The Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) is delighted to announce its inaugural Writers in the Spotlight: Book and Literary Fair, taking place on January 24, 2025, as part of the college’s Nobel Laureate Festival celebrations. This exciting event will showcase the literary talent of Saint Lucian authors from the island and the diaspora, celebrating the nation’s rich literary heritage. “We are thrilled to host this historic event,” said Kathy McDiarmed, Head Librarian at SALCC. “This fair is a unique opportunity to connect authors, readers, and the community to celebrate Saint Lucian literature like never before.” The book fair is hosted by SALCC’s Hunter J. François Library and is expected to showcase over 35 authors, underscoring the college’s dedication to fostering intellectual and creative growth. It also pays tribute to Hunter J. François, a distinguished figure in Saint Lucian education and governance, after whom the library is named. Event DetailsJoin...

Screenshot The Saint Lucia TVET Council (SLCTVET) is working with the baking industry to address workforce development issues, including an aging labor force and insufficient skills for the sector. SLCTVET has engaged in dialogue with partners to prepare individuals to meet industry needs for employment and secure the sustainability of the baking industry. More in this video report from Marvin St. Louis of the Ministry of Commerce. Previous articleSt. Lucia Resident Converts Pilot’s Licence with ECCAA Next articleDr. James Fletcher Leads CARICOM Climate Envoy

As Saint Lucia celebrates the 2025 Nobel Laureate Festival, aimed at celebrating our Nobel Laureates, Sir W. Arthur Lewis and Sir Derek Walcott, who received the Nobel Prizes for Economics and Literature respectively, it would mark 45 years, since Sir W. Arthur Lewis received the Nobel Prize. It is not oft though that our celebrations significantly pay consideration and seek to apply what democracy meant through the lens of Sir W. Arthur Lewis. For most of our celebrations, Sir Arthur Lewis has been painted solely as a Developmental Economist, with his most celebrated works being, ‘The theory of Economic Development and Unlimited Supplies of Labour’ and ‘The Industrialisation of the British West Indies. Essentially he argued that we must jettison the neoclassical assumption that the quantity of labour is fixed, and that there is an unlimited supply of labour, which will keep wages down, produce cheap products and ensure high...

Marcus Garvey The Caribbean Community (CARICOM) expresses its profound gratitude for the posthumous pardon granted by the Biden administration to the Right Excellent Marcus Mosiah Garvey, a distinguished civil rights activist, Pan-Africanist leader, and National Hero of Jamaica. This long-awaited exoneration is testament to the unwavering advocacy of CARICOM leaders, both individually and collectively, along with countless members of the diaspora, for the rectification of the unjust conviction of an ardent advocate for the rights and liberties of individuals of African descent. CARICOM extends its heartfelt congratulations to his son, Julius Garvey, and other members of his family, as well as to the Government and People of Jamaica, and all who honor the remarkable legacy of this extraordinary son of our region. His life and work continue to inspire and influence both within and beyond the Caribbean. Previous articleEconomic recovery is losing steam, says ILO

The global economy is slowing down, making it harder for labour markets to recover fully, according to the newly-released, World Employment and Social Outlook: Trends 2025. In 2024 global employment grew in line with the labour force, keeping the unemployment rate steady at 5 per cent, the report says. However, youth unemployment showed little improvement, remaining high at 12.6 per cent. Informal work and working poverty returned to pre-pandemic levels, and low-income countries faced the most difficulties in creating decent jobs. Challenges to recovery The report points to challenges such as geopolitical tensions, the rising costs of climate change and unresolved debt issues, which are putting labour markets under pressure. Economic growth stood at 3.2 per cent in 2024, down from 3.3 and 3.6 per cent in 2023 and 2022, respectively. A similar level of growth is expected in 2025, although a gradual deceleration is expected to set in over the medium term. Although inflation has decreased, it...

As the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) seeks to enhance its leadership in global climate forums, Dr James Fletcher, former Minister for Public Service, Information, Broadcasting, Sustainable Development, Energy, and Science and Technology of  Saint Lucia, has been appointed CARICOM Climate Envoy with effect from 1 January 2025. Dr. James Fletcher. This follows a 2024 Decision taken by the Conference of Heads of Government to appoint a climate envoy as part of measures to ensure that the Region’s climate priorities are effectively communicated and advanced at the highest diplomatic levels. Commenting on the appointment, CARICOM Secretary-General, Dr Carla Barnett, noted that CARICOM has been taking every opportunity to advocate for ambitious climate action.  “CARICOM has long recognized the existential threat posed by climate change to the region’s social, economic, and environmental sustainability, and there is increasing urgency to take action to ensure that limiting global temperature rise to 1.5 degrees Celsius remains...

Suicide is never an option, because it lets the bullies win, always. Out of curiosity, I dug up on people who made my life hell in secondary and primary school, turns out they are all nowhere near the standard of living that I am in right now, and I pity them. There was, and still is nothing wrong with me, there was something wrong with them. I learnt too that I was simply the image that they couldn’t achieve, so they hated it. Bullying has nothing to do with you, so don’t ever take it personally, make yourself small, more importantly, do not become what they are. I was just like Jayden Lalchan, picked on for every single thing, after a while I realized that being comfortable in my image, was all that mattered, my life and what I did with it only had to make sense to me. The Bhagavad Gita...

In the name of we the people, as far back as the late 70s when John Compton was monarch of all he surveyed, I had to small avail demanded “transparency and accountability” in all matters related to governance. I took the cri de guerre with me in 1997 when I openly campaigned with Kenny Anthony’s Saint Lucia Labour Party for the removal of Compton’s surrogate prime minister Vaughan Lewis. I continued to demand as an SLP senator public transparency and accountability following the SLP’s unprecedented 16-1 election victory—and for that was given the boot, along with two other senators who had dared to echo my demands in relation to the unforgettable Helen Air debacle. On September 15, 2009 3 perished in the St. Jude Hospital fire. 15 years on and many million dollars later, the constituents of the South are no closer to a permanent home for the Hospital. Of...

Today September 9th, marks Fifteen years since the devastating fire which destroyed parts of St Jude Hospital forcing an emergency move to the George Odlum Stadium, which was meant to temporarily house health services. Fifteen years, we as a nation continue to wait. Fifteen years our collective souls weep. St. Jude Hospital Reconstruction We however remain hopeful. Hopeful that our leaders across the board will understand the complexities of healthcare and prioritise it. Hopeful that we all will truly give credence to the statement “a healthy nation is a wealthy nation” and take individual and collective responsibility for our health and wellbeing. Hopeful that St Jude will rise again. We recognize and commend the commitment and dedication of staff who have provided exemplary service under conditions which can best be described as inadequate and subpar. You truly are the unsung heroes of this unfortunate story. We continue to stand with...

NH International (Caribbean) Ltd has signed a US$19.4 million contract with Rodney Bay City Centre Ltd (RBCC), to construct the first phase of the Rodney Bay City Centre in Gros Islet, Saint Lucia. An artist’s rendition of part of the Rodney Bay City Centre Chief executive officer at NH, Ciaran Conlon, praised this partnership as, he says, NH has been entrusted to make yet another meaningful contribution to Saint Lucia which started 30 years ago. The CEO was joined by a director of Rodney Bay City Centre Ltd, as well as the project manager for the development, Tarek Hosein of Engineering Analytica Ltd, to sign the contract on August 30, at NH’s head office in St James, Trinidad. NH has already commenced mobilisation and is set to begin actual site construction from October 14, 2024 on the first phase of the project. It will include the head office and the...