Government of Saint Lucia

La politique garantira que les personnes âgées vivent sans abus et sont traitées avec soin. Les travaux ont commencé et se poursuivent dans les communautés de l'île.

The National Policy for Older Persons was first developed in 2003 and revised in 2013. The policy will ensure that the requirements for healthy ageing are addressed and that older persons live in dignity and with security, free from exploitation and physical or mental abuse and treated with care regardless of age, gender or socio-economic status.

Work has started and is ongoing in communities around the island. We have commenced dialogue with the homes for the elderly; elderly community groups and other support organisations. A blog has been developed to reach a wider cross-section of the population and we encourage all Saint Lucians to bring forward their concerns, so your views can be incorporated in the Policy. The blog link is as follows: https://agepolicyslu.baldguyvisuals.com/

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs has recently received new gene sequencing results from the Caribbean Public Health Agency. The results indicate the presence of both the Omicron BA1 and BA2 Lineages. The Omicron BA2 variant is responsible for the new waves noted regionally and internationally.

Based on the data analysis, we note the upward trajectory of the 6th wave in country. We anticipate increasing numbers over the next few weeks. The Omicron sub-variant BA2 is characterized for high transmissibility. It is expected to affect entire households, productivity in the work places, school absenteeism for quarantine and isolation, increased hospitalization and Respiratory Clinic numbers.

Despite the 8.5 percent inflation rate, the largest in forty (40) years which is being experienced by the United States, Saint Lucia’s largest trading partner, the COVID-19 pandemic, and the Ukraine Russia conflict, the government continues to cushion the impact of rising global oil prices during the latest fuel prices adjustment on May 2nd, 2022 for the three (3) week period ending May 22nd , 2022.

The subsidies on the 20lb and 22lb cylinders of gasoline are being subsidised by $25.30 and $27.83 respectively. These subsidies represent an estimated $2.9 million shortfall in government revenue. Similarly, the government continues to provide subsidies on gasoline and diesel where it collects $0.00 in excise tax on gasoline.

As previously stated by the Prime Minister, Hon. Philip J. Pierre, “Shortfalls in revenue will have serious implications for the government’s already strained cash flow and its ability to meet critical expenditures in areas such as healthcare, education, social assistance, wages and salaries, and debt payments. Collections from the excise tax on gasoline and diesel are needed to finance government operations, including the provision of supplies to hospitals and health facilities, the management of COVID-19, and the provision of educational equipment and supplies.”

Notwithstanding the challenges, the government’s comprehensive and people-centric budget for 2022/23 is expected to ease the impact of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, the Ukraine-Russia conflict, and its effect on rising inflation and global oil prices.

For details on these and other government developments, visit:

www.govt.lc

www.facebook.com/SaintLuciaGovernment

www.youtube.com/SaintLuciaGovernment

www.twitter.com/SaintLuciaGov

www.instagram.com/saintluciagovernment/

TVET, ICT and connectivity within schools on the island were among the top priority areas for government in education when Minister with responsibility for Education Hon Shawn Edward last week laid out the policy direction for the Ministry in the House Assembly, as part of the debate on the 2022/2023 Estimates of Revenue and expenditure.

Male employees of the Respiratory Hospital were recently granted the opportunity to address personal and professional challenges at a men’s retreat held at the Auberge Seraphine Hotel.

The Ministry of Education has partnered with the St. Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF) to target young males who have fallen through the cracks in the education system, to provide them with specialized training and care through a pilot project entitled Post-Primary Alternative Pathway.

Le Cabinet des Ministres a décidé de la poursuite de tous les protocoles actuels.

Their Royal Highnesses, Prince Edward and Princess Sophie, Earl and Countess of Wessex ended the final day of their royal visit to Saint Lucia with a visit to schools.

The week-long visit to Saint Lucia ended their tour of the Caribbean to mark the Queen's Platinum Jubilee.

The Cabinet of Ministers has decided on the continuation of all the current protocols for the period Saturday, April 30, 2022 to Friday, June 3, 2022. A national, resident or non-national arriving in Saint Lucia who is fully vaccinated and produces a valid vaccination record may not be placed in quarantine or require a COVID-19 test. An unvaccinated person shall submit a valid PCR test taken within five days prior to arrival in Saint Lucia.