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Laborie, with a population of over 9,000 people is situated in southwestern Saint Lucia. It comprises the communities of Augier, Banse, La Grace, Mc. Diamed, Laborie village, Sapphire, Gentil, and environs. With the exception of the coastal peri-urban village of Laborie all of the other communities in the district are rural inland communities. The village is the centre of commerce and administration for the district.
Laborie is about 15 minutes drive from the International airport, 10 minutes drive from the town of Vieux-Fort (approx. 5 miles) and approx. 37 miles from Castries, the capital city. The village can be accessed by sea as well. A jetty and sheltered bay can accommodate small yachts and boats.
Laborie became an independent parish in 1765. By 1780 it was one of the more major settlements in St. Lucia, supporting the second largest population after Soufriere. The community was first named Anse et Rade de L’Islet A Caret by the French after an islet in the bay where turtles nested. Later, in 1788 it was renamed Laborie, after French Governor of St. Lucia, Baron de Laborie, out of gratitude for acceding to a request from white residents to reinstate Laborie as a separate parish. It had been suppressed and made part of the parish of Vieux-Fort in 1787. Baron de Laborie governed St. Lucia from 1784 to 1789. In the 1950s Morne Le Blanc in Laborie was the site of an American radar station. Some Amerindian artefacts have been found in Laborie and remnants of machinery used for sugar production can be seen in several communities.
Located in relatively mountainous terrain, Laborie occupies approximately 14.6 square miles (38.1 km2) on ground that rises to as much as 1028 feet in certain places. It has several coves/bays, and many white sand and black sand beaches. The bay contains many spectacular coral reefs. These offer protection to most of the beaches providing ideal conditions for bathing, swimming, snorkelling, and diving. All of the beaches are accessible by road or a short walk from the village.
Laborie hosts several traditional and more modern festivals annually including La Rose, La Marguerite and Jazz in the South.
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