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Minister of State for Business, Energy, and Clean Growth from the United Kingdom, Hon. Ann Marie Trevelyan visited Saint Lucia to witness first-hand some of the adaptation projects funded by the UK Government. One of the key projects she visited was the Millennium Highway and West Coast Road Reconstruction Project.

 “So I am really looking forward to seeing for myself exactly where this road will go and to understand just how important it’s going to be for so many of Saint Lucia’s residents but also off course for tourists as they come to visit your wonderful island.”

The Department of Finance has developed a Citizen’s Guide to the 2021/2022 Budget, which provides a clear, concise and simplified presentation of information on the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure.  This forms part of the government’s communications strategy geared at fostering greater accountability and transparency of the operations of government through increased access to information in the public domain.

Policy intervention #24 under the Economic Recovery and Resilience Plan deals with supporting the business environment by fast-tracking legislation for increased access to finance by the private sector. These reforms will benefit the financial sector and the average citizen by stimulating positive economic activity. It will encourage lending institutions to be less risk-averse and bureaucratic in issuing loans and will also better address the issue of non-performing loans.

The National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) has received communications Equipment, supplies and training from the World Bank via the Disaster Vulnerability Resilience Programme.  This is all part of NEMO better positioning itself to communicate effectively during or post a disaster. 

As Saint Lucia experiences its third and biggest wave, thus far, of coronavirus infections and with the government announcing more stringent measures, the Department of Finance has, in turn, stepped up its compliance and communications efforts as it related to the established Covid-19 protocols.

In this regard a video explaining the Department’s Covid-19 Preparedness and Response Plan has been created and widely circulated to staff and the general public who access the Finance Administrative Centre.

The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) was the first bank in the Caribbean Region to put out a full suite of polymer notes with embedded features for the blind and visually impaired. The bank has now made history once again with the introduction of a digital currency, the digital EC Dollar.

The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council is seeking public comment and feedback on two pieces of draft legislation expected to have a direct, positive impact on the private and productive sectors of the economy. The two draft pieces of legislation in question are the Bankruptcy and Insolvency Bill and the Security Interests in Moveable Property Bill, both of which are currently available on the Government of Saint Lucia website (govt.lc) and the Department of Finance’s website (finance.gov.lc).

Achieving economic diversification, competitiveness, as well as meeting sustainable development goals (SDGs) becomes even more relevant for small island developing states (SIDS) in this COVID-19 reality. Strengthening national Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) capabilities would significantly contribute to Saint Lucia’s economic and societal development objectives as well as provide the boost needed to enhance Saint Lucia’s overall competitiveness and build resilience.  

It is precisely for this reason the government has embarked on the development of an STI Policy for Saint Lucia. 

Saint Lucia will soon lead the Eastern Caribbean Region with the modernization of government’s Electronic Public Procurement Application (e-GP).  The procurement software will make public procurement procedures faster and transparent while improving the competitiveness of public procurement by private sector companies.

In an article from the World Economic Forum, working from home was a luxury for the affluent before the coronavirus, not anymore as social distancing protocols due to COVID-19 have caused more employees to work from home than ever before.

Permanent Secretary in the Department of the Public Service, Peggy-Ann Soudatt, believes that the Public Service needs to be more open and receptive to the new modalities for doing business. COVID-19 she said provides opportunities for a blended approach to work.