New 12 months Greetings. . .
Fellow Saint Lucians, let me begin by wishing each Saint Lucian, each at house and overseas, a contented, wholesome, productive and affluent New 12 months. Allow us to pledge to construct collectively a greater Saint Lucia in 2025.
As we begin this new 12 months, it’s an applicable time to mirror on our lives, to acknowledge our shortcomings and to rejoice our positive aspects. It is usually the time to resolve to do higher and decide to modifications in our ideas and actions in order that we might contribute to the development of our nation and humanity. As a folks, we should suppose much less of ourselves if we’re to dwell actually fulfilling lives.
A Name for Unity
As we embark upon this second of reflection and renewal, I urge you to decide to goodwill and unity within the 12 months forward and to increase love and kindness to one another, particularly in direction of probably the most weak in our midst.
Within the phrases of Mahatma Gandhi, “The true measure of a society will be present in the way it treats its most weak members.” Put one other means, the energy of the societal chain is as sturdy as its weakest hyperlink. We, due to this fact, want to provide particular consideration to the weak and marginalized if we’re to profit from a robust and resilient society. It’s the one method to construct a robust Saint Lucia.
Within the train of our rights to freely affiliate with others, politically and in any other case, we must not ever lose our humanity and sense of equity in the best way we take care of every others who could also be totally different. Allow us to at all times keep in mind, we’re one Saint Lucian folks with a standard future and a shared function to make our nation a greater place for ourselves, future generations, and guests who come to our shores to take pleasure in the fantastic thing about our island and its folks.
2024 – A 12 months of Inspiration and Progress
The 12 months 2024 was, in lots of respects, an inspirational and really productive 12 months for our nation, notably within the fields of sports activities, financial efficiency, youth employment, tourism, healthcare, training, and infrastructure.
In 2024, we registered important financial progress. We elevated social assist to the weak inhabitants, expanded scholarship disbursements, enhanced well being care providers, facilitated youth improvement and supplied monetary assist to small and medium-sized companies; we expanded housing alternatives for public servants, and elevated revenue to pensioners.
It was a 12 months through which Saint Lucia achieved appreciable progress primarily based on the stable efficiency of this Authorities. These achievements -powered by our mission of placing folks first- would be the constructing blocks for even better progress in 2025, as we work collectively in direction of steady enchancment.
The Financial system in 2024
Regardless of imported world inflation, an unstable world setting, provide chain disruptions, and the influence of Hurricane Beryl on the agriculture and fisheries sectors, Saint Lucia skilled three (3) consecutive years of financial progress. Two (2) consecutive years of main surpluses which enabled the federal government to service the curiosity element of its debt obligations. This can be a testomony to the sound financial insurance policies of monetary stabilization, debt sustainability, social reduction and financial progress pursued by this authorities since July 2021.
Inflation
Nonetheless, I’m conscious that the nation is constant to expertise the consequences of imported inflation as mirrored within the rising prices of products notably within the supermarkets. In 2021, world inflation had risen to about 8% brought on by the consequences of the COVID 19 Pandemic, provide chain disruptions, and the warfare in Ukraine. Whereas inflation has begun to subside in some main economies, it’s nonetheless considerably above pre-pandemic ranges for almost all of nations together with Saint Lucia. We don’t affect the price of imported items, however as a authorities that cares, we have now taken measures to scale back the worth of those items to shoppers.
We’ve applied worth management measures on primary items and proceed to subsidize flour, sugar, and rice, amounting to $26.7 million from 2022 to 2024. Moreover, we have now maintained subsidies on 20 lb. and 22 lb. cooking fuel cylinders.
We elevated the pensions for Authorities and NIC pensioners and launched a brand new minimal wage, elevating the salaries of lower-income staff.
We raised the tax threshold to $24,000, elevated the gas rebate for fishers, and eliminated VAT on constructing supplies and sanitary merchandise.
In 2025, along with the enterprise sector we’ll proceed to discover a variety of initiatives to additional cut back the influence of inflation on our folks.
Youth Financial system
After simply two (2) years in operation, the nation is beginning to really feel the financial influence of the Youth Financial system, because the eco-system created by the Youth Financial system Company (YEA) delivers on its mandate to supply finance, coaching, advertising and mentorship to our younger folks in search of self- sustainable employment. Our youth are persevering with to show their hobbies into entrepreneurship and abilities into enterprise, as envisioned by this authorities.
It’s evident that the Youth Financial system has had a optimistic influence on producing employment alternatives within the financial system, particularly, on youth unemployment which has dropped from a excessive of 37% in 2021, to 17% in 2024. The financial system recorded the bottom unemployment degree in over a decade at 11.8% in October 2024. The unemployment charge dropped to under 12% for 3 consecutive quarters in a calendar 12 months, the primary time in Saint Lucia’s historical past.
Financial Outlook
It’s projected that financial progress will proceed in 2025 as most financial indicators in 2024 continued to development upwards. In 2025, it’s the authorities’s goal to additional cut back unemployment, notably youth unemployment.
Nonetheless, we should guard in opposition to draw back dangers, which may adversely influence the financial system, resembling Local weather Change- induced climate occasions like tropical storms, hurricanes, droughts, in addition to regional and world conflicts, which might trigger inflation and financial downturns within the wider world financial system and in Saint Lucia.
Tourism
Tourism continues to be the main generator of income, financial exercise and for capital investments within the financial system. Group-Primarily based Tourism has expanded throughout the nation, bringing better advantages to native communities. This development is anticipated to accentuate this 12 months as authorities investments and entry to assets, by way of the Group Tourism Company (CTA), attain extra rural and coastal communities.
2024 was a record-breaking 12 months for tourism arrivals. In October 2024, Saint Lucia recorded stay- over vacationer arrivals at 13% above pre-COVID 19 ranges, and 15% above 2023 figures.
Cruise ship arrivals are anticipated to be over 800,000 by the tip of the present cruise season.
Tourism contribution to the GDP is anticipated to proceed to rise in 2025.
Within the 12 months 2024 plenty of new tourism investments commenced and building is anticipated to proceed in 2025. Amongst these investments are the Rodney Bay Marina Improvement on the Pope Web site, which started in April and building on the assorted lodges proceed throughout the nation together with, Secrets and techniques Resort and Spa, a 334-room renovation and refurbishment venture, the Mount Pimard Motels at Reduit, and the Goals & Zoetry, Canelles Lodge Improvement.
It’s the authorities’s philosophical place that the advantages of tourism should accrue to as many as doable. Those that are in a position and desirous of taking part within the financial system shouldn’t be excluded as soon as they meet the required requirements. The brand new Tourism Improvement Act will make sure that incentives are extra simply out there and permit for elevated rewards for traders that make further contributions to the financial system.
Issues have been raised by Taxi operators concerning the unavailability of excursions even when there are giant numbers of cruise passengers. Within the spirit of working collectively for the good thing about all, I hope that these considerations will be alleviated.
Agriculture
In 2025, the federal government working along with farmers of the nation will implement measures to enhance the nation’s meals safety and farmers’ livelihoods. In 2024, farmers by way of the
UBEC Programme have been supplied with water tanks and different agricultural inputs to extend the yield from their farms. In 2025, the farm employee assist programme will proceed.
This 12 months assist for farmers shall be intensified to scale back the meals import invoice and improve the manufacturing of regionally grown fruit and veggies for the residents.
In 2024, the federal government elevated the gas rebate for registered fishers with cooperative societies from $1.50 to $2.50 per gallon, with a most allocation of 6,000 gallons per vessel and as much as $15,000 per quarter. This initiative goals to scale back the operational prices of fishers and enhance their the livelihoods.
$430,000 was supplied to 38 registered fishers in Soufriere, who skilled loss and harm from the passage of Hurricane Beryl.
Citizen by Funding Program (CIP)
The CIP program continued to do nicely in 2024, however efforts from the opposition in collaboration with hostile and badly motivated overseas sources to destabilize and destroy it, and trigger reputational harm to Saint Lucia. We are going to proceed to work intently with the UK, US, and EU authorities and with different OECS nations with related applications to protect and defend confidence in this system.
An interim regulatory authority has been established to enact the mandatory regulation to watch the actions of CIP applications working inside the Jap Caribbean Union. The presence of this regulatory authority will improve transparency and accountability and assist defend the integrity of passports from the assorted territories. In the meantime, Saint Lucia’s due diligence processes stay probably the most inflexible on this planet, with our CIP program rated among the many high three on this planet by acknowledged worldwide ranking businesses.
HealthCare
However the challenges of the excessive value of well being care, the federal government’s mission to supply accessible, high quality, and inexpensive healthcare to all its residents stays excessive on its agenda.
In December, final 12 months, we opened Section 1 of the Dr. Betty Wells City Polyclinic on the Dr. Winston Parris Medical Advanced, formally Victoria Hospital. The polyclinic will present a variety of medical providers, to serve the Castries basin and past. The Nationwide Eye Clinic was additionally opened throughout that month on the Medical Advanced, providing common eye care, laser therapy, and diabetic retinopathy screening.
Emergency care continues to be a serious problem in our healthcare system. In response to this problem, the federal government in 2025 will develop the emergency amenities on the Dr. Martin Didier Polyclinic in Gros Islet and retrofit and re-introduce providers to the general public on the former emergency ward at Victoria Hospital.
In 2025, work will begin on the fifth wing of the OKEU Hospital.
In 2021, we inherited a debt of over $79 million attributable to native, and overseas healthcare suppliers, suppliers of medicines and different merchandise, which has been compromising the supply of high quality healthcare within the nation. Other than rising the monetary allocation to healthcare in consecutive budgets from 2022. In 2024, an injection of $15 million into OKEU was the federal government’s newest response to alleviate a few of the challenges being skilled by this establishment.
This $15 million was used to clear a mounting backlog of payables that was threatening OKEU’s means to safe medical provides. Of this quantity $10 million got here from the CIP programme and the stability of $5 million from the consolidated fund. However this latest authorities intervention, there stays a big quantity owed to native and personal suppliers and healthcare suppliers.
In 2025, we’ll proceed to scale back this huge debt in an effort to make medical provides and tools out there in a well timed method to the general public.
Regardless of the rising value of healthcare, the enhancement of free medical providers to registered residents shall be expanded in 2025 at Well being & Wellness Centres. These providers will embody ultrasound screening for pregnant moms. Testing for breast most cancers and prostate most cancers may also be made out there.
The lengthy overdue La Ressource Well being & Wellness Centre has been accomplished with the official opening anticipated later this month. Enhancements to Well being Facilities will proceed throughout 2025.
Like the remainder of the Caribbean area, Saint Lucia continues to endure from the mind drain of its nurses to developed nations like the UK and United States. The federal government intends to do all it may possibly to maintain its regionally educated nurses at house and dedicated to serving in our healthcare system.
Whereas this authorities acknowledges the necessity to present for main and secondary well being care, the sustainable good well being of our nation requires the adoption of a wholesome way of life that embraces bodily, psychological, and emotional well-being. In 2020, 79.8% of deaths in Saint Lucia have been attributed to continual non-communicable ailments. This statistic speaks to the necessity for our inhabitants to undertake wholesome way of life modifications now, modifications in our weight loss plan, social interplay, and bodily train. We have to work collectively to implement methods to scale back stress within the office, at house, and within the communities to keep up the psychological wellness of our folks.
I urge all of you to train better care on our the roads to scale back the excessive charge of accidents and fatalities by driving much less recklessly and having extra regard for different street customers. Accidents and violence are expensive and divert assets that can be utilized to supply nicely wanted healthcare in different areas.
St Jude Hospital
After securing the mandatory funding from the Saudi Fund for Improvement, we’re on the closing stage of completion and commissioning of a brand new, fashionable, totally outfitted St Jude Hospital on the authentic web site. We’re assured that the brand new St Jude Hospital will open its doorways to the general public in 2025. As soon as once more, I wish to thank the medical workers and staff on the Hospital for having to work beneath such difficult circumstances on the Stadium for thus a few years. I wish to guarantee you that the tip to your ordeal is close to.
Citizen Safety
The difficulty of crime has been a priority for all governments within the area. In Saint Lucia, this administration stays resolute and unwavering in its dedication to creating this nation a safer place. That’s the reason we have now adopted a multi-dimensional strategy as we proceed to struggle this scourge in our communities.
One of many main parts of this strategy has been strengthening the federal government businesses straight chargeable for coping with crime. Within the final three years, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Drive (RSLPF) has constantly been supplied with the human, bodily, legislative and operational assets to enhance its capability, with new legislative assist, to discourage, detect, and prosecute legal exercise.
In 2024, the Authorities continued to furnish the RSLPF with a spread of automobiles and different tools. Moreover, 79 new police recruits graduated in November 2024, bolstering the human- useful resource capability of the RSLPF. By December 2025, 160 recruits shall be added to the ranks of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Drive.
The Authorities continues to enhance the working setting for the Police. Work is advancing on the development of crucial amenities such because the Northern Divisional Police Headquarters. The Drug Unit and the Custody Suites demolished by the final administration shall be opened in 2025. We’ve been offering the Police Drive with the instruments essential to make it an environment friendly crime-fighting machine, and we’ll proceed to take action within the 12 months forward.
As I stated earlier, this Authorities is utilising a multi-faceted strategy to crime suppression. We’ve, due to this fact, embarked upon plenty of social intervention applications by way of the SSDF, the Ministry of Fairness, and the Ministry of Crime Prevention. These embody programmes focused at younger males and youth in danger in colleges and communities. We are going to proceed to develop these initiatives in 2025.
We may also proceed to work in partnership with fellow CARICOM Member States, who’ve acknowledged that some features of the crime and violence which can be plaguing Member States have to be tackled regionally, together with the adoption of a public well being strategy to crime.
Nonetheless, collectively, as residents, we should play our half in combating the scourge of crime in our nation.
We should discover methods to resolve our conflicts peacefully. We should take accountability for our households and set higher examples for our youngsters, by instilling the values of respect and fact and displaying extra love and respect for one another.
Infrastructure
Whereas the fiscal 12 months 2024-2025 was dubbed the “12 months of Infrastructure,” infrastructural improvement will proceed past March 2025, and shall be intensified all through 2025, with important investments in homes, seaports, airport and roads.
The congestion on the Sir Julian R. Hunte Freeway, which ought to have been alleviated eight years in the past had it not been for the cancellation in 2016 of the totally financed plans for its enchancment This congestion subject is of significant concern to this Authorities, and in 2025, there shall be plenty of initiatives to alleviate it. Moreover, the Choc Bridge is to get replaced.
A number of new roads have been constructed throughout the island in 2024. Noteworthy was the development of the $10 million Majomel Street in Laborie. Work will proceed this 12 months on the Chaussee Street, and roads in Vieux Fort South and Vieux Fort North amongst others. We count on the Millennium Freeway and East Coast Street to be accomplished in 2025.
In 2025, a brand new potholing patcher truck shall be commissioned to enhance the street surfaces on the island.
In 2024, we opened the newly constructed Piaye Bridge in Choiseul- first conceptualized beneath a Labour Administration from 2015. We additionally constructed and opened the brand new Jetty and Comfort Amenities for fishers in Micoud North considerably bettering the working setting for the fisher-folk of the Micoud Village.
In 2024, enhancements have been made to the Choiseul fishing facility, which ought to, hopefully, cut back sedimentation on the pond.
New Human Useful resource Improvement Centres (HRDCs) shall be opened this 12 months in Grande Rivière, Gros Islet, Barre St. Joseph in Castries South, and Cul De Sac in Castries South East, and repairs shall be undertaken to HRDCs in a number of communities together with Anse la Raye, Dennery South and Micoud South. Repairs to the Praslin Early Childhood Improvement Centre shall be accomplished.
Building of the Halls of Justice, a venture conceived over a decade in the past shall be happen. A Public-Non-public Partnership (PPP), has commenced beneath a BOLT Settlement, and the Authorities, in line with its consensus strategy to governance, will work collectively, in good religion, with the Catholic Church to handle the church’s considerations.
All through final 12 months, important progress was made on different main tasks, such because the Laborie Market & Sq. and Serenity Park in Sans Souci.
A brand new constructing was acquired for conversion into the West Coast Fireplace Service Sub-station, to supply important providers to the communities of Anse La Raye, Canaries, and its environs.
The Rock Corridor Housing Improvement will proceed this 12 months, geared toward bettering housing circumstances and accessibility within the island.
Seaports Improvement
The Castries Cruise Port Improvement venture undertaken by International Ports Holdings (GPH) has commenced. The compromised Customs Constructing has been demolished, and DCA approval is anticipated in 2025 for the development of a brand new constructing and the opposite features of the venture to permit for full graduation in 2025.
Within the case of Port Soufriere, as a result of harm brought on by Hurricane Beryl, momentary repairs have been accomplished on the present jetties. In depth investigative work is being carried out to rehabilitate the present jetties into the grasp plan for the event of the world. Building is anticipated to begin this 12 months.
Hewanorra Worldwide Airport
The redevelopment of Hewanorra Worldwide Airport will proceed in a prudent and accountable means. The Authorities couldn’t have allowed the most important infrastructural venture within the nation to go forward and not using a accomplished invoice of portions and a aggressive tendering course of.
As well as, financing for the venture would have incurred monetary prices as excessive as 13% at sure phases of the venture, the place funds made to the contractor, required a further 8% transaction value, added to the 5% rate of interest.
Work on the Air Site visitors Management Tower has been stopped and the contractor discharged in 2024. A brand new contractor shall be chosen by way of a tendering course of to finish the power in 2025.
Because it pertains to the Terminal Constructing an entire invoice of portions has been ready and building will begin in 2025 after a aggressive tendering course of has been carried out by SLASPA.
Work on the runway and different ancillary amenities financed by the World Financial institution will proceed in 2025.
Training
Training additionally obtained important consideration in 2024. We expanded the One Laptop computer per Scholar and the One College per Family applications by strengthening our collaboration with Monroe College, Sir Arthur Lewis Group School, and scholarship donor nations like Cuba, Taiwan, and Morocco.
In September 2024, 4 new Technical and Vocational Training and Coaching (TVET) colleges in Marigot, Anse Ger, Dennery, and Piaye have been commissioned. A $1 million grant was made to the Sir Arthur Lewis Group School (SALCC) for crucial repairs to the science block in 2025.
There have been additionally crucial interventions in early childhood training together with a $2,500 grant to every privately registered heart. In 2025, Three Thousand 4 Hundred and 9 (3409) Kids at these facilities will obtain a $50 subsidy to help within the fee of their faculty charges.
The federal government employed 24 new Principal Assistants to boost the administration of colleges.
In 2025, main rehabilitation will happen in Entrepot, Grande Riviere, Pierrot, and Plain View Mixed Faculties, and main repairs in different colleges.
There shall be continued funding in digitization and procurement of ICT tools to assist in the educating of science and know-how.
The federal government will proceed to boost the educating setting for college kids and lecturers by rising the variety of Principal Assistants at main colleges.
In 2025, along with the personal sector, the federal government will proceed to hunt to match employment abilities with the wants of the personal sector.
Placing Folks First
In 2024, Saint Lucia took a historic step by appointing Hon. Jeremiah Norbert because the first-ever Minister for Individuals with Disabilities, reflecting a transformative coverage shift in addressing the wants of people dwelling with disabilities.
Within the 2025 fiscal 12 months, the executive construction for the Division for Disabilities shall be applied, and the Authorities will proceed to cooperate with NGO’s to ameliorate the circumstances of these challenged by disabilities.
In 2024, the Insolvency Act allowed residents going through monetary challenges with the means to renegotiate mortgage phrases with collectors and pause foreclosures, whereas retaining their investments. This laws is designed to supply reduction and assist for people navigating financial hardships.
In 2025, the Management Substances Invoice shall be enacted offering the framework for a industrial Hashish Trade.
The federal government after consultations with the personal sector demonstrated its dedication to bettering the dwelling normal of staff by implementing the Minimal Livable Wage on 1st October, guaranteeing a minimal month-to-month wage of $1,131 for all staff. Over 13,000 low- revenue earners benefited from this initiative.
Moreover, we elevated the federal government minimal pension to $750 monthly and raised the NIC minimal pension to $500 from a low of $300, positively impacting greater than 3,400 pensioners.
In 2025, first-time owners will profit from a $20 Million mortgage facility established on the Saint Lucia Improvement Financial institution. A waiver of stamp obligation for mortgages as much as $400,000 will additional help mortgage beneficiaries.
Public Servants shall be eligible for a $1,000 contribution in direction of authorized prices related to these mortgages.
To strengthen the supply of group providers, 4 new ambulances have been supplied to the Saint Lucia Fireplace Companies. Vital funds have been allotted for the procurement of further hearth tools and ambulances, to make sure improved emergency response capabilities throughout the island in 2025.
I want to thank the women and men of the Saint Lucia Fireplace Companies for his or her laborious work and their dedication to their duties.
The Atmosphere
A clear setting is essential to the well-being of a neighborhood, a group, and a rustic. The presence of rubbish, particularly derelict automobiles on roadside curbs, gives the breeding circumstances for disease-carrying mosquitoes, rodents, germs, and soil and water contaminants. That is unacceptable and have to be remedied to guard our folks and their setting and our tourism product.
As a rustic, we should work collectively to guard and protect our panorama by training correct rubbish disposal habits for a clear and pristine setting.
In 2025 the federal government, working with group teams, the Saint Lucia Social Improvement Fund, and the Strong Waste Administration Authority will intensify efforts to create a cleaner and extra fulfilling setting, and guaranteeing a more healthy Saint Lucia for all.
Highlights in Sports activities
In August, our sense of nationwide satisfaction was ignited by the historic efficiency of Julien Alfred on the Paris Summer time Olympics. By capturing Saint Lucia’s first-ever Olympic gold and silver medals within the ladies’s 100 & 200-meter races respectively, she introduced the world’s highlight on our nation. In so doing, she supplied distinctive publicity and promotion for the nation, as hundreds of thousands of worldwide viewers immediately found our lovely nation and its distinctive tourism product. It was certainly very gratifying, to witness the great appreciation proven to Ms. Alfred by the Authorities and Folks of Saint Lucia on her return to the nation in September. She has made us proud and the whole nation is grateful.
2024 was a profitable 12 months for sports activities in Saint Lucia.
1. The Saint Lucia Kings captured their first Caribbean Premier League (CPL) T20 Cricket title;
- Saint Lucia retained the OECS Boxing Championships in 2024;
- Three Saint Lucian feminine cricketers have been included within the West Indies Workforce T20
World Cup and One-Day Worldwide Squads;
4. Saint Lucia was victorious within the 2024 Windward Islands Below-15 Cricket Event;
5. Saint Lucia led Group B within the CONCACAF Nations Soccer League and goes into the following spherical.
To all of the sportsmen and girls who represented our nation in 2024, we prolong our heartfelt gratitude to your laborious work and dedication to nationwide obligation. You stay an inspiration to all of us.
In 2025, Daren Sammy will change into the West Indies Cricket Coach for all codecs of the sport. On behalf of the federal government and other people of Saint Lucia, we provide our congratulations and want him nicely.
In 2025, infrastructure work geared toward bettering the circumstances of a number of taking part in amenities across the island will begin.
Our authorities has allotted over $1million for the design and web site preparation of the George Odlum Stadium, as a primary step to restoring and transferring this facility to the sports activities group.
Conclusion
As we welcome 2025, it’s evident that our nation stands on a basis of serious progress throughout numerous sectors. From the strides made in sports activities and tourism to the impactful insurance policies in labor, training, and healthcare, Saint Lucia continues to reveal resilience and imaginative and prescient. The federal government’s dedication to bettering the lives of our residents is mirrored within the discount of unemployment, the strengthening of group infrastructure, and investments in social and bodily infrastructure. The achievements of 2024 serve each as a testomony to and an inspiration for what we will accomplish collectively as a united folks. As we embark on this new 12 months, allow us to proceed to construct on these successes, foster unity, and work collectively towards a brighter and extra affluent Saint Lucia. Collectively, we will guarantee a future full of alternatives, progress, and lasting improvement, for all. We’ve good causes to be happy with this place we name house. Allow us to come collectively to make our nation a greater place for ourselves, our youngsters, and future generations.
Within the prayerful phrases of St. Teresa of Avila, “Let nothing disturb you; let nothing frighten you; all issues are passing; God by no means modifications; persistence obtains every part; he who has God lacks nothing; God alone suffices.”
I thanks.
