Located in Lesser Antilles, between Saint Vincent, Barbados and Martinique, Saint Lucia is a volcanic island, more mountainous than most Caribbean islands, with the highest point being Mount Gimie (950m). Two other mountains, the Pitons, form the island's most famous landmark. The capital city is Castries (population 60,263) where 32.4% of the population lives. Major towns include Gros Islet, Soufrière, and Vieux Fort. The local climate is tropical, moderated by northeast trade winds.
The French officially claimed the island in 1635, and were the island's first European settlers. They signed a treaty with the native Carib Indians in 1660. England took control of the island from 1663 to 1667. In ensuing years, it was at war with France 14 times, and rule of the island changed frequently. In 1814, the British took definitive control of the island, as part of the Treaty of Paris ending the Napoleonic Wars. Because it switched so often between British and French control, Saint Lucia was also known as the "Helen of the West Indies".
In 1836 the institution of slavery was abolished on the island and throughout the British Empire. By that time, people of African ethnicity greatly outnumbered those of ethnic European background. In the mid-twentieth century, Saint Lucia joined the West Indies Federation (1958-1962) when the colony was dissolved. In 1979 it gained full independence under Sir John Compton of the conservative United Workers party (UWP), who served as prime minister from 1982 to 1996.
Saint Lucia is a Commonwealth realm, and Queen Elizabeth II is the Head of State, represented on the island by a Governor-General. Tourism is vital to island's economy, and its economic importance is expected to continue to increase as the market for bananas becomes more competitive. Saint Lucia's population is predominantly of African and mixed African-European descent, with a small Indo-Caribbean minority (3%). The official language is English, but Saint Lucian Creole French (Kwéyòl) is spoken by 95% of the population.
About the stamps
The stamps are part of the serie Dragonflies, issued on April 8, 2013.
• Orthemis macrostigma (0.05 XCD)
• Micrathyria aequalis (0.20 XCD)
• Tramea abdominalis (0.30 XCD) - It's on the postcard 2871
• Brachymesia herbida (0.50 XCD)
• Erythemis vesiculosa (0.75 XCD) - It's on the postcard 2871
• Erythrodiplax umbrata (1.00 XCD)
• Pantala flavescens (1.50 XCD)
• Ischnura ramburii (2.00 XCD)
References
Saint Lucia - Wikipedia
Sender: Denise
Sent from Castries (Saint Lucia), on 02.11.2016
Photo: Cecile N. A. Clarke
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