture (mainly bananas)
• Financial services include IBCs, trusts, captive insurance, international banking, mutual funds
• Tax friendly jurisdiction
• No exchange controls
• Saint Lucia has produced two Nobel Prize Laureates