The Department of Commerce convened its Ease of Doing Business Forum on April 9, bringing together public and private sector stakeholders to confront longstanding challenges affecting the island’s business environment.
Held under the theme “Breaking Barriers, Enabling Business,” the forum aimed to generate practical solutions to persistent inefficiencies, while strengthening collaboration to boost entrepreneurship, attract investment and improve national competitiveness.
President of the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Nicholas Barnard, described the consultation as a necessary step, while cautioning that dialogue alone would not be enough.
“This consultation is both timely and necessary. It brings together the very people who must work together if we are to meaningfully improve the ease of doing business,” Barnard said. “This is not a solution in itself, it is a starting point.”
He noted that many of the issues raised by the private sector are not new. “For many years, the same issues have been raised. That consistency tells us that the challenges are well understood, but progress has not always been sustained,” he explained.
Barnard pointed to recurring friction points, including delays in approvals, lack of coordination, and inefficiencies in licensing systems.
“In some cases, the issue is not only efficiency but also predictability and consistency,” he added, while also highlighting broader concerns such as infrastructure, port efficiency, and high energy costs.
Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Commerce, Sophia Alfay-Henry, acknowledged the concerns, describing them as part of what she termed the “squeeze of doing business.”
“We recognize that these challenges are real. Today provides another structured opportunity to examine them more deeply,” she said. “Our intention is not to have conversations that end simply in promises. Our intention is to translate dialogue into action supported by clearly defined responsibilities and measurable timelines.”
She stressed that government is committed to moving towards “ease, efficiency and predictability” in business operations.
Attorney-at-law Thaddeus Antoine highlighted institutional inefficiencies, particularly within dispute resolution systems. He argued that staffing shortages and structural limitations continue to slow progress.
“At one point we had three civil judges, but we now have fewer. We need to get back to that level to move the system forward,” Antoine said.
He also criticized the current labour dispute framework, calling for the establishment of a dedicated court.
“It is not good enough to have a labour tribunal where you have laypersons sitting on it. That is inefficient. We need a labour court to make decisions and move matters forward,” he asserted.
Antoine further suggested reforms to the Public Service Commission, recommending that it be led by a retired judicial officer to ensure greater independence and effectiveness.
Chief Executive Officer of the Regulated Substances Authority, Dylan Norbert-Inglis, drew attention to the challenges faced by small manufacturers, particularly in accessing concessions and navigating regulatory systems.
“To access concessions can be too onerous. The number of documents, the number of trips, and even knowing which agency to approach can be a challenge,” he said.
He proposed the creation of a streamlined, centralized system.
“Maybe we need a one-stop shop so persons can go to one place and have their applications directed appropriately,” he suggested, while also calling for clearer production standards to help local producers compete more effectively.
Minister for Commerce, Ernest Hilaire, closed the forum by outlining concrete steps government intends to pursue.
“The time has come for us to reactivate the ease of doing business task force,” Hilaire announced, adding that it would include both public and private sector representatives and potentially adopt a co-chairing model.
He also revealed plans to establish a dedicated Business Facilitation Unit within the Ministry of Commerce.
“It will be given the responsibility to oversee the implementation of the ease of doing business agenda,” he said.
Hilaire emphasized the importance of continued engagement and transparency. “It does not make sense to come to a meeting, tell half the story, and then say the other half elsewhere. We must be frank, open and mature in our discussions,” he urged.
With commitments to structured follow-up, measurable outcomes and ongoing dialogue, stakeholders say the forum represents a renewed push to move beyond discussion and deliver meaningful reform in Saint Lucia’s business landscape.