The National Integrated Planning and Programming Unit, NIPP, is taking the lead in a new climate monitoring initiative that aims to strengthen Saint Lucia’s capacity to respond to climate change while engaging students and communities in scientific observation. The initiative forms part of the SALUT Project, a partnership between NIPP, the Department of Physical Planning, the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, KU Leuven University in Belgium, and GISIG Association of Italy. The project entered a new phase this week, with a train-the-trainers workshop and the installation of the first weather station at the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College. Director of the NIPP, Howard Wells, says the project is designed to promote citizen science by giving young people practical tools to observe and understand the environment around them.
The Central Statistical Office (CSO) is embracing modern technology as it works to strengthen the quality and accuracy of official statistics in Saint Lucia. As part of its ongoing efforts to maintain current and reliable mapping information, the CSO has acquired drones that will be used to update maps and improve the planning of household surveys conducted throughout the island.
The Government of Saint Lucia is advancing efforts to strengthen evidence-based decision-making through a National Statistical System (NSS) Symposium hosted by the Central Statistical Office (CSO). The three-day event brought together representatives from government ministries, departments, agencies, and other key stakeholders to enhance collaboration in the collection, management, and use of official statistics. The symposium forms a key component of the implementation of Saint Lucia’s first National Strategy for the Development of Statistics (NSDS), which aims to improve the quality, accessibility, and coordination of data across the public sector. Director of the Central Statistical Office, Sean Mathurin, emphasized that the success of the strategy will depend on the collective commitment and active participation of all institutions.
The Government of Saint Lucia, the World Bank, and the Caribbean Development Bank have wrapped up a joint country portfolio review aimed at improving the implementation and delivery of major development projects across the island. The week-long exercise brought together project managers, government officials, and development partners to assess ongoing projects, identify implementation bottlenecks, and develop practical solutions to improve execution.
Stakeholders within Saint Lucia’s financial sector are expressing optimism following a consultation hosted by the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) in collaboration with the Office of the Supervisor of Insolvency. The consultation focused on the country’s newly approved insolvency regulations, which are expected to strengthen the implementation of the new insolvency framework and provide greater support for debt rehabilitation and financial stability.
Statistical professionals from both local and regional territories are participating in a two-week training programme, which commenced on April 13th with technical support from the International Labour Organization (ILO), the OECS Commission, and the World Bank’s Data for Decision Making Project. Saint Lucia is entering a new phase in how it measures and understands its labour market, with the launch of a major training initiative led by the Central Statistical Office (CSO).
Saint Lucia has taken another important step in reinforcing its anti-money laundering and counter-financing of terrorism framework with the launch of a specialized training programme focused on asset recovery and financial crime enforcement. This initiative, led by the Attorney General’s Chambers in partnership with the Regional Security System Asset Recovery Unit is opportune as Saint Lucia intensifies preparations for its fifth round mutual evaluation scheduled for 2028.
The Inland Revenue Department (IRD) is intensifying its outreach as the country approaches two critical deadlines the March 31st tax filing deadline and the May 1st amnesty deadline. Acting Deputy Comptroller Cyprian Montrope is encouraging taxpayers, particularly those with outstanding balances, to take advantage of the government’s tax amnesty programme while it is still available.
The National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) has successfully concluded the final segment of its Enhancing Business Productivity Training Programme. The milestone marks the 12th cohort of the two-day training sessions, an initiative aimed at strengthening how Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) plan, operate, and grow in an increasingly competitive environment.