Stakeholders from various sectors such as national security, public health, secondary health facilities and government ministries met recently in a seminar to discuss the Early Warning System for Drugs in Saint Lucia. This seminar is expected to build the capacity of stakeholders to successfully implement the Early Warning System for drugs and also be better able to detect and respond to new and emerging psychoactive substances. The seminar was made possible through the technical support and funding from Organisation of America States/ Inter-American Drug Abuse Control Commission OAS-CICAD and the Government of Italy. The Early Warning System for Drugs was launched in Saint Lucia in October 2024.

In the headlines: The Taiwan Technical Mission opens a compost house at the Borderly Correctional Facility to boost sustainability and food security.and; the Caribbean Development Bank and the Inter-American Development Bank held a forum in Barbados to explore innovative debt management strategies for the region.

For details on these stories and more, visit www.govt.lc

The Government of Saint Lucia has reaffirmed its commitment to equitable access to quality education with the official disbursement of one hundred and twenty thousand Eastern Caribbean dollars to Seventh-day Adventist schools across the island.

The funding forms part of ongoing efforts to strengthen school infrastructure, improve learning environments, and ensure that students across all educational institutions, including denominational schools, are empowered to thrive under Saint Lucia’s national education transformation programme

Members of the Councils of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of the Eastern Caribbean (ICAEC) recently participated in the inaugural International Federation of Accountants (IFAC)–International Bar Association (IBA) Professional Body Anti-Money Laundering Capacity Building Workshop, held in the Cayman Islands from October 28 to 30, 2025.

Andrea St. Rose, President of the ICAEC, and Joanne Cooper, Public Relations Officer, represented Saint Lucia.

The three-day workshop brought together accounting and legal professionals from across the region to strengthen their role as “gatekeepers” in the global fight against money laundering, terrorist financing, and proliferation financing. Experts from the Financial Action Task Force (FATF), Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF), IFAC, IBA, and the World Bank provided valuable insights and best practices to enhance professional vigilance and compliance.

Key areas of focus included beneficial ownership transparency and the responsibilities of Designated Non-Financial Businesses and Professions (DNFBPs) such as lawyers and accountants in upholding international standards and protecting the integrity of financial systems.

Following the workshop, the ICAEC Saint Lucia Branch reaffirmed its commitment to collaborate with the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU), the National Anti-Money Laundering Oversight Committee (NAMLOC), and other regulatory bodies to promote awareness, strengthen professional capacity, and educate members and the public as Saint Lucia prepares for the upcoming 5th Round Mutual Evaluation.

The Victoria Hospital was officially renamed as the Dr. Winston C.V. Parris Medical Complex, following a renaming ceremony hosted by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs. Dr. Winston C.V. Parris, who worked as the only Consultant Anesthesiologist at the Victoria Hospital was honored and recognised for his valuable contribution to the health sector in the area of pain management. Family, friends, loved ones of Sir Dr. Winston Parris, Cabinet of Ministers and staff of the Ministry of Health were present to witness the renaming of the health facility. The newly named Dr. Winston C.V. Parris Medical Complex comprises the Dr. Betty Wellness Urban Polyclinic (National Eye Clinic and Urban Care) and the Millennium Heights Medical Complex secondary care wing.

Bordelais Correctional Facility Opens New Compost House to Boost Sustainability and Food Security

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs confirms reports of a rise in cases of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease in Saint Lucia. These cases are reported in some preschools and kindergartens around the island and the Ministry is working with these institutions to address the situation and protect the safety of children, staff members and families. Hand, Foot, and Mouth Disease is a highly contagious viral infection primarily affecting children under the age of 5 years. Some of the key symptoms of Hand, Foot and Mouth Disease include fever, sore throat, fatigue, painful red spots or sores in the mouth, on the tongue, and inside the cheek; rash or red spots on the palms of the hands, soles of the feet, and sometimes the buttocks and loss of appetite. 

Health Saint Lucian youth aged 11 to 16 years old, will get the opportunity to creatively express their views on the misuse of alcohol and the risks associated with its abuse, following the launch of the Alcohol Awareness Poster Competition by the Substance Abuse Advisory Council Secretariat (SAACS) within the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs. The poster competition will allow the young people to put into perspective their views of the growing concern of alcohol misuse and abuse across communities, families, and young individuals through artistic expressions. Interested individuals can make submission of posters at the Office of the SAACS or the Bureau of Health Education. The deadline for submission of posters is Monday November 24, 2025.