Business leaders in Saint Lucia are pressing for urgent action on crime and infrastructure challenges, following a high-level meeting between the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce and Police Commissioner Verne Garde.
The discussions, held on Friday, April 17 at the Chamber’s headquarters, focused on the growing impact of crime and traffic congestion on productivity, as well as the need for more efficient systems to support the private sector.
President of the Chamber, Nicholas Barnard, pointed to previous engagements with the police, expressing cautious optimism about ongoing efforts.
“We had a great meeting last year at headquarters where you provided us with a lot of facts, plans and data,” Barnard said. “We could see that progress was being made, and we are hoping that this progress will continue.”
Among the concerns raised were delays in processing firearm licenses for business owners, the need for enhanced surveillance systems, and persistent traffic bottlenecks in the north of the island.
Commissioner Garde indicated that the police have been actively engaging stakeholders across multiple sectors and communities to address these issues.
“I have met with stakeholders from Vieux Fort, Soufrière and Laborie, and we have also engaged with the Saint Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association,” he said. “We have met with you previously, and I have remained in contact with members of the Chamber.”
He emphasized that collaboration between law enforcement and the private sector is central to improving the business environment.
“We operate hand in glove when it comes to policy considerations, particularly in relation to ease of doing business,” Garde noted. “There is a lot in store going forward.”
The meeting reflects increasing pressure from the business community for concrete solutions to challenges that they say are affecting efficiency, investment and overall economic performance.
With crime and congestion continuing to weigh on operations, stakeholders are now looking for measurable outcomes as discussions between the public and private sectors intensify.