(PRESS RELEASE) – As a result of the increase of Intensive Care Unit ICU patients at the Victoria Hospital, the Department of Health and Wellness wishes to inform the general public that Elective and Day Surgeries are suspended until further notice. The increase of ICU patients is as a result of a rise in violent cases such as stabbings, gunshot ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – In view of the most recent regional and international developments relating to the outbreak of the corona virus in China, the St. Lucia Labour Party is concerned that the Allen Chastanet Government delayed its announcement on a policy with regard to travelers from China to Saint Lucia. These developments are:  The World Health Organization (WHO) last ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – The Department of Health and Wellness is working closely with the Saint Lucia Fire Service to ensure awareness and sensitization on ways to manage and prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Emergency medical technicians EMTs and fire responders around the island were granted the opportunity to strengthen their capacity on ways to effectively control the spread of ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – The World Health Organization reported on the emergence of a new strain of Corona virus 2019-nCov on January 9, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei Province China. As of February 2, 2020, the WHO reported a total of 14,557 confirmed cases of coronavirus2019-nCoV. 14,411 cases were reported from China. One hundred and forty six confirmed cases have been reported ...

SNO – The number of people with the dreaded coronavirus in the United States have jumped to 12, health officials said on Wednesday morning. They are warning that more positive cases will come to light. The latest case is in the state of Wisconsin. Officials say the person is isolated at home but not give the location Health officials confirmed ...

SNO – The Patience Preschool in Mon Repos is in the process of picking up following a devastating fire which took place in the early hours of Tuesday, February 4, 2020. MP for the area, Dr. Gale T C Rigobert, has met with the administrator, teachers and parents of students who attend that school to chart a way forward after ...

SNO- 50 young people from Anse la Raye/Canaries have graduated from the Monroe College’s Hospitality Training Institute. The graduation ceremony took place on February 3. The training programmed was organized by the National Apprenticeship Programme St. Lucia in the Office of the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia. The graduates were all trained in the areas of Front Office Management, Events ...

SNO – Beginning on May 12th, 2020, a new national population and housing census will begin in Saint Lucia, which will help the government determine strategic policies and programmes for the next decade. The theme for the census is “Konté Sent Lisi.” Prime Minister Allen Chastanet is now calling on all Saint Lucians to be part of the process and ...

SNO – Chinese charge d’affaires to Dominica, Luo Songtao, has said there is no need to panic over the outbreak of the coronavirus, which is now gripping the world. He admitted that the situation is challenging but expressed determination that his country, where the outbreak originated, will win the battle. “There is no need to panic,” Songtao said at a ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Economic Growth, Job Creation, External Affairs and the Public Service, Honourable Allen Michael Chastanet, is currently on vacation leave until February 07th, 2020. In the Prime Minister’s absence, Minister for Agriculture, Fisheries, Natural Resources and Co-operatives, Honourable Ezechiel Joseph, serves as Acting Prime Minister. (0)(0)

SNO – Four Saint Lucians have been quarantined in line with protocols in place for the dreaded coronavirus but health authorities said there is nothing to worry about. Chief Medical Officer Dr Sharon Belmar-George told a press briefing on Tuesday that the four had recently returned to the island and are quarantined at their homes. She said they show no ...

(BBC) – The deadly coronavirus outbreak that has spread from China does not yet constitute a “pandemic”, the World Health Organization (WHO) has said. A pandemic is the worldwide spread of a new disease, according to the WHO. At least 427 people have died with more than 20,000 confirmed cases around the world, most of them in China. More than ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – The Annual Prime Minister’s Independence Ball continues to make financial contributions to local charities. On Monday 3rd February 2020 a cheque of four thousand dollars ($4000), stemming from 2019 auction of prizes, was handed over to Pamela Devaux, Founder of Saint Lucia Animal Protection Society. SLAPS was established in 1998 and is dedicated to improving the welfare ...

SNO – Saint Lucia has taken the decision not to allow non-nationals into the country who has a travel history within the last 14 days from mainland China, whether in transit or originating. The travel ban takes effect as of 12 a.m. on Tuesday, February 4, 2020 in a response to growing concerns over the deadly coronavirus, which has now ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – This morning around 8am, a caretaker/watchman at the Castries Anglican Primary School was accosted on the school compound by two individuals. The team from the Department of Education, headed by Minister Rigobert and the Chief Education Officer Mrs. Fiona Phillip-Mayer responded immediately to the report. After observing the necessary protocol on the ground, the team visited the ...

(SNO) – The retail price of gasoline, cooking gas and diesel per gallon has risen slightly in Saint Lucia effective Monday, February 3, 2020. The new prices was done to keep with changes in international oil prices and Government’s application of the modified market pass-through petroleum pricing mechanism. However, the retail price of kerosene and diesel per gallon remains the ...

(SNO) – Prime Minister of St. Vincent and the Grenadines, Ralph Gonsalves, has said that it appears some regional countries are panicking in the face of the coronavirus, saying that not every case should be assumed to be the dreaded disease. He was defending his country’s decision to allow the cruise ship, Aida Perla, to dock in Kingstown on Friday ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – A Saint Lucian student in Taiwan has secured the title of Global Culture Ambassador in Taiwan. Ms. Louise George, who is a fluent Chinese (Mandarin) speaker has lived in Taiwan for over four years and is in her final year of a bachelor’s degree in Environmental Biology and Fisheries Science at National Keelung University. She emerged as ...

(SNO) – The government has broked ground for WASCO’s new headquarters in Vieux Fort despite concerns raised by Member of Parliament for Vieux Fort North, Dr. Kenny Anthony. Anthony had declined an invitation to attend the ground breaking ceremony, which took place last Friday afternoon, saying he had not seen any drawing for the proposed building submitted to the Development ...

SNO – A port call by the cruise ship, Aida Perla to Roseau, has been cancelled by the government of Dominica. On Saturday the ship was denied entry in Saint Lucia after it was reported that several passengers were suffering from “upper respiratory tract infections.” The ship’s itinerary showed that it was expected to dock in Roseau at 8:00 am ...

SNO – As if the dreaded coronavirus is not enough, China on Saturday has reported an outbreak of the H5NI bird flu at a chicken farm. The highly pathogenic strain of bird flu was reported in Hunan Province, which neighbors the coronavirus-hit province of Hubei. China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs said that 4,500 chickens had died at a ...

SNO – A cruise ship was not allowed into Saint Lucia on Saturday morning because there were cases of “upper respiratory tract infection” among passengers. The Aida Perla was expected to dock at Pointe Seraphine but it was not allowed to. At this point it is unknown how many passengers are suffering from the infection. It is also unknown what ...

SNO –The government of Grenada has confirmed that eight Chinese arrived from China on Tuesday amid global fears of the coronavirus but gave the assurance that all were monitored and screened. Health Minister Nikolas Steele said the chartered flight originated in Beijing and landed at the Maurice Bishop International Airport where the passengers were screened for symptoms of the virus. ...

(SNO) – Antigua and Barbuda has shut down its borders with China due to concerns over the coronavirus. Effective immediately, travelers from the Asian country will not be able to enter Antigua. The government of Antigua took the decision after World Health Organization (WHO) declared the virus a global health emergency. Prime Minister Gaston Browne said his country is taking ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – On Thursday January 30, 2020, during the second meeting of the Emergency Committee convened by the WHO Director- General under the International Health Regulations (IHR)(2005) regarding the outbreak of novel coronavirus 2019-nCoV in the People’s Republic of China the committee agreed that the outbreak now meets the criteria for a Public Health Emergency of International Concern (PHEIC). ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – After months of tripartite conversations which included the National Workers Union (NWU), GOWANDA LLC has purchased all the assets of Caribbean Manufacturing Ltd (CARIMAN). CARIMAN Ltd has operated in the Vieux Fort Industrial Free Zone for about forty (40) years and has a work force of one hundred (100) workers which include line staff and Management. The ...

(BBC) – The new coronavirus has been declared a global emergency by the World Health Organization, as the outbreak continues to spread outside China. “The main reason for this declaration is not what is happening in China but what is happening in other countries,” said WHO chief Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus. The concern is that it could spread to countries with ...

(SNO) – The National Youth Council (NCY) has called on the authorities to put in place proactive measures for young people as the island faces a crime wave. On Saturday, January 25th a double homicide took place in Boguis, Babonneau and while the organization’s PRO, Eddison Layne, described it as alarming, he said it is an alarm to do more. ...

(SNO) – A Saint Lucian who was brought to Canada when he was 12 and who now has no legal status in that country has received an eight-month reprieve after facing deportation. Dylan Cotter, 24, was brought to Canada by his father, who is from Laborie, in 2008, according to reports, but it appeared as if nothing was done about ...

(SNO) – Member of Parliament for Vieux Fort South, Dr. Kenny Anthony has turned down an invitation Water and Sewerage Authority (WASCO) to attend a sod-turning ceremony for its Southern Headquarters on Thursday. He accused the company of not submitting drawing of the proposed building to the Development Control Authority (DCA), which he said is based on information from his ...

(SNO) – The World Health Organization (WHO) is expressing concerns over the progress of the coronavirus, especially in terms of human to human transmission. WHO is meeting on Thursday to again consider whether the virus constitutes a global health emergency. “In the last few days the progress of the virus, especially in some countries, especially human-to-human transmission, worries us,” WHO ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – Internationally acclaimed St Lucia Photographer Kirk Elliott recently saw his St Lucia Photo Tour inducted into the TripAdvisor Hall of Fame. Elliott created the St Lucia Photo Tour in 2014 and this unique and novel visitor experience went on to win TripAdvisor Certificates of Excellence for five (5) consecutive years and as a consequence earned the prestigious ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – The Government of Saint Lucia continues its efforts to work with communities as part of the National Crime Fighting strategy. Prime Minister Honourable Allen Chastanet joined the Gros Islet Police Station as they embarked on a new community engagement program. The objective of the meeting held at the Gros Islet Human Resource Development Centre was to help ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – The United Workers Party notes that in recent times, the St Lucia Labour Party Leader Philip J Pierre has decided to make transparency and accountability a priority. From the outset, the United Workers Party Government made clear its commitment to good governance by providing governance training to all ministers, permanent secretaries and heads of department. The UWP ...

(AFP/JAMAICA OBSERVER) – A major 7.7-magnitude quake struck yesterday in the Caribbean between Jamaica and Cuba, triggering a brief tsunami alert and sending hundreds of people pouring onto the streets of Havana. The tremors were felt as far as the US mainland as police in Miami evacuated some buildings as a precaution. The US Geological Survey (USGS) said the quake ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – The Embassy of Saint Lucia to the Republic of China (Taiwan) has issued the following statement on the Wuhan Coronavirus: Since its outbreak in Wuhan, China last month, the rapid international spread of the deadly coronavirus is of particular concern to the Government of Saint Lucia. Similar to the SARS epidemic of 2003 which killed hundreds of ...

(GIS) – Minister for Education, Hon. Dr. Gale Rigobert, met recently with heads of security, and telecommunications providers and regulators, to discuss to country’s response to cybercrime. Also present at the meeting were Attorney General Stephen Julien, Minister for National Security, Sen. Hermangild Francis, met the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, and representatives from Digicel, FLOW and the National Telecommunications ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – 2019 turned out to be a good year for Saint Lucia with regards to economic development, largely thanks to Invest Saint Lucia’s effective negotiations with several local and foreign investors that resulted in new business ventures being established here. ISL is now gearing up for more big wins on the investment front, a number of which are ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – Below is the full statement from NHC: To whom it may concern, Re: alleged nonpayment of January 2020 Salaries I would like to clarify a statement made by the NWU to various media houses on their investigation which presumably implicates me an NHC signatory in unethical and non-transparent behavior. In light of the Industrial Action taking place ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – Industrial negotiations between the Management of UNICOMER St. Lucia Limited and the National Workers Union (NWU) have reached deadlock. The parties began negotiations months ago. While tremendous strides have been made as evidenced in agreement on some fringe benefits, and that is encouraging, the hitch surrounds general wage increases for employees. During the talks thus far, the ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – The St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) office at Sans Souci closed on Monday, January 27, 2020 for urgent maintenance. The work is expected to span the remainder of this week. LUCELEC apologies to its customers for the closure and reminds them of the several other options available to ensure they are not unduly inconvenienced. Customers can ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – Employees of the Saint Lucia National Housing Corporation (SLNHC) made a disclosure to their Union, the National Workers Union (NWU) that they have not received their wages/salaries for the month of January 2020. The NWU undertook an investigation and notes with interest that someone seems to have cleaned the Housing Corporation’s account by paying Board members who ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – The World Health Organization reported on the emergence of a new strain of corona virus 2019-nCov on January 9, 2020 in Wuhan, Hubei Province China. As of January 25, 2020, the WHO reported a total of 1320 confirmed cases of 2019-nCoV. 1,297 cases were reported from China. Twenty- three confirmed cases have been reported outside of China ...

(GIS) – The Government of Saint Lucia remains committed to addressing the needs of the education system in 2020. Since assuming office in 2016, the administration has been taking a multifaceted approach to addressing ageing infrastructure, outdated curriculums and a lack of innovation. Prime Minister Hon. Allen Chastanet outlined some projects which have already been implemented, as well as those ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – In hopes of continuing discussions on matters pertaining to the LGBTQ community, Mayor of Castries, His Worship Peterson D. Francis on Monday hosted a successful meeting with LGBTQ groups United and Strong and the Eastern Caribbean Alliance for Diversity and Equality, ECADE. The meeting, the first of its kind held by the Mayor’s Office, took place in ...

SNO – US basketball legend, Kobe Brayant, was killed in a helicopter crash in California on Sunday, media reports indicate. Reports are that he was traveling in the private chopper with five other people when it burst into flames and went down. There were survivors. His 13-year-old daughter also died in the crash. The accident was confirmed by the City ...

(GIS) – The Ministry of Agriculture is educating the public on the green economy. An inclusive green economy is one that improves human well-being and builds social equity while reducing environmental risks and scarcities. For the Forestry Department of the Ministry of Agriculture, the focus has been on sustainable development. Forestry Officer, Mr. Karl Augustine spoke on the work that ...

(GIS) – Now in its 137th year, the Queens Commonwealth Essay competition sees thousands of participants. The competition is an opportunity for all young Commonwealth citizens and residents, regardless of region, education or background, to share ideas, celebrate their stories. and have their voices heard – all while developing key skills. Founder of SLUTERRA, Michelle N. Samuel, who is also ...

(CARPHA) – As at 9th January 2020, the World Health Organization (WHO) reported that a 2019 novel Coronavirus (2019-nCoV) was identified by Chinese authorities. The virus was first identified in Wuhan, Hubei Province, China. Executive Director of CARPHA, Dr. Joy St. John said “Presently, there have been no confirmed cases or reports of the 2019-nCoV in the Caribbean region and ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – Minister with responsibility for External Affairs, Honourable Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, has reported that the meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo, was a welcome opportunity to engage with the administration on a series of initiatives important to the Government and People of Saint Lucia. At the Wednesday morning meeting which she attended along with other invited foreign ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – The Department of Health and Wellness continues to monitor the alerts issued by the World Health Organization (WHO) in relation to a new strain of coronavirus discovered in central China. The virus has been linked to respiratory tract infections in China and according to WHO, current evidence suggests that person-to-person transmission is limited. As of Wednesday, January ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – Fresh off the heels of the announcement naming Saint Lucia as the World’s Leading Honeymoon Destination 2019, the inspirational Caribbean Island has done it yet again, this time capturing the title of Caribbean’s Leading Honeymoon Destination 2020, at the 27th Annual World Travel Awards (WTA) that took place on January 20, 2020 in Nassau, Bahamas. Saint Lucia ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – A young Saint Lucian chef has “wowed” patrons at a local restaurant in southern Taiwan. Nyhymn Terrance, a third-year Culinary-Arts Management student at I-Shou University, was the guest chef at Legends Bar and Grill in Kaohsiung, Taiwan. There, he treated 40 guests to dishes that spoke to his Caribbean heritage and the skills, styles, and techniques he ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – Saint Lucia has received support from the U.S. Department of State, The U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) and the National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL), announced Saint Lucia’s Ambassador to the United States, Anton Edmunds. Ambassador Edmunds noted that a request fielded by the Department of External Affairs for assistance for Saint Lucia’s National Utility Regulatory Commission (NURC), ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – The island experienced a total electrical system shutdown at approximately 7:55 a.m. on Tuesday, January 21. The power outage was caused by a major internal fault at the Cul De Sac power station. The fault triggered the protection systems at the power station, resulting in a total System shutdown. After the faulted zone was isolated, appropriate checks ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – Keymanie Thomas was the centre of attention as the Grow Well Junior Golf Program held its 9th annual prize giving. The sixteen-year-old was one of several young golfers from the Gros Islet area honoured at the ceremony and exhibition at the Sandals Golf and Country Club. This capped a highly successful year, which saw Grow Well juniors ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – Prime Minister Honourable Allen M. Chastanet is currently in Barbados meeting with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) President, Dr. William Warren Smith. The purpose of the one-day meeting is to discuss the Millennium Highway and West Coast Road Rehabilitation Project and other financing from CDB to the Government of Saint Lucia. The upgraded roads are expected to ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – The latest figures indicate that Saint Lucia has surpassed all previous records set with regards to stay-over arrivals. For the period January to December 2019, Saint Lucia recorded 423,736 stay-over visitors; the highest in the island’s history. This year marked the first time that the destination broke the 400,000 mark in stay-over arrivals in a one-year period. ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – Today, seventeen (17) contracts were signed for drainage works in Micoud South under St. Lucia’s Disaster Vulnerability Reduction Project (DVRP) with another 5 contracts under procurement and expected shortly. The signed works valued at XCD $1.7 million are focused in the communities of Desruisseaux, Blanchard, Anse Ger and Ti Rocher which have historically suffered from overland flooding ...

(GIS) – The Government of Saint Lucia together with Galaxy Caribbean Developers broke ground for the construction of the Canelles Resort Project, earlier this week. The project is part of the government’s plan to bring progress and development to all parts of the island. “This hotel will fit in nicely with a number of other projects that are currently already ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – On Friday January 10th , the Saint Lucia Summer Festival 2020 and Saint Lucia Jazz were simultaneously launched. The press launch took place at the Mystic Royal hotel and was put on by the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority and the Events Company of Saint Lucia on behalf of the Ministry of Tourism, Information, Broadcasting, Culture & Creative ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – Residents of Volet and other neighboring communities in Micoud, are being invited to a community consultation this Sunday January 19, to discuss detailed design options prepared by Consultants, to deal with the perennial problem of flooding and road closure often created due to the failure of the Volet Bridge Culvert, located along the Micoud Highway. The Government ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – The Department of Health And Wellness advises the general public that the Food and Drug Administration FDA has issued a warning against the “Assured” brand of over the counter (OTC) products found at the Dollar Tree stores in the United States of America USA. The Department of Health and Wellness is working with retailers who have these ...

(GIS) – Efforts by Government of Saint Lucia to improve citizen safety, are bearing fruit—so says Prime Minister Hon. Allen Chastanet after a high caliber weapon was confiscated this past weekend. As part of its medium-term development plan for the period ending 2022, government has made citizen safety a key area of focus, with the aim of reducing serious crime ...

(PRESS RELEASE) – The Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) has launched the highly-anticipated 2020 Summer Festival. The festival includes four key events to be staged between May and November, beginning with Saint Lucia Jazz (May 7 – 9), followed by Saint Lucia Carnival in June and July. The Saint Lucia Roots and Soul Festival is slated for August, and in ...