News

The Customs and Excise Department joins counterparts around the world in observance and World Customs Day on January 26th, 2023. The theme for this year’s observance is “Nurturing the next generation, promoting a culture of knowledge, sharing, and professional pride in customs.”  Senior Customs Officer, Sarah Arlette Marshall outlined the activities planned in observance of World Customs Day.

This panel discussion was organized by the National Anti-Money Laundering Oversight Committee (NAMLOC) to sensitize the general public on the work of this committee in combating money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing in Saint Lucia.

Money Laundering is a serious and growing issue globally. The United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime estimates that between 2% and 5 % of global GDP is laundered, this amounts to $800 million to $2 trillion annually. Juliana Alfred, Permanent Secretary in the Attorney General’s Chambers and Chair of the National Anti-Money Laundering Oversight Committee (NAMLOC) explained that NAMLOC, which is an inter-sectoral committee set up by the Cabinet of Ministers, is actively working to monitor and mitigate the risks posed to the various sectors within Saint Lucia by money laundering, terrorist and proliferation financing.

The Department of Finance via the Accountant General’s Office or Treasury Department has launched a long-awaited initiative dubbed, Micro Payments Convenient Cheque Collection. Accountant General, Matthew Branford said this initiative is set to directly impact the ease of doing business with the Treasury Department by decentralizing the collection of Cheques via its Sub-Offices in Soufriere and Vieux Fort.  

The Department of Economic Development recently presented Saint Lucia’s Medium Term Development Strategy (MTDS 2021-2026) at a United Nations organized meeting of Development Partners and the Government of Saint Lucia.  The MTDS is the output of extensive stakeholder consultations with the public and private sectors, NGOs, and Civil Society Organisations who interrogated Saint Lucia’s development issues and proposed solutions. Perle Alcindor in the Ag. Chief Economist with the Department of Economic Development.

“I bet to present for second reading a bill shortly entitled, Security Interest in Movable Property.” This was Prime Minister Hon. Phillip J. Pierre at the sitting of the House of Assembly on October 11^th 2022.

Energy Awareness – The Reduction Strategy Discussion around the new Electricity Bill, Indigenous Renewal Energy, Geothermal Energy, Impact on the Manufacturing sector and cost of living, etc.

Bankers provide digital financial information to vendors to improve their sales productivity.

It’s bigger, better, expanded, Productivity Awareness Week 2022 October 17th the 21st under the theme “Expanding National Consciousness, towards greater Productivity.”

As the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) gets set to observe the 9th edition of Productivity Awareness Week from October 17th to 21st 2022, Director of the NCPC, Lisa Florent-Montoute says national productivity issues must be tackled collaboratively, particularly by expanding the dialog between the private and public sectors.