Saint Lucia has officially launched its journey towards the 47th anniversary of Independence, unveiling a national campaign designed to transform Independence planning into a continuous, year-round mission rooted in unity, culture, and economic development.
The theme for 2026, “Douvan Asanm – Nourishing our people, strengthening our nation,” sets the tone for activities that will blend cultural pride with business innovation and tourism promotion.
Speaking at the launch, Co-Chair of the Independence Planning Committee, Agosta Degazon, underscored the deeper meaning behind this year’s theme.
“As we celebrate 47 years of independence, let us remember this. True independence means having the power to sustain ourselves from farm to plate, from mind to heart,” he said.
Degazon called on citizens to fully embrace the spirit of the campaign, adding, “So today, let us move forward with energy, unity and purpose.”
The launch signals a broad national effort that will stretch from community-level events to initiatives aimed at showcasing Saint Lucia on the international stage.
Government officials say the focus this year is not only celebration, but participation and collective ownership of the Independence process.
Minister in the Ministry of Tourism, John Paul Estephane, praised the work already undertaken by organizers and encouraged widespread involvement.
“Take the opportunity to commend our Cabinet Secretary and the Independence Planning Committee for the wonderful programme that they have put together for independence,” he said.
He also issued a call to Saint Lucians everywhere to get involved, noting, “I trust all Saint Lucians at home and abroad will participate in the independence event. So, thank you. Let’s keep moving. Douvan Asanm.”
A major component of the Independence season will be the Business Expo, which organizers say has become a highly anticipated platform for entrepreneurs.
Chief Executive Officer of Export Saint Lucia, Sunita Daniel, said preparations are already generating strong interest from the business community.
“We are looking forward to the Business Expo. Our small businesses in particular are looking forward to the Business Expo,” she explained.
Daniel noted that demand has been building for months.
“We’ve had people asking us since December, when we are sending the EOIs out. And we know that one of the things that we have every year is tremendous demand for participation in the Business Expo,” she said.
This year, organizers are aiming to broaden participation even further by welcoming new and emerging enterprises.
“Another thing that we are going to be doing this time is trying to expand as much as possible, bringing in new businesses,” Daniel stated.
She pointed to government support programmes as key drivers of entrepreneurship, noting that “we’ve seen hundreds of small businesses being established in Saint Lucia because of the Youth Economy Agency” and similar growth linked to the MSME loan grant facility.
According to Daniel, the Expo is designed to give these enterprises a national platform.
“What we want to do is to give them a platform so where they can exhibit what they have on sale. Not only what they manufacture, but services and our creatives,” she said. She added that the event reflects the essence of the Independence season itself.
“What the Business Expo does, it allows everybody in Saint Lucia to get an opportunity to showcase who they are. And one of the things you would have seen the last time is a fusion of food, dance, music, business, money, all of that at this one location.”
As the countdown to February 2026 continues, organizers say the “Douvan Asanm” campaign is intended to inspire a renewed sense of shared purpose, ensuring that Saint Lucia’s 47th Independence anniversary is not just commemorated, but lived throughout the year.