Since February of 2006, crime victims have pressured the U.S. Embassy to place a travel advisory on St. Lucia to warn travelers of the violent armed robberies, beatings, and rapes happening to tourists. In July of 2006, the U.S. Embassy updated their Consular Information Sheet on the State Department website:

St. Lucia Consular Information Sheet

Key Items in the Consular Information Sheet

Their prior update only warned people about the dangers of walking on the beach at night and leaving items unattended on the beach.

The new update effectively warns travelors about the incidents of armed robberies and rapes that have happened in the middle of the night while guests were in their rooms.

Secondly, the update gives an accurate picture of the local police's inability to convict the criminals.

The U.S. Embassy has no office in St. Lucia. The closest embassy is located in Barbados.

NEWS: Saint Lucia's Reaction to the U.S. Embassy Warning. Read more >

By the end of the year St. Lucia expects that it will know if the updated Consular Information Sheet has affected their business. 35% of St. Lucia's tourism comes from U.S. visitors.

CIA World Factbook on St. Lucia

As of 2003, Saint Lucia reports a 20% unemployment rate. St. Lucia also has a rampant and undocumented HIV AIDS rate. Read more >

St. Lucia has vested a large piece of its economy on tourism. To understand the controversy of a U.S. Travel Advisory on St. Lucia, click here to Read more >