St Lucia
Business/social hints
Attire for business meetings: men should wear a lightweight suit or tropical suit, women a lightweight two-piece suit or equivalent.
Etiquette: it is customary to shake hands on meeting and taking leave. In business an informal attitude prevails.
Invitations: gratuities in restaurants, which may sometimes be added to the bill, are around 10%-15%. Dress is for business meetings unless otherwise indicated. Gratuities for taxis are not considered customary.
Laws: the minimum drinking age is 18 years.
Local time: GMT -4hrs.
Capital: Castries.
Language: English and Patois.
Electricity: 220V AC 50Hz.
Int. direct dialling code: 1 758.
Driving: is on the left. Temporary licence required, issued on production of current licence, fee XCD 54.
Currency: Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD 1 = 100 cents). US dollar normally accepted.
Notes: XCD: 5; 10; 20; 50; 100.
Coins:XCD: 1. Cents: 1; 2; 5; 10; 25; 50.
Business hours
Banks:8am-3pm Mon-Thur, 8am-5pm Fri.
Offices:8am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm Mon-Fri.
Shops:8am-12.30pm and 1.30pm-4pm Mon-Fri, 8am-12pm Sat and 9am-9pm Mon-Sat (shopping malls).
Emergency Services
Police: 999. Fire and ambulance: 911
Clothing
It is advisable to wear lightweight cottons due to the relatively high heat and humidity.
Health
Compulsory vaccinations: yellow fever if arriving from infected areas. Infants under one year exempt.
Weather
Temperatures and humidity are typical of the Caribbean area. It is warm all year-round and the climate is tempered by constant cooling tradewinds, although rainfall is increased due to its mountainous relief. Rain is at its heaviest between Jun-Nov.
Soufriere Temp C Humidity % Rain
Max/Min am pm (mm)
January 29 23 90 70 135
February 28 21 90 68 92
March 29 21 88 65 96
April 31 22 87 64 86
May 31 23 87 65 150
June 31 23 86 69 218
July 31 25 89 70 236
August 31 23 90 70 270
September 31 23 91 70 250
October 31 22 93 70 236
November 29 22 92 75 230
December 28 21 92 71 198
St. Lucia SLU, Hewanorra UVF
Postal Address: P.O Box 225,Vieux-Fort.
Location: two miles’ north ofVieux-Fort.
Telephone:+1 758 4546355.
Fax: +1 809 4546355
Transportation to city centre: Taxi: fare XCD 30, journey time 60mins.
Airport departure tax: International:XCD 27. Note: children under 12 years are exempt.
Flight information: tel: 4546343, available 6am-11pm.
Passport and Visas
Required, but not by nationals of Canada and the US who hold return tickets to their respective countries and proof of identity provided if staying for less than six months. Passports must be valid for six months.
Customs
Import allowances:
a) 200 cigarettes or 50 cigars or 250gr of tobacco.
b) one litre of spirits or wine.