University of Oradea Faculty of History, International Relations, Political science and

Communication science Specialization: International Relations and European Studies

The role of the British Empire in Saint Lucias evolution

Student:DANCIU MARINELA

Professor: Dana Pantea

The role of the British Empire in Saint Lucias evolution

The essay presents the relation between the British Empire and Saint Lucia one of the former british colonies. It reffers to the interconections and interrelations of the British Empire and Saint Lucia from different perspectives, not only from a historical perspective but also from a political, social, economical and cultural point of view. Saint Lucia is an Eastern Caribbean region with volcanic origins, very mountainous what makes part from Windward Islands (Lesser Antilles) located at 21 miles south of Martinique and 26 miles north of St. Vincent. St. Lucia measures approximately 27 miles in length and 14 miles in width, with a land area of 238 square miles. Castries, the capital city of St. Lucia it has grown up around its harbor, which occupies the crater of an extinct volcano. Castries may be architecturally dull, but its public market is one of the most fascinating in the West Indies. The national flag consisits of a blue background with a central triangular emblem of yellow, black, and white. The flag background reflects the Atlantic Ocean and Caribbean Sea, which surround the island, and in the centre the distinctive emblem that includes white and black indicate harmony between the races living on Saint Lucia. The yellow triangle represents the constant sunshine that the tropical island enjoys with the purpose of encourage the tourist industry, and its black triangle symbolizes the topographic features known as the Pitons, the ancient volcanic cones found in the southwest of Saint Lucia. For most of its colonial history under the French and British, Saint Lucia did not have a distinctive flag of its own. In 1939 the British granted the island a coat of arms, which was also used as a badge on the British Blue Ensign. The shield was black and bore gold roses for England and fleurs-de-lis for France, separated by pieces of bamboo forming the shape of a cross. The original version of the flag in use today was hoisted at that time, designed by local artist Dunstan St. Omer. History of the country before the British impact The Saint Lucia was first inhabit by the Arawak Indians but later came the warrior Caribs, who overcame the peace loving Arawaks, and by around 800AD, Carib conquered them and dominated the island. The tribes left their mark on the island, they called the island HEWANORRA meaning there where the iquana is found . The name Saint Lucia was first used in the late 16th Century. The first European to settle was a pirate caled Francois Le Clerc known as wooden leg . It was once believed that Christopher Columbus, was the first European that set foot on the island, but Historians are now almost certain that he never landed on Saint Lucia. The Dutch set up a base around 1600.

The English first landed in 1605, having been blown off course on their way to Guyana, but after only a month later only 19 were left from 67 and those being forced to ran away from the Caribs in a canoe. In 1639 British lead by Sir Thomas Warner tried a second attempt of colonization but it was futile, remaining frustrated by sickness and the hostility of the native Caribs . The French arrived in 1650 when a successful settlement was achieved, when two representatives of the French West India Company bought the island. The persevering British were less than enchanted with this idea that the French invaded their teritory, and Anglo-French rivalry for the island continued for more than a century and a half. History after the British impact In 1664 Thomas Warner, son of the governor of Saint Kitts, regained the island, but it was restored to France by the Peace of Breda in 1667. In 1674 it was claimed by the crown of France and made a dependency of Martinique. In 1718 the island was declared neutral. In 1743 the French resumed possession, retaining the island until the Treaty of Aix-la-Chapelle in 1748. In 1762 it was captured by Admiral George Rodney and General Robert Monckton till the Treaty of Paris (1763). In 1778 it again surrendered to the Britis, and at the Peace of Versailles (1780), Saint Lucia was once more restored to France. Between 1782 and 1803 the possession of Saint Lucia passed several times between Britain and France till it was finally ceded to Britain in 1814 by the Treaty of Paris, after which it became a crown colony. Representative government was obtained by the constitution of 1924, which introduced an elective element into the legislative council. The constitution of 1936 also provided for an unofficial majority in the council. In 1958 Saint Lucia joined the West Indies Federation but it retained its colonial status unchanged. With the 1960 constitution the post of governor of the Windward Islands was abolished, Saint Lucia becoming an autonomous unit within the federation and in the same also achieving a greater degree of internal self-government. The federation was dissolved on 1962 and the status question was settled by the West Indies Act of 1967, in which Saint Lucia assumed a status of association with the United Kingdom on March 1, 1967. Independence was finally achieved in Feb. 22, 1979, from then Saint Lucia remaining a parliamentary democracy within the Commonwealth.

Government- Today
Saint Lucia is a constitutional monarchy with the British monarch Queen Elizabeth II as a head of the state, represented by Governor-General Pearlette Louisy. The Queen has become more a kind of personal link and human symbol of the Commonwealth as an international organisation. Under its constitution, the British monarch continues to be the titular head of government, appointing, upon recommendation of the local leaders, a governor-general to represent the crown. Executive power is effectively exercised by the prime minister and cabinet. Under the current schedule and constitution, elections are held by secret ballot and at least every five years.

JUDICIAL SYSTEM The legal system is based on English common law and "Code Napoleon." The highest judicial body was the Privy Council of the United Kingdom. Both common law and statute law govern of St. Lucia. In exceptional cases, appeals were carried to the UK Privy Council.
Economy before and after the British impact

The earliest trade on St. Lucia was, in fact, piracy. French pirate Jambe de Bois made his home on an island just off the northern coast of St. Lucia. However, the first commerce of the island came from sugarcane production. Starding from the point of British control in 1814 the Europeans on the island established sugar plantations, mostly through the use of West African slaves. East Indian began aarriving in 1859 being imported for work on the sugar plantations, to help stabilize the faltering sugar industry. In this way in 1882 indentured servants from the East Indies became the heart and soul of the industry. The sugar industry suffered heavily with the abolition of slavery in 1838. In 1863,was the first steamship laden with coal called at Castries and the port soon became a major coaling station. But the coal industry also began to decline in 1906 when the island was abandoned as a garrisoned naval station. They also cultivated rice, which has been important to the island. In 1925 bananas became an important part of the island's economy. Plantation-based on sugar cultivation was abandoned in the 1950s, and replaced by small-scale, farmer-grown banana production, and the rise in the banana trade quickly began to bolster the island's economy By the 1960s the sugar industry had almost disappeared, and bananas became the major export. The economy of St. Lucia was highly dependent on foreign trade, with the agriculture as the major export earner. Historically, the major thrust of foreign affairs for St. Lucia has been economic development .Since the establishment the National Development Corp. in 1971, St. Lucia has succeeded in diversifying its economy. All sectors of the economy have benefited from
infrastructure improvements in roads, communications, water supply, sewerage, and port facilities. These improvements, combined with a stable political environment and educated work force, have attracted foreign investors in several different sectors.

Saint Lucias economy today St. Lucia has the most highly developed infrastructure of all the Windward Islands, with an international airport, a highway system that connects the important coastal and agricultural areas with the political and commercial centers, and a fully automated telephone system with direct dialing to most parts of the world. St. Lucia's agricultural products benefited from preferred access to European markets; the country is the leading producer of bananas in the Windward Islands group. The industry is now in a terminal decline, due to competition from lower-cost Latin American banana producers and reduced European Union trade preferences and also because due to the damage produced by the Hurricane Ivan in September 2004. It is estimated that up to 40% of the banana crop was destroyed then.

With the banana production's considerable fall in recent years, tourism now sustains the economySt. Lucia is the number one tourist destination among Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU) members. Tourism, with direct flights from Europe and North America, has recently become an important economic activity. The towering volcanic cones on the southwest coast, Gros Piton and Petit Piton also remain navigational aides for mariners, and are regarded as one of the Caribbean's most famous landmarks. The island is ringed with sandy beaches, friendly villages and spectacular scenery at every turn. The capital city of Castries and the surrounding resorts, as well as the coastal village of Soufriere and the nearby nature attractions are the major draws for visitors.

INDUSTRY
St. Lucia's manufacturing sector is the largest and most diversified in the Windward Islands, with many light manufacturing or assembly plants producing apparel, electronic components, plastic products, and paper and cardboard boxes. Agricultural manufacturing includes lime and coconut processing. Saint Lucias manufacturing sector has been a major beneficiary of the U.S. Caribbean Basin Initiative, a program designed to promote manufacturing in the region. An industrial free zone has been established in the south of the island near Vieux Fort; there factories produce and export electronic goods and toys. Other industries produce cardboard cartons, clothing, rum, tobacco products, coconut products, concrete blocks, and beer.

SOCIAL DEVELOPMENT
The National Insurance program provides all workers from age 16 to 60 with old age, disability, survivor, sickness, and maternity coverage, as well as workers' compensation. There are no legal restrictions on the rights of women, but social discrimination is not uncommon. The Minister for Women's Affairs promotes and protects the rights of women, and addresses employment discrimination complaints. Violence against women remains a serious problem but is addressed by the government with programs and training. Human rights are generally well respected in St. Lucia, although there were reports of mistreatment of prisoners and generally poor prison conditions.

Education
Primary education is free and compulsory, and there is a branch of the University of the West Indies at Castries. There is also a technical college and a teacher-training college. Many of the primary schools are parochial, principally Roman Catholic. The Commonwealth has had an immensely positive impact on the development of Saint Lucian youth. Several young people have developed leadership and other skills as a result of participating in the Commonwealth Youth Programme and are effectively serving their communities today Through the Commonwealth Fellowship programme, for example, several Saint Lucians have received all-expenses-paid university training in various disciplines pivotal to this countrys economic and social development.
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Culture
St. Lucia enjoys a culture that stems from and embraces a vast diversity. Its culture is a single, but multi-faceted representation of the integration of all this diversity. Today, very little remains

of the culture of these original inhabitants in St. Lucia, only some knowledge regarding boat building, weaving and pottery, and some linguistic remains. The Indians that inhabited the island of St. Lucia farmed cassava, yams, and sweet potatoes. These crops and local fish comprise much of the local food, and local fruits and vegetables make them strongly West Indian. Still, East Indian cuisine has also left its mark on the island's local dishes. The British brought language, education, and judicial structure to the island these also been strongly influenced by the cultures of the African slaves and the French. French brought a strong influence in the culure in arts, music, but their most marked contribution is in the island's language. French influence on the development of Saint Lucia is illustrated by the dominance of the Roman Catholic church and the survival of a French patois. However, African cultural influences have been the most important in the island's history. St. Lucia is also widely known for its yearly jazz festival, where performers from around the world come to play and enjoy the best in jazz. This festival has grown from humble roots in 1991 to become one of the world's top cultural festivals, making St. Lucia Jazz a name to contend with on its own.

Conclusion
Saint Lucia represented a very great importance for the British Empire. British had a major contribution at its evolution. Beyond its racial and psychological impacts, colonialism succeeded in its attempts to historicize the existence and identity of the African in the Caribbean.

Bibliography:
http://www.stlucia.org/tour/history.asp http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/1742965/Saint-Lucia-Year-In-Review2010?anchor=ref1097411n http://stlucia-guide.info/past.and.present/culture/ http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/americas/country_profiles/1210491.stm http://www.britannica.com/EBchecked/topic/517673/Saint-Lucia http://www.slucia.com/society.html http://www.encyclopedia.com/topic/Saint_Lucia.aspx http://www.britishempire.co.uk/maproom/stlucia.htm http://www.thecommonwealth.org