Poverty in St. Lucia

There is little drastic poverty in St. Lucia, but there are clear differences between a wealthy minority, a comfortable middle class, and a poor lower class. With per capita income estimated at approximately US$4,000 in 1998, the island's standards of living are well below those in Canada.   The sucess of the banana industry and tourism has provided some support to local living conditions, but many people still live in poverty.   Many are small farmers, some with as little as an acre or two, who have not shared in the benefits of the banana boom.