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CASTRIES, St. Lucia (AP) - Thousands of cheering islanders lined the streets of St. Lucia's capital Thursday as children danced and sang patriotic songs to celebrate the Caribbean island's independence from Britain 28 years ago.
Prime Minister Sir John Compton, a founder of St. Lucia who came out of retirement to lead his party to an upset election victory in December, said he was so impressed with the show that he proposed budgeting some $370,000 this year to build a national theater.
Compton, 82, led the small island to independence in 1979 during a time when Britain was shedding responsibility for its colonies in the Caribbean. For the previous decade, St. Lucia had been autonomous but deferred to London on defense and foreign affairs.
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