Bakers and floral farmers are set to receive a major boost from the government, as the Ministry of Commerce rolls out a $1.48 million support package under the Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprise (MSME) Loan-Grant Facility.
The initiative offers a 50/50 loan-grant arrangement aimed at modernising equipment, expanding production, and fortifying the nation’s food and agricultural systems.
Commerce Minister Emma Hippolyte described the move as both strategic and necessary, highlighting its importance in building a resilient, self-sustaining economy.
“This decision is strategic and necessary,” Minister Hippolyte said. “It reflects our recognition that sustainability, self-reliance and food security are definitely not abstract goals, but practical imperatives for our survival as small island developing states.”
The new phase of the MSME programme will focus specifically on the bakery and floral industries, both of which play critical roles in the island’s domestic supply chain. President of the Saint Lucia Bakers’ Association, Anthony Bousquet, welcomed the announcement, noting the long-standing challenges faced by bakeries across the country.
“Approximately 50 bakeries on island employ 400 workers,” Bousquet said. “We are faced with acute problems relative to the age of equipment, the cost of inputs and fuel. Despite these setbacks, bakers in Saint Lucia continue to make a critical contribution to the food security of our nation.”
Bousquet emphasised the centrality of the baking industry to everyday life, revealing that “as far as the people, we consume nearly 24,000 pounds of flour a day.”
He said the new financial support would help bakeries modernise and remain competitive in the face of rising production costs.
Also welcoming the initiative was Angus Philogene, President of the Saint Lucia Floral Cooperative, who underscored the importance of training and institutional support to ensure the long-term sustainability of the cooperative movement.
“The crucial role of the Department of Cooperatives is key to the continuous focus on membership training,” Philogene stated.
“Let us not take this lightly as this is the principal way of ensuring that all the deliverables are provided. This significantly impacts an important requirement for relevance and sustainability.”
The Ministry of Commerce has said that the initiative reflects the government’s broader goal of fostering economic resilience through targeted investment in key local industries.