Castries, Saint Lucia – Visually impaired students in Saint Lucia have received a major boost in their educational journey, thanks to the Saint Lucia National Conservation Fund (SLUNCF). On March 19th, SLUNCF officially handed over assistive learning devices to the Saint Lucia Blind Welfare Association (SLBWA), fulfilling a request made through the Ministry of Education. The much-needed equipment, including Braille devices and magnifiers, aims to enhance the learning experience for students facing challenges accessing traditional learning tools.
Castries, Saint Lucia – As the 2025 cruise season brings thousands of visitors to Saint Lucia’s shores, the move toward digital payments is gaining traction among local vendors. A follow-up assessment by the National Competitiveness and Productivity Council (NCPC) has revealed that a number of vendors at the Vendors Arcade have successfully transitioned to accepting digital payments, exceeding initial expectations.
For over two decades, since its introduction in 2000, Saint Lucia’s Geographical Indications Act has existed to safeguard local products, yet it wasn’t until late 2024 that the country officially registered its first-ever Geographical Indication (GI). Tamara Mathurin, Acting Registrar at the Registry of Companies and Intellectual Property, revealed that one of Saint Lucia’s locally crafted rums is now legally protected against misuse or imitation.
The Attorney General’s Chambers hosted a team from the United Nations Convention Against Corruption (UNCAC) to assess Saint Lucia’s efforts in combating corruption and enhancing asset recovery measures. This review builds on the previous assessment conducted in 2011, which focused on anti-corruption safeguards within the Public Service, including policies on recruitment, promotion, and whistleblower protection. Juliana Alfred, Permanent Secretary in the Attorney General’s Chambers and Chair of the National Anti-Money Laundering Oversight Committee (NAMLOC), emphasized that this country visit serves as a follow-up to that process, ensuring continued progress in strengthening Saint Lucia’s anti-corruption framework.
On October 1, 2024, Saint Lucia introduced its first-ever national minimum wage, set at $6.52 per hour or $1,131 per month. Designed to improve workers’ standard of living through fair and equitable compensation, the policy has also posed challenges for some employers. During a breakfast meeting hosted by the Saint Lucia Employers Federation (SLEF), business owners shared firsthand experiences of the wage’s impact while exploring potential solutions. Executive Director of SLEF, Cornelia Jn Baptiste, emphasized the importance of these discussions in addressing employer concerns.
Castries, Saint Lucia – Access to fast, reliable internet is no longer a luxury; it is a necessity for economic growth, education, and digital transformation. Recognizing this, the Caribbean Digital Transformation Project (CARDTP) is leading the charge in developing a Broadband Policy and Strategy for Saint Lucia. The initiative aims to close infrastructure gaps, ensure universal broadband access, and strengthen the country’s digital resilience. At a recent stakeholder consultation, project leaders and industry experts emphasized that bridging the digital divide is essential to Saint Lucia’s modernization efforts.