Saint Lucia Country Report

St. Lucia is a Commonwealth island nation with heavy French influences from its colonial past. Like many other Caribbean nations, tourism and services like offshore banking are the principal pillars of its economy, as traditional agricultural exports have diminished in the face of competition elsewhere. A large number of annual visitors only stay on the island for mere hours, given St. Lucia's frequent appearance among cruise ship itineraries.

St. Lucia has had a notable crime problem which still persists, exacerbated by its slow economic recovery since the 2008/09 global financial crisis. As such, crime is the biggest threat for those visiting the island, although it remains only a moderate threat in more absolute terms.

There is no notable conflict threat to St. Lucia, nor is one expected to develop. Crime is considered to be low by regional standards but higher than most Western European and North American averages. There is no significant risk of any type of terrorism in St. Lucia. Unrest, particularly in the form of industrial action, is somewhat common on the island and can prove disruptive, though not physically dangerous.

Air travel is considered safe to and from Saint Lucia.

The road network is comprehensive, though road conditions may vary.

The ports are considered efficient and the ferries safe.

Basic services such as water, electricity, and fuel availability are all highly reliable on the island.

The island is not known to be a sponsor of cyberattacks, nor is it known to particularly suffer from them.

St. Lucia has a tropical, humid climate year-round; temperatures are generally high but not excessively so. There are no major manmade hazards on the island, but beach runoff can be an issue after storms. St. Lucia lies within a mildly active seismic zone and has the potential to experience mild-to-moderate earthquakes. The island is too far south within the Caribbean hurricane belt to see consistent tropical activity, although storms have hit in the past that have caused significant damage. The Atlantic hurricane season is from June to November, peaking in August and September.

St. Lucia has no major outbreaks of disease apart from some mosquito-borne viruses. Health facilities on the island are adequate for most medical needs. All major medications can be obtained in some form on St. Lucia, but more specialized medications may not be sold there. Tap water is considered safe for drinking unless otherwise specified.

Corruption in St. Lucia is considered to be low by both regional and global standards. Rule of law is generally strong, with certain exceptions. St. Lucia’s political system has traditionally been stable and is expected to remain so. Sanctions are not an issue.