Introduction

Background

Throughout the 17th and early 18th centuries, England and France vied for control of Saint Lucia, noted for its excellent natural harbor at Castries and its developing sugar industry, with ownership changing hands 14 times; the island was ultimately ceded to the United Kingdom in 1814 and integrated into the British Windward Islands colony. Following the abolition of slavery on its plantations in 1834, Saint Lucia continued to function as an agricultural island, focusing on the production of tropical cash crops. In the mid-20th century, Saint Lucia became a member of the West Indies Federation (1958–1962) and in 1967, it was one of the six nations that formed the West Indies Associated States, acquiring internal self-governance. The island achieved full independence in 1979.