Facts about Saint Lucia
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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