Saint Lucia’s medical community received significant news this week as Prime Minister Philip J Pierre announced new benefits and full appointments for several doctors serving within the public health system.

Speaking at Monday’s press briefing, the prime minister confirmed that all practicing physicians employed in the public sector will receive duty-free concessions when purchasing a vehicle. 

According to Pierre, the government has approved the “payment of a fixed import duty and excise tax credit of ten thousand dollars on the importation or local purchase of a motor vehicle by a physician who is the holder of a valid practicing license issued by the Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Council and employed in the public health system.”

He explained that “all transactions for the importation or local purchase of a vehicle must be completed by 31 March 2026.” He added, “All doctors in the country, practicing physicians, are going to get a ten thousand dollar duty free on the importation or local purchase of a vehicle. All practicing doctors in the country have that ten thousand dollars. Practicing doctors working in the communities.”

In addition to financial incentives, the prime minister announced full appointments for 14 district medical officers who had been serving on contracts. 

Pierre stated, “On behalf of the members of the Medical and Dental Association, we have decided to pay fourteen district medical officers who were on contracts under the last government. We have made them full-time employees.”

He further explained that the government also approved “an honorary room in lieu of a back pay because they were not appointed yet, but the government decided, because of the service they are performing to the society, fourteen of them are going to get an honorary room.”

Pierre said, “They were not appointed by the last government. We appointed them. Now they are full-time doctors appointed by this government because we appreciate their service and we think they should have security in their tenure.”

As election fever grips the nation, the music powering the campaign season is under scrutiny, with warnings that creatives could be losing thousands in royalties if they are not properly registered. 

The Eastern Caribbean Collective Organisation for Music Rights (ECCO) Inc. is urging artists and broadcasters to comply with copyright requirements to ensure they receive the full benefits of their work.

“As the political season is on, the campaign is on, you find a lot of artists on stage performing. These are live performances. But the protection that we speak of is actually the intellectual property,” said ECCO CEO Martin James. 

“Those songs need to be properly registered. And if you aren’t a member of a CMO like ECCO or another one, then you will not be getting any benefits from that.”

James explained that international copyright issues can further complicate matters. 

“Because some of our reciprocal partners, our affiliates, their copyright act makes no provision for AI, then it becomes difficult for the management. So now you find, whilst you may play that song in an AI song, in terms of registering it and uploading it to the general database for administering across the world, across the OECS and the world, we might have difficulties.”

He emphasized the responsibility of broadcasters in protecting artists’ rights. 

“Broadcasters must come on board and ensure that they get their clearance, their copyright license. Whilst they may be paid to perform at live events and gain popularity within the particular landscape, they will not be earning the due earnings from the broadcast of the song if they are not compliant.”

ECCO’s warning highlights the importance of proper registration and licensing as the political season intensifies, reminding artists and broadcasters alike that intellectual property protection is key to securing rightful earnings.

The Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association (SLMDA) has voiced disappointment over its exclusion from the long-awaited handover of the new St. Jude Hospital. 

While the organization welcomes the completion of the building, it is pressing for a swift commissioning and greater inclusion in key decisions regarding the facility.

“We are not quite sure if that was an oversight or if this was an issue that this was not seen, that we were not important enough a stakeholder to be invited, but we were not,” said Dr. Merle Clarke, president of the SLMDA. 

“There were individual physicians, of course, who were invited and the staff was included, but the St. Lucia Medical and Dental Association as such was not. But we would like to say, of course, as an association that the completion of the building is a step forward. It is more than we had before. So that is a good thing.”

Dr. Clarke emphasized that the issue extends beyond the SLMDA and affects the wider national healthcare community. 

“This is not just an issue that the SLMDA has to make a statement on. This is a national issue. This is an issue for not only the people of the South, but for all of St. Lucia. Our other affiliate members of the TUF, our nurses association, the CSA, the NWU, all of those units have members that they represent at St. Jude Hospital. It is a question of everybody needing to let their voice be heard. Are we satisfied or are we not satisfied with what we so far have?”

Despite the concerns, Dr. Clarke acknowledged the progress the hospital represents. “But I think what we cannot question is that it is a step in the right direction and we accept that,” she said.

The SLMDA’s statement highlights calls for greater collaboration between healthcare stakeholders and government authorities to ensure that the new St. Jude Hospital fulfills its potential as a central medical facility for the nation.

Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet has sharply criticized the long-awaited handover of the new St. Jude Hospital, describing the event as an “election gimmick” and a deceptive facade. 

He argues that the facility remains incomplete and incapable of serving patients, raising concerns over the government’s handling of millions spent on the project.

“So $300 million has been spent so far, and that is an approximation because we have not gotten a complete number from them,” Chastanet said. 

“And four years have passed. Today, zero patients can be treated. In fact, we saw later on Sunday, the Prime Minister gave an excuse for Richard Frederick having to leave early because he was not feeling well. Well, if he was on the site, why did not Richard check himself in to the new St. Jude’s?”

Chastanet, who previously served as Minister of Finance, emphasized that no operating plan has been disclosed for the new facility. 

“Before you opened up St. Jude’s, you would have had to present an operating budget. No such budget has been prepared. None of us have been told how the government is going to fund the operations at St. Jude’s,” he said.

He further questioned the sustainability of the hospital’s financing model. 

“I think it is well known that the financing model that exists for the old St. Jude’s, where it is a subvention from the government of $18 million, will not work,” Chastanet added.

The Opposition Leader’s comments underscore growing unease over the readiness of the hospital and the transparency of government spending. While the official handover ceremony has been billed as a milestone, critics like Chastanet argue that the building is not yet prepared to serve the public.

Aspiring emcees are set to enter the event industry with renewed confidence and sharpened stage skills after completing the Cultural Development Foundation’s two-day training workshop. 

The final session brought together veteran emcee Gilroy “Ezi” Hall and communications specialist Barbara Jacobs Small, who guided participants through a mix of performance technique, self-awareness, and professional development.

Jacobs Small delivered a signature module titled “From Self to Stage, the MC as Brand to Bridge.” She explained that the session was designed to shift the way emerging hosts understand their role in an event. 

According to her: “The objective of it is to help the participants situate themselves within the event itself to understand what their role is. And sometimes, if we do not have the right guidance, we think we are the show. We do not understand that we bring the show, that we have objectives that we have to accomplish.”

She stressed that authenticity and self-knowledge are essential for anyone hoping to command a stage. 

“To be able to be an effective MC, you first have to know who you are. You first have to know what your value proposition is as a personality type,” she said. Participants were encouraged to identify their “mic personality,” a concept she described as a combination of strengths and areas that require growth. “It comes with its own strengths. But it also comes with areas where there is a growth edge that we must find.”

The response from trainees affirmed the impact of the two-day experience. Director of Training at the CDF, Tracy Dolcy, said the turnout exceeded expectations. 

“The session was well attended. We had approximately 32 people who participated who will be receiving certificates of participation,” she noted. She added that enthusiasm was high from the outset. 

“The participants are very excited. Some have said we need a registry, we need a network to be created of MCs so that as events come up, whether it be a private individual or an entity, they can call us and say, we need an MC, and we can share their names.”

Dolcy explained that the workshop offered far more than basic hosting tips. Participants learned about preparation techniques, professional conduct and the importance of developing a personal brand. 

“The participants were very thrilled not only to know, for instance, about how do you prep but how to apply their brand to emceeing,” she said.

The workshop forms part of the CDF’s broader goal to strengthen professional pathways within the creative sector. 

Eleven Saint Lucian students preparing to depart for Morocco for higher education received both congratulations and a heartfelt reminder of their responsibilities from Education Minister, Honourable Shawn Edward. 

The minister emphasized that while the students are adults and pursuing personal goals, they carry the weight of representing their country abroad.

“So please, when you get to Morocco, in as much as you are your own person, you’re an adult, we understand that, but remember, you are representing a country,” Minister Edward told the scholars. 

“You, quite apart from what is required of you within the confines of the classroom or the university, you have an ambassadorial responsibility to Saint Lucia. How you speak, how you dress, you conduct yourself is a reflection of 180,000 people in this country.”

Minister Edward also warned that studying abroad comes with challenges that test both character and resolve. 

“It will not be a walk in the park. There will be moments and there will be days when you will be challenged. There will be days and there will be moments when you will question yourself. Am I making the right, did I make the right decision to come here? And then you begin to think maybe I should go home or give up,” he said. 

He added, “Any university student or any student who leaves Saint Lucia to study abroad and never encounters the situation where you have to question whether you made the right decision to be here, something is wrong with you. You will be tested, not just on paper and in computer labs, but your resolve, your personality, your strength of character will be tested.”

The meeting served as both an encouragement and a reminder that education abroad is not only an opportunity for academic growth but also a platform to embody the values and pride of Saint Lucia on the international stage.

As the country draws nearer to its December 1st general elections, the atmosphere is charged with anticipation. 

With eleven independent candidates officially in the running, the upcoming vote promises a competitive contest against the two dominant parties. Behind the scenes, the Electoral Department is intensifying preparations to ensure a smooth, fair, and transparent election.

Herman St Helen, Chief Elections Officer, outlined the strict procedures in place for election day. 

“On the night of elections, all boxes are accompanied from the polling station by the presiding officer and an armed policeman. Other agents and poll workers can follow, but it is compulsory that the presiding officer and a policeman ride in the same vehicle to take this box to the returning officer’s office,” he explained. 

He added that once the boxes reach the returning officer, they are transported to the nearest police station and securely held overnight. “The next day these boxes are taken back to headquarters, and then if a requirement has to take place, it’s done there,” he said.

St Helen also highlighted the nomination requirements for candidates, particularly independents. 

“They must be nominated by six electors within that electoral district. Secondly, they must pay in cash $500. Thirdly, if the candidate is not able to be present, his agent or one of his agents must find the declaration forms indicating that the candidate is out of state and is acting on behalf of that candidate,” he stated.

As political campaigns heat up and voters prepare to make their choices, the Electoral Department’s measures are aimed at maintaining order and protecting the integrity of the vote. With multiple candidates in the race, the coming weeks will test the island’s electoral system and the engagement of its citizens in one of the most closely watched contests in recent memory.

With Saint Lucia’s general elections scheduled for December 1st, 2025, the Saint Lucia Christian Council is urging the nation to approach the polls with seriousness, integrity, and a renewed sense of civic purpose.

In a moving national address, Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire underscored the moral weight of the electoral process and called on both voters and candidates to uphold the highest democratic principles.

Archbishop Malzaire reminded the public that, “General election stands as one of the noblest expressions of human freedom and civic responsibility. They embody the voice of a people, choosing the direction of the nation and affirming their commitment to democracy, justice and good governance.”

He stressed that the upcoming vote should be treated with reverence, stating that it is “not merely a political exercise, but a sacred duty that reflects our collective values, our respect for the rule of law, and our hope for a bright future.”

The Archbishop also addressed issues of political conduct, calling on candidates to rise above practices that undermine trust. 

“True leadership does not rely on buying loyalty, but on earning trust. It seeks not to manipulate, but to inspire,” he said. According to him, anyone seeking the nation’s leadership “must therefore exemplify honesty, respect, and a genuine love for the nation.”

Emphasizing the importance of fairness and transparency, Archbishop Malzaire reminded citizens that the legitimacy of any election depends on how it is conducted. 

“The conduct of the election itself is another pillar of democracy. For the outcome of the election to be legitimate, the process must be transparent, impartial and credible,” he said.

The Christian Council’s message comes at a pivotal moment as political activity intensifies across the island. Its appeal aims to guide the national conversation back to principles of unity, dignity, and democratic responsibility as Saint Lucia prepares to chart its future at the polls.

The tourism industry has not only recovered from the devastating blow of the COVID-19 pandemic but is now charting historic new territory.

During a wide-ranging stakeholder discussion this week, Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire confirmed that the island has officially surpassed its record 2019 stayover arrivals and is on course for an even stronger year ahead.

Dr. Hilaire recalled the sharp decline brought on by global shutdowns. 

“In 2019, Saint Lucia recorded 423,736 stayover visitors, the highest in our history at that time. By 2021, due to the global pandemic, that number fell to just under 200,000,” he said.

However, intense global marketing campaigns, strategic partnerships and restored airlift fuelled a powerful rebound. 

“Through targeted marketing, the restoration of airlift and close collaboration of our travel partners, the sector rebounded to 435,659 stayover arrivals in 2024,” the minister noted.

The growth is spreading across all major visitor categories. 

Dr. Hilaire announced that, “When we combine all arrivals, stayover, cruise and yachting, the total for 2025 is projected at 1.16 million visitors.” 

He pointed out that although the figure is “a 9 percent difference from 2019, 1.27 million,” the island is now attracting a more lucrative visitor base. “Importantly, the composition has shifted towards higher value markets and longer term benefits,” he said.

Record-breaking U.S. arrivals, a resurgent cruise industry and expanded yachting traffic are driving much of this momentum. New tourism developments, increased room stock and diversified niche offerings are set to further lift the sector in the coming year.

With 2025 stayover arrivals projected at an unprecedented 428,513, tourism officials say the industry is transitioning from recovery to high performance, positioning Saint Lucia for long term, sustainable growth.

The minister emphasized that the future looks strong and deeply connected to both public and private sector collaboration: a signal that Saint Lucia’s most vital industry is not just back, but thriving.

After years of struggling with ageing equipment, limited resources and chronic staffing shortages, the Saint Lucia Fire Service is now undergoing what officials describe as the most significant transformation in its history.

The multi-million dollar investment aims to modernize equipment, expand capacity at the island’s airports, and improve working conditions across every fire station.

Chief Fire Officer Ditney Downes said the overhaul comes at a critical moment, as emergency demands continue to grow. 

“It has been very challenging and the situation in Saint Lucia as we speak in terms of emergency responses have been increasing on a daily basis. So we are on track this year to respond to sixteen thousand ambulance calls,” he said.

Downes noted that outdated ambulances made the workload even more unsustainable. “The ambulances we had before, most of them were almost nineteen years old. Now fifteen thousand ambulance calls in a year, that is a lot of movements. And you have these ambulances at that age,” he explained. He compared the situation to the public transport sector: “No minibus lasts so long. So it was a very challenging period for the fire department.”

Despite the obstacles, Downes praised the dedication of officers. “Fire officers are very resilient. And we are very committed to what we do. We understand our job and the importance of our job to society.”

The new financing package provides a major upgrade to the fleet. “In that loan, we have funding for five ambulances. Five ambulances, two an additional aircraft fire fighting appliance,” Downes stated.

He highlighted a major milestone for aviation safety. “For the very first time in the history of Saint Lucia, Hewanorra International Airport will have four aircraft firefighters. Very first time.”

George Charles Airport has also received unprecedented upgrades. Downes said, “George Charles just got, remember we just had a handing over of two. That is apart from the Caribbean government forty million dollar loan. These two appliances that were just handed over were from local revenue from my budget.” One of the new aircraft appliances has already been deployed to the airport. “So currently George Charles has two aircraft firefighting appliances. That has never happened in the history of George Charles.”

These upgrades will expand the air traffic the airport can safely handle. “What these two appliances will do is to allow George Charles now to accommodate bigger aircrafts. So with just the adjustment in manpower and these little things, but in terms of coverage, they could accommodate bigger aircrafts,” Downes explained. Hewanorra will also receive an additional appliance, ensuring uninterrupted safety operations. “So in case one breaks down, it will not affect the category of the airport.”

Beyond equipment, the government has invested heavily in station upgrades islandwide. 

“The last three years we have gotten a significant sum to refurbish and keep fire stations. So as we speak, every fire station in Saint Lucia has gotten the attention that it deserves. Every one of them have been refurbished,” Downes said.

The improvements include better living and working spaces. “New appliances, new furniture have been purchased. Every single one.”

The Soufriere Fire Station, in particular, is undergoing major expansion. “We were able to get funding to do an extension at Soufriere Fire Station. So if you pass that fire station, you will see an extension on that station that basically will accommodate a training room and female quarters,” Downes said.

He explained that many stations built decades ago did not take the modern composition of the fire service into account. 

“Most of our fire stations around the island, unfortunately, were not designed to accommodate so many females. So we have to now figure out how we provide accommodation for them.”

Downes added that increased budget allocations will allow the service to maintain upgraded facilities and continue improving conditions for officers.

With the transformation now underway, fire officials say the island is on track to deliver safer, faster and more reliable emergency services than ever before.