February 22 - Independence Day in Saint Lucia

nWhenna Caribbean island is named after a woman named Lucia (or Lucy), why do somenpeople call it “the Helen of West Indies”?
n
n

nThisnnickname is a reference to Helen of Troy, who was a mythologicalnwoman who was said to be the most beautiful woman in the world. Shenhad around 30 to 50 men competing for her hand in marriage, and shenended up marrying Menelaus, King of Sparta. Then she was kidnapped byna Trojan prince named Paris—and Sparta and Troy went to war overnher. n
n

n(ThenTrojan War was one of the most important events in Greek Mythologynand may be based on a real war—although nobody knows for sure.)

nNow,nback to St. Lucia. This island-with-a-female-name was also foughtnover by two important powers. Although Carib Indians lived on thenisland and Spanish explorers were the first Europeans to “discover”nthe island, it was French settlers who created a treaty with thenlocals and who established the first permanent European presence onnthe island. However, in 1763 England obtained control of the colonynby winning the Seven Year War with France.

nAndnthen the fighting began. Back and forth, forth and back, the islandnswitched from French to English rule over and over again. France hadncontrol over the island seven different times, and England hadncontrol seven other times.

nYikes!

St.nLucia (the island) was fought over just like Helen (the legendarynwoman) was fought over. But we all know that Helen really didn’tnbelong to Menelaus or Paris; she belonged to herself. And St.nLucia needn’t belong to either France or England; the islanders couldnrule themselves.