History

The actual date of discovery of St. Lucia by Europeans is unknown, although the English attempted unsuccessfully to colonize the island in 1605 and 1638. It was settled by the French in 1650 and changed hands fourteen times before it became a British Crown Colony in 1814 under the Treaty of Paris.

St. Lucia was a member of the Windward islands Federal system until December 1959 and a member of the West Indies Federation from 1958 until 1962.

Having been granted full autonomy in internal affairs with the United Kingdom retaining responsibility for defence and foreign relations the island joined the West Indies Associated states in March 1967. St. Lucia became an independent nation within the British Commonwealth on 22nd. February 1979.