FOREIGN
RELATIONS
Historically,
the major thrust of foreign affairs for St. Lucia has been economic
development. The government is seeking balanced international
relations with emphasis on mutual economic cooperation and trade
and investment. It seeks to conduct its foreign policy chiefly
through its membership in the OECS. St. Lucia participated in
the 1983 Grenada mission, sending members of its Special Services
Unit into active duty. St. Lucia is a member of the Commonwealth,
the Organization of American States, and the United Nations. It
seeks pragmatic solutions to major international issues and maintains
friendly relations with the major powers active in the Caribbean,
including the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and France.
St. Lucia has been active in eastern Caribbean regional affairs
through the OECS and CARICOM.
U.S.-ST.
LUCIAN RELATIONS
The United States and St. Lucia have a cooperative relationship. The United States supports the St. Lucian Government's efforts to expand its economic base and improve the lives of its citizens. The Government of St. Lucia has cooperated with the U.S. on security concerns. U.S. assistance is primarily channeled through multilateral agencies, such as the World Bank, and the USAID office in Bridgetown, Barbados. The Peace Corps, whose Eastern Caribbean regional headquarters is located in St. Lucia, has 22 volunteers in St. Lucia, working primarily in business development, education, and health. U.S. security assistance programs provide limited training to the paramilitary Special Services Unit and the coast guard. In addition, St. Lucia receives U.S. counternarcotics assistance and benefits from U.S. military exercise-related and humanitarian civic action construction projects.
St. Lucia
and the United States share interest in combating international
crime, the flow of illegal drugs and narcotics trafficking. Because
of St. Lucia's geographical location, it is an appealing transit
point for traffickers. In response to this threat, the Government
of St. Lucia has concluded various bilateral treaties with the
United States, including a Maritime Law Enforcement Agreement
(subsequently amended to include overflight and order-to-land
provisions), a Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty, and an Extradition
Treaty.
More Americans visit St. Lucia than any other national group. In 2005, tourist visitors totaled over 700,000, mainly from the U.S., U.K., and CARICOM. Cruise ship arrivals in 2005 were down by 18% over 2004, while the number of stay-over visitors increased slightly in the same period.
Principal U.S. Embassy Officials
Ambassador--Mary M. Ourisman
Deputy Chief of Mission--O.P. Garza
Political/Economic Counselor--Ian Campbell
Consul General--Clyde Howard Jr.
Regional Labor Attaché--Jake Aller
Commercial Affairs--Jake Aller
Public Affairs Officer--John Roberts
Peace Corps Director--Kate Raftery
The United States maintains no diplomatic presence in St. Lucia. The Ambassador and Embassy officers are resident in Barbados and frequently travel to St. Lucia.
The U.S. Embassy in Barbados is located in the Wildey Business Park, Wildey, St. Michael (tel: 246-436-4950; fax: 246-429-5246).
