Canaries
Canaries
Detailed map of St Lucia showing location of Canaries
Canaries Location in Saint Lucia
Coordinates: 13°54′16″N 061°04′01″W / 13.90444°N 61.06694°W / 13.90444; -61.06694
Country	Saint Lucia
Quarter	Canaries Quarter
Founded	18th Century
Founded by	The French
Named for	Kanawe, creole word for Amerindian cooking pots
Government
• Governing body	Canaries Village Council
Area
• Total	16 km2 (6 sq mi)
Elevation	5 m (16 ft)
Population  (2005)[1]
• Total	1,862
• Density	120/km2 (300/sq mi)
Time zone	UTC-4 (Eastern Caribbean Time Zone (ECT))
Area code	758

Canaries (or Kanawe in Creole) is a populated place located on the West Coast of Saint Lucia in the Canaries Quarter (also called district or region). It is a small fishing village and it is nestled along the West Coast road, between the towns of Anse La Raye and Soufriere, and there are scenic views from both the Northern and Southern approaches.^[2]

History

Until the 1960s there was no road transport to the village and it was only accessible by boat. Since the construction of the West Coast Road it is a stop on the road between Castries and Soufriere.

The name Kanawe is derived from the Amerindian word for cooking pots, in the past Canaries had a large sugar plantation that ran inland up the valley that stretches in an easterly direction from the village. Records show that Canaries has existed since 1763 and the original settlers came from the neighbouring island of Martinique.

In 1876 a Catholic School was established and after 1929 there was an infant school and a junior school in the village.

When the price of sugar dropped in the middle of the 20th Century, the estate closed and many people left for England to look for work. Many sent money back to their families and since then many local businesses have appeared.