MercoPress. South Atlantic News Agency

Argentina sends humanitarian aid to hurricane ravaged Santa Lucia Island

The island’s main industry is tourism

Argentina has sent an expert in storage and humanitarian aid to the Caribbean island of Santa Lucia, recently ravaged by hurricane Tomas. The expert and 20 boxes containing sufficient pills to supply 600.000 litres of drinking water was expected to arrive in the island this week.

Hurricane Tomas took the lives of 14 people in Santa Lucia and caused damages estimated in over 100 million US dollars.
Santa Lucia is an independent island country in the eastern Caribbean Sea on the boundary with the Atlantic Ocean. It covers a land area of 620 sq kilometres with an estimated population of 160.000. The capital is Castries.

England took control of the island in 1663 and since it was at war with France 14 times the rule of Santa Lucia changed frequently (7 times French and British each). In 1814, the British took definitive control of the island.

Saint Lucia is a member of the Commonwealth and recognizes Queen Elizabeth II as the head of state, represented on the island by a Governor General. Executive power, however, is in the hands of the Primer Minister and his cabinet. The PM is normally the head of the party commanding the support of the majority of the members of the Hose of Assembly, which has 17 seats. The other chamber of Parliament, the Senate, has 11 appointed members.

Saint Lucia joined the West Indies Federation (1958–62) when the colony was dissolved. In 1967, Saint Lucia became one of the six members of the West Indies Associated States, with internal self-government. In 1979 it gained full independence.

Saint Lucia is a member of the Caribbean Community and Common Market and home to the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States and La Francophonie

Santa Lucia ambassador Donatus Keith Saint Aimée is currently president of the United Nations Special Committee on Decolonisation Ambassador or G-24.