Access to land is a cornerstone of sustainable development, fostering economic empowerment, social stability, and environmental conservation. Efficient land administration ensures transparency, reduces disputes, and attracts investment, key factors in national growth and resilience. Recognizing the need for modernization, the Department of Public Service, through the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDTP), has partnered with the Department of Physical Development to implement an e-Land Registry System for Saint Lucia.
The World Bank (WB) and Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) conducted a Joint Country Portfolio Performance Review (CPPR) in Saint Lucia from January 27-30, 2025, aimed at improving project implementation and aligning efforts with the nation’s development objectives. This strategic collaboration sought to address mutual challenges, enhance project performance, and streamline coordination. Lennox O’Reilly Lewis is the Ag. Director of Projects with the Caribbean Development Bank.
Saint Lucia’s Commercial Court, officially known as the Commercial Division of the High Court, was inaugurated on January 20, 2016. The Commercial Court is a specialized division within the High Court designed to handle commercial disputes efficiently and effectively. Its primary purpose is to provide a streamlined judicial process for resolving business-related conflicts, ensuring a fair, transparent, and timely adjudication of commercial cases.
Saint Lucia will conduct a National Risk Assessment (NRA) in 2025 to evaluate its Anti-Money Laundering, Counter-Financing of Terrorism, and Counter-Proliferation Financing (AML/CFT/CPF) frameworks. This assessment will provide a comprehensive snapshot of the country’s financial security landscape and measure progress since the last review. Simultaneously, the National Anti-Money Laundering Oversight Committee (NAMLOC) is preparing for the Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) 5th Round Mutual Evaluations to assess the effectiveness of these frameworks. Juliana Alfred is the Chair of NAMLOC.
The Collateral Registry of Saint Lucia, officially launched on November 29, 2023, is an electronic database where lenders can register security interests or charges against movable property (such as vehicles, equipment, inventory, or accounts receivable) offered as collateral by borrowers. The primary purpose of the collateral registry is to facilitate access to credit by enabling borrowers, especially small businesses and individuals, to use their movable assets as collateral for loans.
Saint Lucia has taken another step forward in disaster resilience and climate change adaptation, thanks to an innovative training program on Earth observation and remote sensing technologies. The initiative, funded by the World Bank’s Digital Earth for Resilient Caribbean Project, brought together representatives from government agencies, utility companies, and other key stakeholders.
The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) continues to champion the integration of AI-driven solutions within the Public Sector to enhance productivity. By automating processes, unlocking valuable insights, and streamlining tasks, these technologies enable organizations to achieve more—better, faster, and with greater precision.
Following the recent passage of Saint Lucia’s Co-operative Societies Act, No. 16 of 2024 (New Coop Act), a proposed commencement date of January 1, 2025, has been set to coincide with the financial year of cooperatives. To support the effective implementation of the new act, draft regulations have been introduced for final consultation with sector representatives. Sancha Gervais-Victor, Manager of the International Sector and Non-Banked Financial Institutions at the Financial Services Regulatory Authority (FSRA), emphasized that the cooperative sector requires a stronger regulatory framework to keep pace with the evolving financial landscape.