Supporting The Public Sector of Saint Lucia

public-sector2

Education

Public spending on education was 4.4 per cent of GDP in 2011. There are ten years of compulsory education starting at the age of five. Primary school comprises seven years and secondary five, with cycles of three and two years. Some 92 per cent of pupils complete primary school (2010). There are private schools across the island that cater for all school levels, including the Bonne Terre Preparatory School and the International School of St Lucia.

The Sir Arthur Lewis Community College at Castries offers associate degree, diploma and certificate courses, and 89 per cent of its students are female (2011). St Lucia shares in the regional University of the West Indies. The female–male ratio for gross enrolment in tertiary education is 1.70:1 (2011).

 

Health

Public spending on health was five per cent of GDP in 2010. The Victoria Hospital and the new Tapion Hospital provide a range of medical treatment while the Golden Hope Hospital caters for psychiatric cases. There are cottage hospitals at Vieux Fort, Dennery and Soufrière, and more than 20 health centres. Nurses are trained in the nursing department of the Community College. Infant mortality was 14 per 1,000 live births in 2011. St Lucia has one privately run hospital and a number of other private facilities providing specialist medical and dental services.

 

Transport

There are 1,210 km of roads, mainly unpaved. The main cross-island route runs from Castries in the north to Vieux Fort in the south. Hewanorra International Airport lies 67 km south of Castries and George F. L. Charles, 3 km to the north-east. A public–private partnership is to be used to expand both airports (see box).

Buses: Buses are privately owned minivans, which have to be registered with the government. All buses have a green ‘M’ licence plate.

Ports: The main ports are Castries and Vieux Fort. A fast catamaran service operates between St Lucia, Martinique and Dominica and several cruise lines call at the island. The Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority was established by an act of parliament in 1983. It is responsible for running the island’s two principal sea ports, Castries and Vieux Fort, and the George F. L. Charles and Hewanorra International Airports, as well as the smaller points of entry Soufriere, Marigot and Rodney Bay Marina.