General

Deputy Prime Minister Dr Ernest Hilaire says Saint Lucia’s tourism and private sector outlook remains strong, with record-breaking arrival figures, major infrastructure projects nearing completion, and expanded roles for new ministers aimed at strengthening culture, commerce and the creative industries.

Addressing the media during Monday’s first pre-cabinet presser post-election, Hilaire revealed that November 2025 marked a historic milestone for the country’s tourism sector. 

“I am pleased to announce that November 2025 was actually the best November in history for Saint Lucia,” he said. “We saw the highest number of arrivals for November and I want to put it in context, that’s at a time when we even have a decrease in room stock available with the closure of the hotels on Reduit Beach.”

Despite those challenges, Hilaire said the sector continues to rebound strongly, supported by renewed hotel operations and increased airlift. 

“Secrets is now fully operational after its reopening during the summer, and we’re looking forward to a winter of increased arrivals,” he noted. “We’ve seen a slight increase in our airlift as well, and that augurs quite well for us.”

He also pointed to upcoming additions to the tourism and wellness product, including the opening of Life Co at Morne Pimard in January. 

According to Hilaire, “That will be a very significant addition to our tourism product, our wellness sector getting quite a boost with the opening of Lifeco.”

Several major redevelopment projects are also expected to move forward in the new year. “We will see the completion of the GPH projects, the boardwalk and the waterfront, the Bananes Bay redevelopment,” he said. “We will revisit it with greater vigour in the new year to ensure that the project is completed.” He added that work on the Soufriere Waterfront is also set to accelerate.

Looking ahead to 2026, Hilaire expressed optimism about the broader cultural and creative economy. “We announced in our manifesto the establishment of an Orange Economy Unit for the creative sector,” he said. “So you can expect to hear quite a lot about the creative sector, Saint Lucia and creative industries getting a tremendous boost for the next few years.”

With commerce now included in his portfolio, Hilaire explained that key agencies have been consolidated under one minister to improve coordination. “Export Saint Lucia is now part of it, so the entire brand Saint Lucia infrastructure falls under one minister now,” he said. “You will see Export Saint Lucia expanding its role and its activities, particularly working with the creative industries to take Saint Lucia’s creative sector globally.”

Cultural events are also set to play a major role in the coming year. Hilaire confirmed that preparations are underway for major festivals. “In early January, we’ll be formally announcing the jazz lineup, and from all that I’ve heard, it’s going to be quite an exciting lineup,” he said. He added that carnival preparations are already gaining momentum. “We’re expecting Carnival 2026 to be even bigger than 2025. I ask all Saint Lucians to look forward to a very, very exciting year in 2026.”

Hilaire also addressed questions surrounding the roles of newly appointed ministers John Paul Estephane and Senator Shanda Lee Harracksingh. “In the case of Honourable Harracksingh, she’s a minister in the Prime Minister’s Office, and John Paul is a minister in my ministry,” he explained.

He clarified that each minister’s responsibilities are defined by their warrant and by internal arrangements within ministries. “Honourable Estephane and myself, we’ve had some preliminary discussions, and we will have an arrangement in terms of what he provides oversight to,” Hilaire said.

According to the Deputy Prime Minister, key focus areas will include tourism, culture, creative industries and heritage preservation. “We have some new challenges in the case of heritage,” he noted. “We need to focus on getting the National Museum going, the National Archives going. Those things are important aspects of our heritage.”

He added that expanding community tourism will also be a priority. “Creative industries will be a big issue for us. Community tourism, we really want to expand it. So he and I have a lot to do,” Hilaire said.

The Senate of Saint Lucia is set to convene today, Tuesday, December 16th, 2025, for the swearing-in of new senators, following official appointments by His Excellency the Governor General. The appointments, effective December 15th, 2025, were made pursuant to Section 24(2) of the Constitution of Saint Lucia.

According to the gazetted notice, the following senators were appointed under Section 24(2)(c): Mr. Embert Charles and Mr. Deale A. L. Lee.

Under Section 24(2)(a), appointments were made for Dr. Shanda Lee Harracksingh, Mr. Ignatius Jean, Ms. Alvina Reynolds, Dr. Virginia Poyotte, Dr. Allison A. Jean, and Ms. Mtonya Deterville.

Finally, pursuant to Section 24(2)(b), the Governor General appointed Mr. Tommy Descartes, Mr. Elisha Norbert, and Ms. Angelina Phera Polius.

These appointments mark the official start of duties for the new senators as they prepare to participate in legislative proceedings in the Upper House. The swearing-in ceremony will take place at the Senate today at the House of Parliament in Castries.

Members of the House of Assembly will meet at 10:00 a.m. and Members of the Senate will meet at 11:00 a.m., where they will take their Oath of Allegiance or Affirmation and be sworn in as Members of Parliament (MPs). Thereafter, both Houses will meet in joint session to receive a message from His Excellency, the Governor General, Sir Cyril Errol Charles.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force is intensifying its fight against illegal firearms with a two-pronged strategy that combines a final surrender amnesty with enhanced international cooperation. 

Police Commissioner Verne Garde on Friday, December 12th, announced that January 2026 will feature a week-long opportunity for individuals to hand over illegal weapons before the force enforces a strict zero tolerance policy.

Commissioner Garde said the amnesty is intended to remove firearms from communities while minimising risk to the public and to those surrendering weapons.

“These weapons we will give a particular number that they can call and we will have some of our clandestine officers collect these weapons and ammunition,” Garde explained. “And in some cases we may provide little rewards for persons who pushed us in the right direction to get a few during that period.”

He stressed that once the amnesty period ends, the approach will change significantly, with law enforcement taking a far tougher stance on illegal possession and trafficking of firearms.

Alongside the amnesty, the police force is strengthening its operational capacity through expanded collaboration with French authorities. This partnership has already delivered advanced tactical training aimed at improving officer readiness in high risk situations.

French Ambassador Her Excellency Marie Noelle Duris highlighted the scope of the recent training exercise and the expertise shared with local officers.

“Twenty RSLPF personnel participated in the implementation of this police cooperation initiative in the field of professional intervention, practices, defense and arrest techniques,” Duris said. “I wanted to thank the two trainers, the divisional Commander of Police, David Chumacher, who is the head of the assault groups within the Red Unit, and Officer Sonnie Vigier for coming to Saint Lucia.”

The cooperation also includes the development of a specialized K 9 unit, which authorities say will enhance detection capabilities and improve responses to organized crime and firearm related offences.

Police officials say the combined strategy of a final amnesty and strengthened enforcement is designed to give communities one last chance to rid themselves of illegal weapons, while sending a clear message that gun violence and unlawful possession will no longer be tolerated.

A new digital initiative aimed at strengthening protection for women and girls has been launched, extending the momentum of the global 16 Days of Activism campaign beyond its December 10 conclusion.

YouthSPAC, in partnership with Sorority Inc., has unveiled a safety app designed to help users quickly locate safe spaces and alert trusted responders during emergencies linked to gender based violence.

The app allows individuals as young as 12 to register and activate an SOS alert, which guides users to the nearest designated safe haven. Organizers say the tool is intended to reduce fatalities connected to domestic abuse while increasing awareness and collective responsibility in addressing violence against women and girls.

Founder of YouthSPAC, Kentillia Louis, said the decision to support the initiative was driven by the lived experiences consistently shared by women during the organization’s outreach activities.

“When this opportunity came with this app, we decided we had to be part of it,” Louis said. 

“In the last few years, the different activities we have generally always have a discussion element, and one of the things that stood out to me is that if there’s a room or if I am with five women, at least three of the five women will tell me of an incident where they’ve been discriminated against or they’ve experienced aggression or violence.”

Director of Gender Affairs, Janey Joseph, said the app aligns with evolving national efforts to address gender based violence, particularly following legislative changes in recent years.

“Since broadening the definition of domestic violence in the Domestic Violence Act of 2022, agencies providing services for GBV report that there are newer forms of violence being reported,” Joseph explained. 

“Although this year’s theme focused on how digitization is used as a medium to perpetuate violence, the partnership of YouthSPAC and Kuso International with the Sorority app opens a new conversation.”

Joseph added that the initiative demonstrates how technology can also be leveraged as a protective tool rather than a source of harm.

Sorority Inc. Coordinator Sophie Picavet highlighted the urgent need for solutions that recognize where and by whom violence most often occurs.

“Eighty percent of the female homicides are committed by someone we know, by someone who is close to us, and that’s an awful number,” Picavet said. “Eighty percent of violence against women and girls occur in places we know. We want to create safe places, we want to create safe tools, and there are solutions implemented today which will be actually a big help and a proof of solidarity for tomorrow, and that is exactly what the Sorority app is.”

Organizers say the app represents a practical step in empowering women and girls with immediate access to support, reinforcing the message that the fight against gender based violence continues well beyond designated awareness campaigns.

Despite an 11 percent reduction in its inmate population, the Bordelais Correctional Facility remains under severe strain, grappling with overcrowding, security breaches, and limited financial resources, according to testimony presented during an information session on Friday, December 12th, 2025.

Defense attorneys and prison officials gathered to discuss the issues facing the Bordelais Correctional Facility, staff members and inmates.

Prison officials explained that the facility is currently operating at 96 percent capacity, a level that continues to pose serious challenges for management and inmate safety.

Acting Deputy Director of Corrections Chris Felix explained that recent reductions in numbers have been largely driven by court intervention and parole decisions rather than structural reform within the prison system.

“In regard to our remand population, the intervention is by the courts in the number of persons, the amount of court settings that they have and the remands going to court,” Felix said. “In regard to our penal inmates, we depend on the parole department to oversee how we can send some persons on parole and this is what stands at this point.”

One of the most pressing concerns highlighted during the hearing was the continued smuggling and use of cellular phones within the facility, which has raised alarm among legal practitioners and law enforcement officials. Defense attorney Jeannot Michel Walters described the issue as deeply troubling, particularly in cases involving witness intimidation.

“In a recent matter, these concerns were brought to the fore because witnesses were getting phone calls from defendants or their associates, allegedly from within the prison,” Walters said. “Yeah, that’s a problem. They’re going to have to figure it out.”

Felix acknowledged the seriousness of the situation and said the prison administration is attempting to deploy new technologies to curb illegal phone use and drone activity linked to contraband drops.

“In regards to the reception of the cell phones, we are putting measures in place,” Felix said. “We are using some new technology brought in that we can control the reception of the cell phones. We also have a drone who has done surveillance before the person drops off, so we are currently trying to get the technology in place so we can control these drones.”

Gang activity within the prison has also forced officials to rethink how inmates are managed during recreation periods. Felix told the court that the facility can no longer allow large groups of inmates to gather at the same time, as was done in the past.

“The way moving forward is to recreate them differently,” he explained. “We will not put everybody out at the same time, so the recreation period is totally different. Compared to in the past where we could have at least 100 persons out together, at this point we cannot have this set amount of persons at one time.”

Despite these adjustments, officials admitted that the facility lacks sufficient funding to properly implement and sustain key operational and rehabilitation programs. The court heard that while incremental improvements are being pursued, Bordelais continues to operate under conditions that leave little room for error.

The disclosures have renewed concerns about inmate management, public safety and the broader need for systemic reform within Saint Lucia’s correctional system, as authorities attempt to balance security, rehabilitation and constitutional obligations under increasingly constrained conditions.

Prime Minister Pierre has announced his Administration’s new Cabinet of Ministers at a swearing-in ceremony held on December 12th, 2025, at the House of Parliament in Castries. 

Prime Minister Philip J Pierre is the Minister for Finance, National Security and Justice, Constituency Development and People Empowerment.

The new portfolios are as follows: 

1. Hon. Dr Ernest Hilaire, Deputy Prime Minister, and Minister for Tourism, Commerce, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture, and Heritage. 
2. Hon. Shawn Edward, Minister for Infrastructure, Port Services and Energy. 
3. Hon. Moses, Minister for Health, Wellness, and Nutrition 
4. Hon. Stephenson King, Senior Minister and Minister for the Public Service, Transport, Information and Utility Regulation. 
5. Hon. Alva Baptiste, Minister for External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs. 
6. Hon. Kenson Casimir, Minister for Education, Youth Development, Sports and Digital Transformation. 
7. Hon. Richard Frederick, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Urban Renewal. 
8. Hon. Wayne Girard, Minister for Economic Development and the Youth Economy. 
9. Hon. Emma Hippolyte, Minister for Equity, Labour, Gender Affairs, Social Justice and Consumer Welfare. 
10.  Hon. Jeremiah Norbert, Minister for Home Affairs, Crime Prevention, Conflict Resolution and People with Disabilities.  
11.  Hon. Danny Butcher, Minister in the Ministry of Education with Responsibility for Early Childhood Education, Continuing and Special Education and Digital Transformation. 
12.  Hon. Keithson ‘’Kiffo’’ Charles, Minister for Physical Development and Public Utilities. 
13.  Hon. John Paul Estephane, Minister in the Ministry of Tourism, Commerce, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture, and Heritage. 
14.  Hon. Lisa Jawahir, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Food Security and Climate Change. 
15.  Senator, Hon. Shanda Lee Harracksingh, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister. 

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre will officially swear in his new cabinet today, December 12th, at 2:30 p.m., marking the formal start of his administration’s second term following the recent general election.

The ceremony is expected to take place at Government House in the presence of key government officials, parliamentary members, and invited guests.

The event will formally announce the ministers responsible for guiding Saint Lucia’s policy and development priorities for the coming term.

Prime Minister Pierre, who leads the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), won a decisive victory in the December 1st general election, securing a strong mandate to implement his government’s agenda. The composition of the new cabinet is anticipated to reflect a mix of returning ministers and fresh faces, balancing experience with new perspectives to address national priorities.

“This is an important moment for our nation as we continue to advance our development goals, improve public services, and strengthen governance,” Prime Minister Pierre said in a statement ahead of the ceremony.

The swearing-in marks the formal launch of the government’s new mandate and is expected to be closely followed by the public and media. Observers anticipate that the cabinet appointments will signal the administration’s key policy focus areas for the upcoming years.

The ceremony will be covered by local media outlets, with highlights available across television, radio, and online platforms.

A sleek new high-speed vessel is charting its course through Caribbean waters, and it is already being hailed as a game changer for regional travel. 

The Topaze Express, a 400-passenger catamaran capable of reaching 52 kilometres per hour, made its debut in Saint Lucia this week. 

The vessel is the latest addition to FRS Caribbean’s fleet and is expected to significantly strengthen inter-island connections while supporting economic growth across the region.

Matthew Beaubrun, CEO of Cox and Company, emphasised the importance of bolstering sea travel options, especially given the constraints of regional air travel. 

“This is an important part of the business in Saint Lucia because with flights, there are limited air flights,” he explained. 

“We realised when we didn’t have enough vessels what was happening, and the people and the demand were there. So obviously the company was very proactive and responded now and added new vessels to the arrivals and departures, and supplied Saint Lucia with some more interconnectivity.”

Beaubrun described the new vessel as a timely and necessary enhancement to the region’s transportation network. 

“This would really help as an additional vessel for the connectivity,” he said. “And I’ve come to realize how important that is, the traffic between Saint Lucia and the connectivity between, because a lot of Saint Lucians and Martinicans and Guadeloupe and Dominicans come through the islands.”

He noted that the demand is not only rooted in travel convenience but in the web of relationships, commerce, and cultural exchange that binds the islands together. 

“So definitely they need to have that connectivity for relationships and trade and also for tourism as well,” he stated.

Beaubrun praised FRS Caribbean for its continued investment in regional transport solutions. “It’s important FRS is investing in the product, which is very, very important,” he added.

With its high-speed capabilities and large passenger capacity, the Topaze Express is poised to play a major role in strengthening ties among Caribbean islands, offering travellers a faster and more reliable way to move across the archipelago.

Castries is gearing up for a grander and more vibrant celebration this week as the Cultural Development Foundation (CDF) unveils an expanded Festival of Light parade.

The annual tradition, held in honour of Saint Lucy, Patron Saint of Light, promises a dazzling showcase of lanterns, cultural performances, and community spirit that will illuminate the capital.

The Festival of Light is celebrated each year globally on December 13th, while Saint Lucia commences celebrations the day before. It symbolises the triumph of light over darkness and the renewal of life.

Festivities begin in Saint Lucia early December with the popular Lantern Competition and culminate on December 12th, the eve of the Festival of Light, with the Parade of Lanterns through the streets of Castries, followed by a Christmas show, the illumination of Derek Walcott Square, and a fireworks display that draws large crowds.

This year, the CDF is placing greater emphasis on enhancing the parade experience. Kendal John, Communications Director at the Cultural Development Foundation, explained that the decision came after strong feedback from the public. 

“We’re going to have a focus more on the parade. Last year we received much commendation and favourable comments from the public and the diaspora regarding the parade. And so this year we said we’re going to extend the route of the parade,” he said.

According to John, the extended procession will “start at the Saab, the Beausejour playing field, and go out to the town, the Derek Walcott Square. Some elements will be going into the William Peter Boulevard.”

The festival will continue to highlight beloved traditions, especially those centred at Derek Walcott Square. 

John noted, “The traditional use of the Derek Walcott Square, where we’ll be using the bursting of bamboo. We have local bread making. We have Santa Claus giving free gifts to young children. And of course, the turning of the lights, all culminating in the fireworks display, which many citizens look forward to.”

One of the most anticipated features of the event is the lantern showcase. “Participants’ very intricately designed lanterns will be on display and part of the parade so Saint Lucians can see what those traditional lanterns look like,” John said.

He also expressed appreciation to partners who help sustain the national tradition. “We want to thank the corporate sponsors. We have M&C, FLOW, we have of course the Saint Lucia Government that ensures that every year Saint Lucians enjoy this traditional Festival of Light.”

With expanded routes, enriched cultural elements, and a strong community spirit, this year’s Festival of Light promises to shine even brighter across the streets of Castries.

Derek Walcott Square came alive on Friday as the Youth Economy Agency (YEA) hosted its second annual Marketplace, turning the historic space into a vibrant showcase of Saint Lucia’s young entrepreneurial talent. 

Forty youth-led businesses set up shop, offering everything from artisanal treats to creative handcrafted products, while receiving strong public support and a boost from international partners.

Business Development Officer at the YEA, Olivia JnBaptiste, said the event reflected the agency’s mission in action. 

“The most fulfilling part of my job is seeing how the youth economy has taken a client from point A to point B,” she explained. Walking through the showcase, she said she noticed tangible improvements across the board. 

“A lot of the clients have improved as far as their branding is concerned. I see they have upped their packaging as well. So that makes me feel fulfilled and it makes me feel that the Youth Economy Agency is doing something right.”

JnBaptiste said the agency’s investment in training has helped sharpen participants’ presentation marketing skills. 

“Last year, we did a digital marketing training program with the clients and we taught them how to create flyers, to incorporate branding in the small businesses. And I could say that we are seeing that paying off today with some of the exhibitors.”

Adding to the momentum was a special visit from Taiwanese Ambassador Nicole Su, who spent time exploring the booths and sampling the products. 

“This is very exciting because all the booths have very fascinating products,” she said. “I just bought a cupcake and then earlier on I had some juice. Really, really great.” 

She praised the creativity and skill on display, noting, “We have a lot of talent here. I saw some handicrafts and so on. A lot of talent that we need to showcase to our clients and make sure that people know how talented our young entrepreneurs are.”

The Marketplace forms part of the YEA’s broader effort to create new economic pathways for Saint Lucia’s youth, giving them visibility, mentorship, and hands-on experience in building sustainable businesses.