Ministry of Education end of Year Review (2017-2018)

MINISTRY OF
EDUCATION, INNOVATION,
GENDER RELATIONS AND
SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT
YEAR IN
REVIEW
April 2017 - March 2018

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
The Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and
Sustainable Development would like to take this opportunity to
recognize the hard work of the staff throughout the last financial
year. Many thanks for the support of our Minister who has with
great enthusiasm, fully immersed herself in the work of her
Ministry. We thank the coordinating team Caroline Eugene, Kate
Wilson and Danielle Gordon, who have worked selflessly together
with our Marketing Consultant Barbara Jacobs Small, to make
this publication a reality. We expect you will be inspired.
Happy Reading!
1

Editorial Oversight
Dr. Gale T.C. Rigobert
Editor
Kate Wilson
Project Coordination
Danielle Gordon and Caroline Eugene
Contributors
Dr. Gale T.C. Rigobert, Debra Charlery,
Janey Joseph, Michelle Charles, Justin Sealy
Design and Layout
Marlon John
Photography
Ministry of Education, Innovation,
Gender Relations and Sustainable Development
Production
Right Angle Imaging
Printing
Star Publishing Company
© 2018 Ministry ofEducation, Innovation, Gender Relations and
Sustainable Development:Year In Review: April 2017 - March 2018

CONTENTS
Preface .................................................................................................................................................................... 4
Message ............................................................................................................................................................ 5-8
Department of Education ........................................................................................................................ 9
Technology Integration .......................................................................................................................... 13
Innovation: Formulating Life Changing Solutions /
Gender Relations Unit .............................................................................................................................. 23
Vision and Mission - Saint Lucia SolidWaste Management Authority ..................... 27
International Day for biological diversity .................................................................................... 28
Responding to the Climate Change Challenge ...................................................................... 32
Strengthening Saint Lucia’s Environmental Information Systems and
Multilateral Environmental Agreements Reporting .............................................................. 37
Targeted for Environmental Information ManagementTraining for
Governmental, Non Governmental and CML Society Organizations ........................ 39
FacilitatingYouth Engagement in PreservingWorld Heritage – PMA – UNESCO
Participation Project 2016 – 2017 Biennium .............................................................................. 42
Saint Lucia Endorses First Ever Legally Binding Regional Agreement on
Access to Information, Public Participation and Justice in
Environment Matters .................................................................................................................................. 46
Renewable Energy in Saint Lucia ...................................................................................................... 48
Goal and Mission - Saint Lucia SolidWaste Management Authority ........................ 50
SLSWMA UsingTechnology .................................................................................................................. 51
Saint Lucia SolidWaste Management Activities ................................................................... 52
Moving Beyond - Some Initiatives for 2018/19 ....................................................................... 55
3

I AM PLEASED TO HIGHLIGHT THE WORK UNDERTAKEN BY THE
Ministry of Education, Innovation, Gender Relations and
Sustainable Development for the period April 2017 to March
2018. This is a celebration of the performance of the various
departments under my guardianship as we advance the work
programme of the Government.
The strategic vision of the Ministry with respect to the
Education Sector is simultaneously ambitious yet constrained.
The ambitions for Education are captured in Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG) #4, ‘Quality Education’, which aims to
“ensure inclusive and equitable quality education and promote
lifelong learning opportunities for all”.
With Innovation, Gender Relations and Sustainable
Development under the umbrella of the Ministry, the aims of
the SDGs #5: Gender Equality, #7: Affordable and Clean Energy,
#9: Industry, Innovation and Infrastructure, #11: Sustainable
Cities and Communities; #13: Climate Action; #14: Life below
Water, #15: Life on Land and #17: Partnerships for the Goals, are
also embraced by the Ministry.
With an overall aim of building a resilient economy in Saint
Lucia, the strategic direction of the Ministry is aligned with the
SDGs. In fact, the pursuit of the 2030 Agenda and Vision 2050 are
deemed indivisible. This is further clarified by the Government’s
holistic embrace of “resilience building”.
Resilience building speaks to strengthening physical,
infrastructural, social, human and fiscal resilience. While we
acknowledge the inherent vulnerabilities of the island, it is
incumbent on our Government to shield Saint Lucia from
avoidable disasters and to better bolster it to withstand the
vagaries of their impacts. In building human resilience, we
cannotmakethekindofprogressthatisnecessaryifwecontinue
to starve the education sector of the requisite resources to
finance the transformative change that we envisage. Many
of the primary undertakings of the Ministry revolve around
climate change which is one of the defining issues of our day
and has dominated the agenda of international relations
for the past few decades. SDG #13 urges the world to “Take
urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts”. There
is increasing anxiety about the unpredictability, ferocity and
frequency of adverse weather events and rising sea levels, and
the threat to small island states (SIDS) in particular. Saint Lucia
has distinguished itself as a champion of climate action, and
is committed to raising ambition and reducing greenhouse
emissions. Our commitment to act is very well reflected in the
number of activities that we have undertaken and concrete
actions towards transitioning from a fossil dependent economy
to one that drives on renewable energy.
RegardingGenderRelations,thereisurgentneedforlegislative
review and expansion of the range of services provided to
vulnerable persons. Further, as a country that has struggled to
straddle traditional norms and the necessity to uphold human
rights, the need for a recalibration of behaviour in gender
relations is long overdue and urgent. There is no denying that
intergenerationalnotionsofgenderandassociatednormsposea
tremendous challenge to evolving perspectives on human rights
and our international obligatory commitments. Therefore, there
is need for a dramatic shift of our legislative levers to bring Saint
Lucia into alignment with many of the International Accords,
Treaties or Conventions that it has signed on to.
I thank the staff of the various departments for their hard
work, dedication and professionalism. Your support is greatly
appreciated and I look forward to continued excellent results!
Hon. Dr Gale T.C. Rigobert
Minister for Education, Innovation
Gender Relations and Sustainable Development
PREFACE
4

DEBRA CHARLERY
Ms. Debra Charlery
Permanent Secretary (Ag.) from the
Department Sustainable Development
MESSAGE
THE DEPARTMENT OF SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT (DSD),
remains committed to contributing to the achievement of
sustainable development on a platform of integrated and
effective environmental management. In the 2017/2018
financial year, the Department made significant strides in
forging partnerships with donor agencies, public sector
and other national organizations to facilitate effective
environmental management and sustainable livelihoods.
When Saint Lucia signed on to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, the country committed itself
to pursuing the implementation of seventeen Sustainable
Development Goals (SDGs). The DSD thus took the lead
in establishing a Sustainable Development Goals National
Coordinating Committee (SDGNCC) to maintain a cohesive
approach to SDG implementation. This multi-sectorial
Committee guides the implementation and monitoring of
the SDGs and provides recommendations on ways to align
the SDG implementation process with other national goals.
Another important initiative is the development of our
ten (10) year National Adaptation Plan (NAP). The NAP
positions Saint Lucia to demonstrate to donor agencies,
that our planned actions have undergone thorough
assessments. Through the NAP process, the DSD developed
Sectorial Adaptation Strategies and Action Plans (SASAPs)
for the Water, Agriculture and Fisheries sectors in the
first instance. This was achieved through collaboration
with other public sector agencies and with technical and
financial support of the UNDP Japan Caribbean Climate
Change Partnership (JCCCP).
The DSD continues its efforts towards meeting its target of
35% electricity generation from renewable energy sources by
the year 2025 and 50% by the year 2030. It has been successful
in undertaking energy efficiency lighting retrofit in public
buildings including schools. Additionally, through support
from the Government of Italy, it has engaged a local company
in the purchase of three electric vehicles, along with solar car
port and electric vehicle charging stations. Moreover, with
support from the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Saint Lucia will
receive assistance for Solar PV systems in additional schools.
WithassistancefromtheWorldBankandGEF,twoimportant
activities under the Geothermal Resource Development
Project, namely, a pre-feasibility study and Environmental and
Social Impact Assessment (ESIA), have been completed.
All these successes were achieved through support by our
Ministerandtheverycapable,competentandcommittedstaff
of the Department. I thank you all for your professionalism
and hard work throughout this past year and look forward to
your continued support.
5

Michelle Charles
Permanent Secretary (Ag.) from the
Department of Education, Innovation and Gender Relations
2017- 2018 WAS ONE OF REFLECTION FOR THE DEPARTMENT OF
Education, Innovation and Gender Relations. It was during
that period the ideas geared towards revolutionizing the
education sector took root. It was then that the discussion
on Innovation, its meaning and role took prominence. And in
2017-2018, Gender found its place on the agenda.
The revolutionizing of our sector started with a review of
our raison d’etre as a ministry. What was our purpose? We
agreed that our goal is to create an education system that
shapes the development of productive citizens for a services
and investment economy. This individual needed to possess
the following traits:
»» Be literate and numerate
»» Possess national pride
»» Be a critical thinker
»» Be values driven
»» Be technology literate
»» Be globally adaptable
»» Be a lifelong learner
The Department, from there realized that to produce this
kind of citizen, our processes needed to be re-engineered and
our structures, more dynamic. This meant an appraisal of all
aspects of our department ranging from curriculum reviews
to a revision of our Education Act. This evaluation has started.
The achievements of the Department during that period
were far reaching. First, the department sought to create
awareness, provide opportunity and enhance access to high-
er education through the launch of the #educatesaintlucia
initiative. Many secondary school students were encouraged
to write the ACT exams which will improve their chances of
getting acceptance into international tertiary institutions.
This initiative also paved the way for first generation students
to access a university education.
In 2017/2018, the department focused heavily on the main-
tenance of school plants. To this end, assessments of many
schools were undertaken with a view to prioritize the works to
be undertaken. This assessment was not only of a structural
nature but also incorporated elements that would allow for
energy efficiency and climate resilience considerations.
Another priority for the Department of Education was the
creation of Centers of Excellence. The 2017/18 conversations
on this subject resulted in the Anse Ger Secondary School
being identified as the facility geared towards excellence in the
Creative Arts and the Gros Islet Secondary as the school to be
transformed into a Center of Excellence for Sports. The work
in these two spheres is far advanced and magnet programmes
will be introduced at these schools in September 2018.
The declining student population raised a red flag at the
Department. What then happens to schools with low student
numbers? This brought into sharp focus the need to repurpose
our school plant where there is what appears to be excess
capacity. Do we move in our early childhood centers? Do we
use them as business incubators to foster innovation? Or do
they present an opportunity to expand our TVET offerings?
The discussions are ongoing.
The Department was successful in getting the approval of
Compete Caribbean for the development of an Innovation
Policy. This policy will help shape government’s position as it
relates to innovation in not only education but in all spheres
inclusive of entrepreneurship, private sector, community,
business and process initiatives.
The Gender Relations Unit was, in 2017/2018 able to deepen
engagements with the Caribbean Development Bank and
received a grant to address Gender Mainstreaming. This key
initiative will seek to offer an approach that values the diversity
among men and women. It is a public policy that assesses the
different implications for men and women of any planned
policy action, including legislature and programmes.
Another area which will receive close attention relates to the
legislation which guides gender relations. The Department
has been conducting a review of existing legislation with the
view to revise and make more relevant to today’s context.
We see then that 2017/2018 was indeed a critical time for the
Department. It was a time when we focused strategically on
the future of the Department and set in motion the wheels for
creating the future we envision for our sectors.
MESSAGE
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MESSAGE
THE DEPARTMENT OF GENDER RELATIONS JOINS THIS MINISTRY
after over a decade of being associated with the Ministry
of Health. The shift to the Ministry of Education coincides
with an increased thrust towards gender mainstreaming
and policy development. This new thrust positions the
Department to be true to its mission of creating “… an
environment to redress gender imbalances through policies
and programmes…”
The aim of this Department is to put gender on every
agenda; to create an appreciation for gender-sensitive,
gender responsive and gender transformative planning in
policy, programme and project development in Saint Lucia. It
is our drive to ensure that no one is left behind on account of
gender; that the differences in roles, vulnerabilities and needs
of women, men, girls and boys are always considered in all
agendas. Equality of opportunity and access is our end goal.
A major focus of this Department has been legislative
review which is aimed at ensuring that Saint Lucia honours
its international commitments, particularly to the Convention
to End all forms of Discrimination Against Women (CEDAW)
ratified in 1982 and its Optional Protocol; the Inter-American
Convention on the Prevention, Punishment, and Eradication
of Violence against Women (Belem Do Para Convention),
ratified in 1995; and the Beijing Platform for Action.
The Latin America and Caribbean region has been very
active in advancing the regional gender agenda. In the last
year Saint Lucia, along with its other Caribbean counterparts
have been able to influence policy and leverage support for
the small island developing states within that space. Regional
agreements such as the Montevideo Strategy assist us in
meeting our international commitments. We share the hope
of Latin America and the Caribbean for a gender-responsive
focus on the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.
One of the Department’s major achievements during the
year was the launching of a ground-breaking publication
entitled “Running in Heels” co-authored by Yasmin Solitache
Odlum and Barbara Jacobs-Small. The compilation which
features the stories of forty women involved in Saint Lucian
politics from 1961 to 2016, was published by the Department
of Gender Relations with support from UNESCO through the
St. Lucia National Commission for UNESCO. This is a landmark
publication, placing into focus the strides made by Saint Lucia
in gender equality and highlights the gap that still exists in
participation in decision-making in Saint Lucia. The sales
from the publication go towards the support of the Women’s
Support Center which provides temporary shelter for women
who are victims of domestic violence and their dependent
children.
The Department looks forward to an exciting journey
within this Ministry as it continues to join synergies with the
other departments in advancing education, innovation and
sustainable development within the gender agenda.
Ms. Janey Joseph
Acting Director of Gender Relations
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“WHILE I WAS QUITE KNOWLEDGEABLE OF THE BUSINESS OF
the Saint Lucia Solid Waste Management Authority (SLSWMA),
it was not until I took on the role of General Manager that
the magnitude of the task at hand was fully appreciated.
SLSWMA manages eight (8) contractors who are
contractually obligated to haul solid waste from residences
and [Governmental] institutions; waste generated by town
and village councils and biomedical waste from hospitals
and health centres. Waste is disposed for landfilling at one
of the two landfills owned and operated at Vieux Fort and
Deglos. All biomedical waste is transported to the Deglos
Sanitary Landfill, where it is treated using a high powered
steam Autoclave. Every day, collection vehicles traverse the
country, hauling tonnes of waste for disposal. The hauling
and disposal of solid waste and biomedical waste reflect the
biggest cost to the Authority, but this is merely a tiny part of
the work of the Authority.
The true mandate of the Authority is to cause a reduction
of solid waste requiring landfilling. As a small island state, we
cannot afford another landfill. A better effort must be made
to promote the idea of resource recovery/circular economy
where trash becomes the input to another process; recycling
of which composting is an option; repairing instead of just
throwing out items; and thinking long term reuse and not
immediate disposable. These alternative waste management
options will assist in diverting waste or preventing waste
from reaching the landfills thereby prolonging the need for
a major capital investment which may not be viewed as a
priority for the country at this time but is needed.
The beautiful vista of the island is often interrupted by
garbage and derelict vehicles as one traverses our roadways.
The past year was therefore a period of constant reflection
in order to determine and understand the cause. The
management team of the Authority was engaged in regular
strategizing sessions. Systems, processes and procedures
were revamped to suit changing paradigms and international
best practice. Technology has been employed to assist in
increasing efficiency and allow staff to work smarter and
increase output. This was evident through a major overhaul
of the Ciceron collection system that reduced repeated
complaints from residents of that area. This only signals the
beginning of the work required and, work we will, to ensure
that the Authority assumes the rightful posture i.e. leading
the way in solid waste management through the use of data/
information, to inform operational as well as communication
and public awareness strategies.”
Justin Sealy
Manager of Saint Lucia Solid Waste
Management Authority
MESSAGE
8

department
of
EducationTo create an education system that shapes
the development of productive citizens for
a services and investment economy.
MATHEMATICS
The MOE has engaged various partners and
agencies, including the Cuban Government,
UNESCO, OECS and UNICEF to improve
Mathematics. In 2017, a number of District
Math seminars were conducted. A Math
handbook was developed and launched in
January 2018 and training of Teachers in
strategies outlined in that hand book will be
conducted over the next year (2018/2019). The
Government of Saint Lucia and the Republic
of Cuba have expanded their MOU to facilitate
further technical assistance for Curriculum
reform in core subject areas for Grades K - 9.
Thanks to collaboration between the Ministries
of Education in Cuba and Saint Lucia, the MOE
will this year embark upon the completion of
the diagnostic instrument in Mathematics
for Grades 1 and 2 students, which started
with last year’s collaboration with Susana
Acosta Hernandez and Dainarelys Verdecia
Ramos. The multifaceted intervention includes
twinning of Secondary Mathematics teachers
(Cuba / St. Lucia) and the twinning of School
Websites.Also,betweenSeptember–December
2018, a Study tour to the Republic of Cuba (for
Numeracy Support teachers in Districts 4, 5
and 8 along with the Curriculum Specialist for
Mathematics, Chief Education Officer / Deputy
Chief Education Officer – Instruction), will
expose participants to the various pedagogic
approaches to Mathematics instruction at the
Grades K – 9 levels.
From January – July 2019 Saint Lucia is
earmarked to receive further assistance in the
development of curriculum in Mathematics for
Grades K – 6. A Mathematics methodologist
will work with Saint Lucia for a six (6) months
period to help restructure the Mathematics
curriculum and conduct professional
development workshops in Mathematics for
teachers.
EDUCATION FOR DEMOCRATIC
CITIZENSHIP (EDC)
In September 2017, “Education for Democratic
Citizenship (EDC)” was introduced into
the school curriculum. Approximately one
hundred and sixty (160) teachers underwent
training to prepare them to deliver the
curriculum. The programme is currently
being implemented at thirty-four (34) primary
schools and at all twenty-three (23) secondary
schools on island.
EDC is designed to help students learn how
to become active, informed and responsible
Curriculum Guides
available on
CAMDU ST. LUCIA WEBSITE
9

citizens. It educates students about their rights
and responsibilities as defined in law, such
as the right to vote and the responsibility to
pay taxes. It highlights the importance of
involvement in public life and national affairs,
from voting in elections to offering oneself for
political office, as well as developing an interest
in politics and current affairs.
The primary school programme runs
from Kindergarten to Grade six (6) and the
secondary school programme targets the lower
Forms 1 – 3. The instructional format of the
programme takes a student-centred approach
with hands on, authentic learning activities; a
formative assessment framework that evaluates
attitudes and values, and deviates from the
formal, structured pencil and paper summative
assessment.
#EDUCATESAINTLUCIA: HELPING YOU
BUILD A PROSPEROUS SUSTAINABLE
FUTURE THROUGH SOCIAL INCLUSION
The government remains committed to
delivering a globally competiive education
to every Saint Lucian citizen regardless
of his/her socio-economic status. The
#EducateSaintLucia initiative aims to develop
Saint Lucia’s human resources; provide
opportunities for broadening participation,
inspiring and acquiring a more diverse talent
pool and inherently, will reducing some of
the social inequities associated with access to
quality education.
»» Pillars of #EducateSaintLucia:
»» ACT Initiative
»» First Generation Initiative
»» Knapsack Drive
»» Lifelong learning
»» Vocational Qualification
»» Volunteerism and Apprenticeship
»» Career Readiness
»» Innovation
COLLEGE READINESS SYMPOSIUM
The #EducateSaintLucia initiative began with
a College and Career Readiness Symposium
for youth, aimed at preparing them for
higher education, career development and
advancement. This initiative was to enable
nationals in making a smooth transition to
institutions of higher learning by helping them
make the best decisions for ongoing personal
growthanddevelopment.TheSymposiumtook
place from Wednesday July 27th 2017 to Friday
28th July 2017, at the Conference Room of the
Financial Centre, Point Seraphine. Sessions
were facilitated by Ms. Erica Hepburn, from
American College Testing (ACT) who deals
with International Educational Programmes,
specifically in the Caribbean Market.
ACT INITIATIVE 2017
The Government of Saint Lucia in partnership
with American College Testing Inc. (ACT)
will over a three to five year period, provide
the opportunity for Saint Lucian students to
write the ACT examination with a view to
creating access to higher level education in the
Erica Hepburn
USA, Canada and Europe. The Department
of Education has the commitment of higher
learning institutions in the USA, who had
agreed to provide full or partial scholarships
for students who have done well on the ACT.
October 09 to 14, 2017 saw several activities
conducted by Ms. Erica Hepburn of ACT.
Among these were the training of staff within
the Department of Education alongside
Counsellors, principals and prospective
10

candidates. Further, an intensive training
session was held in the north and south of the
island for prospective candidates and young
persons who are outof school but interested in
pursuing further education.
A National Application Day was planned
for all students registered for the ACT exams
in December. This allowed students to apply
to universities and colleges in the USA.
Additionally, the #FirstGeneration initiative
offered first generation university students of
financially challenged families a chance to gain
full scholarships to pursue higher education
abroad. In October 2017, four hundred and fifty
(450) students from various secondary schools
around the island sat the Pre-ACT exam
and three hundred and nine (309) students
registered for the ACT exams which was held
on December 9th and 10th in Saint Lucia.
From October 20-24, 2017, four hundred
and fifty (450) students from various
secondary schools around the island sat the
Pre-ACT exam. To date three hundred and
nine (309) students registered for the ACT
exams which was held on December 9th and
10th in Saint Lucia.
COLLEGE FAIR 2017
The annual Saint Lucia College Fair was held
at the Finance Administrative Centre, Pointe
Seraphine, and Castries on Wednesday 1st
November 2017 and Thursday 2nd November
2017 under the theme, “Empowering a
Nation through Education” This event
brought together approximately eleven (11)
representatives from local, regional and
international educational institutions.
The objectives of the College Fair are:
»» To help prospective students and
their parents make informed decisions
about higher education;
»» To create a forum in which
interested Saint Lucians can learn of
the opportunities for tertiary education
within the Caribbean and beyond
Distribution of Pre-ACT
Results at the
St. Joseph’s Convent
Secondary School
11

»» To cater to the career guidance
needs of participants through the
provision of guidance counseling
conducted through structured
interviews that assess the participants’
interests, skills, values, career decisions
and lifestyle preferences;
»» To advise on options for higher
education financing and
»» To provide education institutions
with a unique opportunity to diversify
their student population by recruiting
Saint Lucian students
OBJECTIVES
»» help prospective students and their
parents make informed decisions about
further education;
»» provide interested Saint Lucians
with an opportunity to discover the
diversity of higher education in the
Caribbean;
»» provide interested participants with
career guidance counseling conducted
through structured interviews that
assesses the participants’interests, skills,
values, career decisions and lifestyle
preferences;
»» limit the amount of time and
money spent when applying to tertiary
institutions; and
»» provide regional institutions with
a unique opportunity to diversify their
student population by recruiting a high
caliber of students from St. Lucia.
ACCREDITATION
In 2017 the Government enacting two pieces
of legislation to facilitate the modalities for
the accreditation of tertiary institutions and
medical schools, namely:
»» Accreditation Bill;
»» The Caribbean Accreditation
Authority for Medicine and other Health
Professions Bill
The Department of Education continues to
explore study and scholarship opportunities
and provide academic counselling for selection
of accredited universities abroad. By the end
of May, persons to serve on the Accreditation
Council will be named. As more overseas
tertiary institutions seek out opportunities to
establish satellite entities here, the Ministry
remains in step with emerging and evolving
standards regarding accreditation of academic
programs and institutions.
EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATION (ECD)
Early learning is a great equalizer. The first
one thousand (1000) days of a child’s life are
critical (nutrition, education, psychological
and emotional development). In March 2018,
through the OAS Development Cooperation
Fund, the Ministry secured an eighty-three
thousand US dollar ($83, 000 USD) grant for:
1. Development of ECD Regulations
2.Establishment of an ECD Council
3. Development of a framework to facilitate
licencing of ECD Centres
CENTRES OF EXCELLENCE
We recognise the diversity of talent among
our youth and as part of our commitment to
expand opportunity, respond to their multiple
interests and to offer them pathways to
professional development, we have embarked
upon the establishment of two centres of
excellence:
• Centre of Excellence for Sports – at the
Anse Ger Secondary School
• Centre of Excellence for Creative Arts and
Culture – at the Gros Islet Secondary School
The transitioning of these two schools
commenced in September 2017 with the
implementation of Magnet Programs.
12

ICT IN EDUCATION POLICY
AND STRATEGY
An ICT in Education Policy and Strategy for
Saint Lucia was completed in June, 2017 with
financial and technical assistance from the
Commonwealth of Learning (COL). This new
policy is aligned with the National ICT Strategy
and the Government’s vision for ICT in Saint
Lucia. Some of the Policy Results outlined in
the policy document include, improved access
to special needs learners, gender equity in
ICT, greater access to technical and vocation
education and training (TVET) and lifelong
learning, wider adoption of Open Educational
Resources and enhanced digital citizenship.
DIGITAL LITERACY CURRICULUM GUIDE
The Caribbean Examinations Council
(CXC) has implemented online testing at the
Caribbean Secondary Education Certificate
level. The immediate consequence is that
students’ digital fluency will affect their
abilities to take exams. A Digital Literacy
Curriculum has been developed to help provide
a framework for digital literacy education at
the lower secondary level.
The curriculum document outlines the
critical computer and productivity software
skills, keyboarding ICTE Outcomes Strategic
Policy Priority Areas (PPAs) for ICTE Gender
Equity Community Development Affordable
and Accessible Quality Education Student
Success SNL, TVET Lifelong Learning
TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION Using
Technology to Improve Education and Increase
EquityproficiencyaswellasInternetSafety.The
guide was developed with input from IT and
Strategic Policy Priority
Areas (PPAs) for ICTE
TECHNOLOGY INTEGRATION
USING TECHNOLOGY TO IMPROVE EDUCATION AND INCREASE EQUITY
EDPM teachers. It is now being used to replace
the IT and EDPM curriculum for forms one to
three at all secondary schools and it is available
online at: https://camdu.edu.lc/curriculum-
guides-i/ digital-literacy-curriculum-guide
MATHEMATICS ONLINE ASSESSMENT
BANK PILOT
We have teamed up with Hodder Education,
the publisher of the Caribbean Primary
Math textbook, to run a one-year pilot of its
Mathematics Online Assessment Bank at
twelve(12)primaryschools.Thiseffortprovides
support for teachers with quality assessment
items in Mathematics, allowing them access to
the assessment bank platform, search for items
that are matched to specific learning outcomes
and organize appropriate test and evaluation
instruments for their students.
COMPUTER CODING AND ROBOTICS
PILOT PROGRAM
A pilot program in Computer Coding and
Robotics has been launched and implemented
at the Beanefield Secondary, Bocage Secondary,
Grande Riviere Secondary and Soufriere
Comprehensive Secondary schools. One
Community
Development
StudentSuccessSNL,TVET
LifelongLearning
ICTE
Outcomes
Strategy Policy Priority Areas (PPAs) for ICTE
Affordable and Accessible
Quality Education
Strategic Policy Priority Areas (PPAs) for ICTE
13

hundred and twenty-five thousand, one
hundred and fifty-five dollars and fifty-seven
cents US (USD$125,155.57) and technical
support has been provided by the United
States Agency for International Development
(USAID), through its Community, Family and
Youth Resiliency (CFYR) Program. Teachers
and youth mentors have been trained to
teach basic computer coding using the Lego
Mindstorms platform. The selected schools
have also been equipped with the necessary
hardware and Internet infrastructure to
facilitate delivery of the newly developed
computer coding and robotics curriculum.
This initiative will harness students’ natural
inclination toward digital technology, while
supporting concept development in Science,
Technology, Engineering and Mathematics
(STEM), developing problem-solving and
critical thinking skills. Over three hundred
(300) students in forms one and two have
been registered into this program at the four
schools. The teachers who were trained, have
also agreed to extend access to this opportunity
via an after-school program.
»» Thymio Robot Challenge (January
2017): a combined team of students
from Bocage Secondary School and
the Saint Mary’s College was the
first to complete the challenge in a
field including teams from French
speaking countries in Europe. Thanks
to the National Lotteries Authority
for contributing towards this very
rewarding experience for the students.
»» First Global Robotics Olympics
in Washington DC (August 2017): We
placed 51st among more than 160
nations. Saint Lucia’s participation
provides an avenue for young people
to explore their potential in applied
technology and gain experience using
technology to help solve real world
problems such as pollution and a wide
variety of climate related challenges. The
next First Global challenge is scheduled
for August, 2018 in Mexico.
»» In January 2018, Saint Lucia
participated in the“Dadlihack”computer
coding and app building challenge
organized by Ocean Generation in
Antigua. Team Saint Lucia was a young
group of SALCC students whose app
14

readiness skills or who present conditions that
place achievement in school at significant risk.
In 2016, two (2) schools in each educational
district were targeted; a total of sixteen (16)
schools were involved in the PKSE. In 2017,
the total number of schools participating was
increased to twenty-nine (29) (a minimum of 3
schools per district). The SEU has committed
to gradually increasing the number of
participating schools each year until universal
pre-kindergarten screening is achieved. PKSE
2017 was implemented on June 6th and 7th at
various sites within each educational district.
A total of three hundred and seventy (370)
children were screened in 2017. A review of the
PKSE was done in December 2017, with a view
to consulting with stakeholders and charting
the way forward for early support for students.
ACCOMMODATIONS
Since starting to provide accommodations at
national assessments, the Special Education
Unit has made many strides in facilitating
the learning and test taking conditions for
candidates with special needs. In 2017, a total
of ninety-two (92) students were provided
with various accommodations at the Common
Entrance and Minimum Standards Tests.
One special case involved Christy Joseph,
a blind student from the Reunion Combined
concept was a mobile app that would
remain functional during and after a
tropical storm or hurricane, relying on
Wi-Fi and a mesh and mobile network
infrastructure. The app would be used
to report damages, casualties and assist
with logistical response.
STUDENT
WELFARE
TRANSPORTATION SUBSIDIES
The MOE continues to facilitate access to
education through transportation services
to two thousand six hundred and fifty-five
(2655) needy students at twenty (20) secondary
schools providing employment to one hundred
and seventy-seven (177) drivers. This figure of
2655 represents 23.1% of the secondary school
population compared to the 2062 or 16.9%
prior to this government assuming office in the
2015/2016 academic year.
SCHOOL FEEDING
The Government of Saint Lucia continues to
provide lunches to over six thousand three
hundred (6300) students at primary schools.
In 2017/18, a breakfast programme was
introduced with one hundred and twenty-five
(125) students benefitting.
BOOK BURSARIES
This academic year, 2017/2018 one thousand
nine hundred and fifty (1950) students or 13.2
% of the primary school population benefited
from this programme.
SPECIAL
EDUCATION
UNIT (SEU)
PRE-KINDERGARTEN SCREENING
EXERCISE
The Pre-Kindergarten Screening Exercise
(PKSE) is a relatively new initiative of the
Special Education Unit aimed at flagging
children who may lack essential school
15

Education Quality Enhancement Project
(EQUIP). EQUIP is a five-year Project,
implemented through the Department of
Education that aims to improve quality, equity,
efficiency and effectiveness of the education
system, making it responsive to the needs of
diverse learners.
NATIONAL
ENRICHMENT
AND
LEARNINWG
UNIT (NELU)
Our celebration of 39 years as an independent
nation under the theme: I am St. Lucia, was
an opportune moment to reflect on our
achievements, individually, nationally, and
as a sovereign nation to critically assess the
instruments that have given meaning and
definition to us as a collective. We the staff
of the National Enrichment and Learning
Unit, through our National Enrichment and
Learning Programme (NELP), are proud of
our work especially our continuing role in
helping our people shed the colonial cloak
by initiating programmes that contribute to
a more holistic and productive populace. As
we continue to reaffirm our commitment to
building human capacities and intensify our
efforts in pursuit of our mandate, we proudly
present our accomplishments for the past year.
EXPANDING OPPORTUNITIES
During the period June to September
2017, the NELU convened a number of
School. Many units within the education
sector collaborated to facilitate Christy’s
accommodated sitting of the Common
Entrance Examination. Officers from the
Special Education Unit, IT Unit, Educational
Evaluation and Assessment Unit, the St Lucia
Blind Welfare Association and personnel from
Christy’s school district converged to chart
the logistics of her test taking conditions.
Christy has since moved on to the Choiseul
Secondary School.
SAFEGUARDING WORKSHOP
We recognize that children with special needs
have a higher risk for victimization and abuse
thantheirtypicallydevelopingpeers.Giventhis
fact, the Unit took a proactive and preventative
approach with regard to safeguarding children
with special needs. On October 20, 2017 the
complete staff of all Special schools participated
in a Special Schools Safeguarding Workshop
at the Cardinal Kelvin Felix Archdiocesan
Pastoral Centre. Personnel in attendance
included principals, teachers, teachers’ aides,
ancillary staff and volunteers from each special
school on island. With presentations from the
Vulnerable Persons Unit of the Royal St Lucia
Police Force, the Division of Human Services
and Family Affairs and a trained counsellor,
the well-attended workshop positioned
school personnel both to identify signs of
maltreatment and to avoid being perpetrators
themselves.
EQUIP- EDUCATION QUALITY
IMPROVEMENT PROJECT
Consistent with the commitment to
provide quality education as outlined in the
Sustainable Development Goal no. 4 (SDG 4),
GOSL has made systematic efforts to enhance
the education sector in order to facilitate the
achievement of this goal. This requires several
interventions and actions, many of which
are enshrined within the Education Sector
Development Plan 2015-2020 and also other
plans that have been subscribed to such as
the OECS Education Sector Strategy (OESS)
and the CARICOM 2030 Human Resource
Development (HRD) Strategy.
The Caribbean Development Bank through
a loan of USD$16M and grant USD$0.7M,
including a government counterpart
contribution of USD$4M, supports the
16

Education Officers: NELU held orientation
with Facilitators at the Belle Vue Centre Meeting with members
of the Vieux-Fort Town
Council
Community Meetings:
Odsan Combined School;
Mon Repos Combined
School and Belle Vue
Human Resource Center
Meeting with the Rotaract
Club of Saint Lucia
community meetings as part of its marketing
thrust to aggressively increase access to the
NELP, establish new adult learning centers
and strengthen and reactivate existing
ones. Meetings were held in Anse la Raye,
Babonneau, Belle Vue, Ciceron, Garand, Gros
Islet, La Croix Maingot, Marigot, Monchy,
Mon Repos, Micoud, Odsan, and Pierrot.
17

Sanitation Workers employed with the
Vieux Fort Town Council were administered
diagnostic tests in English and Mathematics.
On September 21, 2017, the NELP met with the
Rotaract Club of St. Lucia to share information
and obtain sponsorship for persons to pursue
courses.
On September 21, 2017, the NELP met
with the Rotaract Club of St. Lucia to share
information and obtain sponsorship for
persons to pursue courses.
FACEBOOK PAGE
The NELU set up and maintained a Facebook
Page to market the NELP, showcase our
learners and enhance engagements with them,
NELU staff, adult learning centres, and the
wider community.
https://www.facebook.com/NELUSLU/
RESULTS
a. Establishment of the Odsan Adult
Learning Centre with a Basic Cake Making
and Decorating course.
b. Reactivation of the Belle Vue Adult
Learning Centre offering Basic Garment
Construction, Plumbing, Basic Electrical
Installation, Basic Cake Making and
Decorating, and CSEC Mathematics.
c. Expansion of the Stanley Jon Odlum
Adult Learning Centre offering Child
Care, Basic Garment Construction, Basic
Cake Making and Decorating, Basic
Information Technology, CCSLC and
CSEC English and Mathematics.
d. Implementation of Literacy and
Numeracy courses for Sanitation Workers
employed with the Vieux Fort Town
Council, conducted at the Vieux Fort ICT
Access Centre.
e. Implementation of CVQ in Data
Operations Level 2 at the Micoud ICT
Access Centre.
CARIBBEAN SECONDARY EDUCATION
CERTIFICATE (CSEC)
The National Enrichment Learning Unit
(NELU) has been offering the CSEC
programme in Mathematics and English for
over 15 years. Thousands of the NELU learners
around the island have benefitted from this
programme and have attained CSEC Grades
1-3. This academic year 2017-2018, the NELU
became a CSEC center, registering all its CSEC
learners for the May/June 2018 Examinations.
Two examination centers —NELU North
and NELU South— were established.
Examination for learners who pursued courses
at the Anglican and the Stanley Jon Odlum
Memorial Secondary School, Adult Learning
Centers were administered at the NELU North
Examination Centre whilst those learners
pursuing courses at the Belle Vue, Patience,
Piaye and Soufriere Adult Learning Centers
were administered at the NELU South
Examination Centre. During the period under
review, the NELU registered a total of ninety-
five (95) candidates to sit the CSEC English
(n= 36), Mathematics (n= 87) Human and
Social Biology (n= 2) and Social Studies (n= 5)
examinations in May/June 2018.
CARIBBEAN CERTIFICATE OF SECONDARY
LEVEL COMPETENCE (CCSLC)
In2015,TheNELUforgedfurthercollaborations
with the Caribbean Examinations Council
(CXC) by offering the “Strengthening Second
National
Enrichment
Learning Unit -
@neluslu
18

Chance Education Programme”, a project
funded by USAID. This initiative provided
persons who did not complete their formal
education, with a second chance to access
educational opportunities and ultimately
attain certification. The NELU learners, for the
first time, were afforded the opportunity to sit
the Caribbean Certificate of Secondary Level
Competence (CCSLC) examination. Like the
CSEC, The NELU registers its learners, and
they sit examinations at the NELU North and
NELU South examination centres.In 2016-
2017, the second cohort of learners (2 males
and 13 females aged 28 to 58 yrs.) from the
Anglican Adult Learning Centre pursued the
Strengthening Second Chance Programme and
sat the 2017 CCSLC English and Mathematics
examinations. Three (3) of them attained
Master in English and twelve (12) Competent.
In Mathematics, two (2) attained Master and
thirteen (13) Competent. One of the learners,
Melissa Cherubin, obtained Master in both
English and Mathematics.
2017-2018, saw an increase in the number
of learners who participated in the CCSLC
programme over that of the previous year.
Thirty-four (34) learners from the NELU North
and South Centres enrolled in the CCSLC
courses and registered to sit the Mathematics
and English examinations in May/June this
year, 2018 (Mathematics (n= 31 and English
(n=27).
CARIBBEAN VOCATIONAL QUALIFICATION
(CVQ
To better empower our learners for work
and to award more portable and recognized
certification, the NELU continued to work
closely with the Technical and Vocational
Education Unit (TVET) of the Ministry
to implement the Caribbean Vocational
Qualification (CVQ).
CVQ CERTIFICATION
IMPLEMENTATION OF CVQ COURSES
In 2017, NELU offered CVQ courses in the
following areas and these courses are currently
ongoing:
On December 7, 2017 the Mon Repos Front
Office Level 2 Group held a seminar as part of
their CVQ Assessment in which the learners
applied the knowlege and skills acquired and
demonstrated competencies in the skills that
were assessed.
TRAINING FOR STAKEHOLDERS
Some facilitators of technical courses and one
center coordinator participated in a two-day
Competency Based Education and Training
(CBET) conducted by the TVET Unit of the
Department of Education (August 15 and
22, 2017), geared towards equipping them
with the knowledge, skills and competences
to better implement the CVQ. In February,
2017, a similar workshop was held for center
coordinators and facilitators of the Castries
Comprehensive Secondary School and Stanely
Jon Odlum Adult Learning Centers.
FRONT OFFICE SEMINAR
Top: A section of audience
Bottom: Presentations
by Vincent London,
Supervisor, JetBlue
Airways (L) and Cheramie
Warren, Front Desk
Manager, Le Sport Hotel
19

PARTNERSHIP TO IMPROVE CAPACITY
NELU sustained existing partnerships with
private establishments, corporate citizens and
government departments, and forged new
partnerships with other organizations and
establishments. Table 1 shows the partners and
the number of persons who are being trained
in the different areas.
IT UNIT, DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION:
NELP OCCUPIES ICT ACCESS CENTRES
During the year under review, the NELU
strengthened its collaboration with the IT
Unit. Mr. Joshua Vernor, Information System
Manager, needs to be commended for his
advice and for granting the NELU access to
the ICT Access centers in Micoud, Vieux
Fort, Anse La Raye, Garrand and Soufriere
to conduct the NELP. The Unit embraced
the opportunity and felt that it is a positive
move not only to ensure that the ICT Access
and Career Centers are maximized but to
foster interdepartmental collaboration and
give our clientele greater accessibility to skills
Consultation between
Education Officers and
Manager of ICT Access
Centre, Channin Aimable
*Community members not employee
20

training within their immediate community.
Last year saw the implementation of Literacy,
Numeracy and Digital Literacy and Garment
Construction (Basic and Intermediate) courses
at the Vieux Fort ICT Access Centre, a CVQ
Data Operations Level 2 Course and a Basic
Information Technology at the Micoud ICT
Access and Career Centre. These courses are
currently ongoing at these centers.
The NELU started mobilization work in the
communities of Garrand and Anse La Raye to
encourage persons to pursue courses which
would be conducted at the ICT Access centers
but the responses have been very slow. The
Unit shall intensify its campaign.
The Unit continued to run Information
Technology courses at the National ICT Centre
in Castries. The center was also utilized to
facilitate online examination practice sessions,
in May 2017, for NELU learners who were
preparing to sit the 2017 CCSLC Mathematics
and English examinations.
HELP FROM THE CHURCH OF THE
LATTER DAY SAINTS
In a meeting held at the NELU Conference
Room on 4th December, 2017 a team from
the Church of Latter Day Saints has agreed
to partner with the NELU on initiatives to
train persons within and outside of their
congregation and to assist The NELU in
sourcing equipment to facilitate courses.
GRADUATION
In June 2017, the Unit celebrated its learners
by hosting two graduation ceremonies at the
Castries Comprehensive Secondary School
and Mon Repos Primary School under the
themes “Riding the Waves of Change” and
“Conquer all Obstacles: Rise and Shine”
respectively. Learners’ work was showcased
at these ceremonies. A total of six hundred
and eighty-four (684) learners comprising 87
males and 597 females successfully completed
Academic and Technical/ Enrichment courses
during the 2nd
cycle February 2017- June 2017.
Three hundred and nine (309) of these learners
(39 males, 270 females) hailed from the NELU
North Adult Learning Centers (Anglican,
Castries Comprehensive Secondary School,
Stanley Jon Odlum Memorial Secondary
School ) and three hundred and seventy-five
(48 males and 327 females) from the NELU
South Centres (Grande Riviere, Mon Repos,
Patience and Vieux Fort).
CERTIFICATE GIVING CEREMONY
It is approximately 2 years (August, 2015)
since the Windward and Leeward Brewery
Limited (WLBL) South in partnership with the
NELU embarked on an educational journey to
construct “Bridges to Future Ambitions.” This
initiative was conceived in response to the need
to improve the literacy and numeracy skills
and competences of some of the employees.
Fifteen employees who participated in this
programme were awarded certificates of
Achievements in Basic Literacy and Numeracy
Levels 1 to 3 at a Certificate Handing Ceremony
held on November 15, 2017 at the WLBL
Conference Room. In her address Dr. Polius-
Prescott, NELU Education Officer challenged
the beneficiaries to be bridge makers:
Learners, today I challenge you to be
bridge makers since your employer
has provided each one of you with an
opportunity to construct your own
Facilitators attending
ceremony
21

bridge. A bridge that has its solid
foundation in literacy and numeracy.
The strength of your bridge will be
determined by your acquisition of
literacy and numeracy skills, and by the
strategic employment of the knowledge
and deployment of those skills through
your demonstration of positive
attitudes.
I urge you to craft a bridge that would
get you from one point to another safely,
not only in your community, but in your
country and by extension the world. A
bridge that would lead you to freedom,
a bridge that would liberate you. That’s
what education does, that’s what literacy
does. You are expected to build a bridge
that would help elevate your lives and
that of your families, to get you out of
poverty. A bridge so strong that you and
others around you would traverse with
confidence knowing that it would not
crumble, a bridge that would bring you
joy and fulfillment. (Polius-Prescott,
2017)
ENROLMENT
Seven hundred and eighty-four (784) learners
(203 males and 581 females) enrolled in courses
offered during the first cycle which run from
September 2017 to January/ February 2018.
This represents an increase of 13% over the
2nd
cycle, February 2016- June 2017. Courses
entailed:
CONCLUSION
As a Unit we are satisfied with our progress and
achievements during the period under review
and value the support received from the various
departments within the Ministry of Education
and public and private sector organizations.
CVQ
Elder Care
Electrical Installation
Cake Making Decorating (Basic Intermediate)
Child Care
Cosmetology Level 2
Front Office
Floral Arrangement (Basic)
Human Relations
Information Technology (Basic)
Data Operations Level 2
Garment Construction (Basic, Intermediate Advanced)
Pastry Making (Basic Intermediate)
Plumbing
Tiling
CSEC
Mathematics
English
Pre-CSEC
Mathematics
English
CCSLC
Mathematics
English
Basic Literacy Numeracy (Levels 1-3).
Classes were conducted at fourteen (14) Adult
Learning Centre.
22

INNOVATIONFORMULATING LIFE CHANGING SOLUTIONS
Innovation and entrepreneurship are
becoming increasingly relevant in the 21st
century economy and society. Investment
in innovation is crucial for economic growth
and development, as a country’s innovation
performance determines its competitiveness
and national progress in the current global
economy. It is, therefore, important that
through the Department of Innovation, the
government facilitates an environment that
fosters a culture of research, entrepreneurism,
innovation and development by putting
in place the mechanisms to encourage our
citizens to become creative, critical thinkers,
doers and achievers.
The Ministry, this year, intends to
rebrand and transform the Community
Access Centres into Innovation and Career
Development Centres, offering various
programmes that will facilitate innovation
and entrepreneurism. The goal is also to
recognize and facilitate the transition of
innovative ideas into commercial products
and services; to nurture a culture of
creativity, problem solving, innovation and
critical thinking all of which are important
ingredients for entrepreneurism.
Strategic priorities of the Ministry for
2018-2019:
1. Creating programmes for the
sustained use of the Innovation and
Career Development Centres
2. Facilitating entrepreneurship and
employment creation
3. Scanning the environment for
innovative ideas and facilitating their
implementation
4. Campaigning for greater efficiencies
within the public service that are
innovative and result in improvements.
This year an integrated approach was adopted
for the observance of International Women’s
Day (IWD) on March 8th
2018, by creating a
shared space to explore, promote and share
ideas, events and programmes. Organisations
with already planned activities for the
observance of International Women’s Day were
invited to share their ideas and plans with the
intention of sharing resources and reducing the
likelihood of duplication and wastage. Sixteen
departments and other organizations met and
finalized a Calendar of Events with activities
throughout the month of March and extending
into April.
This year’s observance was held under
the theme: “Time is Now: Rural and Urban
Activities Transforming Women’s Lives.” The
campaign theme was #PressForProgress.
Some of the activities included:
»» Day of Prayer (Seventh Day Adventist
Church)
»» Launch of the creation of a virtual safe
space for women (0Herstoire Collective)
GENDER RELATIONS unit
23

»» Young Leaders Forum. Cross cultural
exchange forYoung Leaders from Africa,
America and Caribbean. (Aspire Artemis
Foundation)
»» One-Day Empowerment Seminar for
Women (NOW, CAFRA, SLISBA)
»» Showcase of Rural and Urban
Women Entrepreneurs – Town Hall /
Constitution Park Exhibition (St. Joseph’s
Convent Secondary School; St. Lucia
Network of Rural Women Producers
Department of Gender Relations)
»» Women’s Empowerment Cocktail at
the Royalton Hotel (CAFRA and Aspire
Artemis Foundation)
»» Feature of Saint Lucian women
and girls in Science (Department of
Sustainable Development)
»» Clothes Line Project (Strut for
a Cause Project, TOCO Foundation,
Department of Gender Relations)
»» Exhibition of St. Lucian Female
Writers (St. Lucia Books Blue Coral Mall)
LEGISLATIVE REVIEW
Saint Lucia, like all United Nations members,
has international obligations to uphold human
rights. Saint Lucia has ratified international
conventions ensuring that all persons have
access to and opportunities for participation
in basic services and programs designed for
them. In keeping with the recommendations of
United Nations monitoring agencies for human
rights, the Department of Gender Relations
is pursuing a legislative review. This involves
revision of existing legislation and introduction
of new ones to promote equality and eliminate
all forms of gender discrimination. The
recommended review process is extensive,
but only the most urgent legislation is being
addressed now.
The Department is working along with
Family Court and other agencies to finalize the
changes to the Domestic Violence Bill of 2016
for enactment. This bill updates the Domestic
Violence Proceedings Act of 1994 which
discriminated against victims of domestic
violence who did not live with their abusers.
The Domestic Violence Bill of 2016 addresses
this and makes Domestic Violence a crime
against the State.
The Criminal Code Section 139 on soliciting
of sexual favours in the workplace, is also under
review. In its current form this law is limited to
solicitingbyemployers,notbyfellowemployees.
As such, the onus is on the Human Resource
Department of the organization to act on behalf
of the aggrieved employee. The review seeks
to make sexual harassment in the workplace a
crime against the State. Criminal Code Section
133 is also considered discriminatory against
males as it only criminalizes male engagement
in an act that can be performed by both male
and female.
New legislation will address responsible
paternity; redress for individuals who have
separated from cohabiting relationships; and
non-consensual pornography. The proposed
Responsible Paternity Law will ensure that all
children have established filiation, in particular
to have fathers acknowledge their paternity and
both parents assume complete responsibility
for the upbringing of their children. The
proposed Cohabitational Relationship
Legislation will make provision for the legal
rights and obligations of couples, who are not
married, but live together in a domestic setting,
with respect to property and maintenance.
The proposed legislation to address “Revenge
Porn” or “Non-consensual pornography” will
provide redress to individuals who have had
their rights violated by others who engage in
the unauthorized publishing of nude photos or
sexually explicit images of themselves.
The Department is in the process of
assessing public perception of the proposed
legislation in an effort to inform the intent of
law, for submission to the Attorney General’s
Chambers.
24

PUBLICATION OF RUNNING IN HEELS:
WOMEN AND POLITICS IN SAINT LUCIA
1961 - 2016
The Department of Gender Relations, through
funding from the National Commission for
the United Nations Educational, Scientific
and Cultural Organization (UNESCO),
published a comprehensive historical account
on women’s participation in the political
process in Saint Lucia entitled “Running in
Heels: Women and Politics in Saint Lucia
1961 – 2016.” The book was commissioned
by the Division of Gender Relations as an
International Women’s Day 2017 project.
It was co-authored by Ms. Yasmin Solitahe
Odlum, who also edited the work, and Ms.
Barbara Jacobs Small who was responsible
for project management through her Agency
Right Angle Imaging. The Foreword is written
by Dame Pearlette Louisy, the then Governor
General of Saint Lucia
Running in Heels was launched three
times; at Government House in Saint Lucia on
November 28th
, 2017 under the joint patronage
of the Governor General of Saint Lucia and
the National Commission for the United
Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural
Organization (UNESCO); at the Embassy/
Permanent Mission of Saint Lucia to the OAS
in Washington DC on December 14th
2017
under the patronage of H.E Anton Edmunds,
and by the Saint Lucian Consulate in New York
as the highlight of activities to commemorate
Saint Lucia’s 39th
anniversary of Independence.
Running in Heels treats with the stories of
forty-one women, ten of whom came in for
specialmentionfortheirsingularachievements
in Saint Lucian politics:
Mrs. Heraldine Rock: 1st
woman to hold an
executive position within a political party
(1964), to be elected in parliament in Saint
Lucia and its first female member of Cabinet (in
1974). Hon. Sarah Flood-Beaubrun: 1st
woman
to have won her seat 3
times (1997, 2001, 2016)
and to do so representing
each of the main political
parties. Ms. Menissa
Rambally: Youngest
candidate in any election
in the Commonwealth
and who commandeered
the highest ever female
voting average of 68.68%
in 1997. Hon. Dr. Gale
Rigobert: 1st
female
Leader of the Opposition
(2014) and the only female politician to date
to begin her political career as an Opposition
Member of Parliament. Ms. Alvina Reynolds:
1st
politician to have made history for the
narrowest win of any candidate in a general
25

election in Saint Lucia (2011). Ms. Emma
Hippolyte: Only female politician to have
ever amassed the largest number of votes to
be cast in any constituency (5242) in 2011;
1st
woman to act as Prime Minister in Saint
Lucia. Mrs. Lelia Harracksingh: Longest ever
running female candidate in Saint Lucia, who
has faced the polls unbrokenly from 1997 to
2011 for 4 consecutive general elections in
every possible political capacity: Independent,
Minority and main party candidate and 1st
female Independent candidate. Dr. Morella
Joseph: 1st
woman Political Leader of a party
and led it into a general election in 2001. Mrs.
Jeannine Compton-Antoine: 1st
woman to win
a bye-election in 2007. Mrs. Frances Michel: 1st
woman to co-found a party (1982) - the island’s
1st
third party; and the 1st woman politician to
be made a Senator in Saint Lucia.
The book is available in hard copy and is on
sale at St. Lucia Books. A title has also been
released as an ebook through AuthorHouse
Publishers, and is also available for sale via
all major online book vendors. All proceeds
from the sale of the book go to the Women’s
Support Centre which falls under the aegis of
the Division of Gender Relations.
26

biological diversity
international day for
Under the theme Biodiversity and Sustainable
Tourism, the Department of Sustainable
Development undertook activities to highlight
the importance of biodiversity to the tourism
industry, the current status of sustainable
tourism in Saint Lucia and future opportunities
for encouraging sustainable biodiversity
tourism in the island. On May 22nd
a panel
discussionwasconvenedwiththetheme“What
Does Sustainable Tourism Look Like?” This
brought together partners from the Ministry
of Agriculture (Forestry Division, Fisheries
Division); Ministry of Tourism’s Product
Development Unit, and non-government
partners the Babonneau Youth Synergy and
GIZ; members of the general public and school
students. The discussion revealed several areas
of interest to the development of sustainable
tourism initiatives; namely village tourism
and the impact of the shared economy; the
emerging field of sport and adventure tourism
and the niche market for wellness tours.
Organisers from the Department of
Tourism and the Department of Sustainable
Development planned two biodiversity tours,
one to explore the wonder and excitement
that biodiversity provides and the other for
achieving peace rejuvenation and
wellness among participants:
»» The Choiseul Wellness Tour
(May 2017) experience included
a visit to a local museum
displaying cultural artefacts,
a farm to table tour, cultural
performances and relaxing mini
massages using local essential
oils, all under the impressive
shadow of Petit Piton.
»» The Babonneau Nature Lover Tour
(May 2017) embraced conservation
tourism with participants planting a tree
to stabilise the Isnare River, an important
watershed in Fond Assau. They were
treated to cultural demonstrations of
log sawing and cassava making at Fond
Latisab Creole Park. Marquis Estate was
the final stop on the tour. This former sugar
plantation still retains many impressive
relics including a water wheel which was
said to provide electricity for the area in the
1800s. The tour concluded with a viewing
of the renowned Grande Anse Beach, from
the Des Barras view point. This beach is an
important nesting area for the migratory
turtles who journey back to this site every
year to lay their eggs, as well as the home
of the St. Lucia Iguana and White Breasted
Thrasher, two endemic species, currently
under threat as a result of habitat loss.
Tacklingtourismasathreattobiodiversityand
highlighting means of increasing sustainability
in the tourism sector is a commendable
strategy for biodiversity conservation. Unique
tour packages were designed to appeal to the
nature loving adventurer, as well as the rest,
relaxation and rejuvenation seeker. These tours
can be replicated as examples of conservation
tourism and include initiatives to reduce or
offset environmental impact e.g. adopt a tree
programs and visitor conservation taxes.
This is an area for future exploration and
development under the National Conservation
Fund (NCF), a revolving fund established
under the Caribbean Challenge Initiative as a
source of financing for conservation measures
in protected areas. Saint Lucia recently received
its first endowment and is set to match the
amount before grants can be accessed from the
fund. One proposed means of raising matching
fundsisprovidingtouristsa“conservationpass”
which allows entry into three (3) important
biodiversity attractions. Visitors would receive
an update of conservation activities occurring
as a result of the NCF and a ‘thank you note’ for
their contribution. These packages will appeal
to the environmentally conscious traveller and
ensure that all persons are empowered to serve
as custodians of their environment.
Panel Discussion on
the theme: What Does
Sustainable Tourism look like? -
GIS, Saint Lucia May 2017.
“Biodiversity provides
the backbone for tourism,
healthy food; clean water
and beautiful places
to visit.”
Inspired by Nature, 2017.
28

SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY
CAN OPEN UP THE
GATEWAY TO THE FUTURE
The terms ‘Biodiversity” and
“Biosafety” are becoming
household names in Saint
Lucia. Biodiversity is the variety
of living things and the places
where they live; while biosafety
is a system of laws, regulations and
proceduresforsafeguardingbiodiversity,
particularly from any adverse impacts
of genetically modified organisms
(GMOs) and living-modified organisms
(LMOs). The Department of Sustainable
Development, working in collaboration
with other entities, has made significant
progress towards the implementation of the
Convention on Biological Diversity (CBD) and
its Cartagena Protocol on Biosafety, both of
which aim to conserve and protect biodiversity.
In May 2017, the Cabinet of Ministers
endorsed a Biosafety Policy and authorised
the Attorney General’s Chambers to finalise
the Biosafety Bill and Regulations, aimed at
protecting human health and the environment
from the products of modern biotechnology
(GMOs and LMOs). These legal instruments
will regulate the use and creation of GMOs
and LMOs, through a licensing system. The
Department of Sustainable Development
has also facilitated, through the Ministry
with responsibility for Agriculture, the
establishment of a Biosafety Testing Facility in
Union, with the capacity to detect and analyse
foodstuffs (e.g. for toxicity, allergenicity, and
nutritional content).
Currently, plans are also underway to
ratify and implement the Nagoya Protocol
on Access and Benefit Sharing (ABS). This is
an international Agreement which helps the
country:
»» manage access to its genetic
resources and associated
traditional knowledge; and,
»» provide legal guidance when
sharing any benefits which are
derived from the utilization of
these resources.
TheNagoyaProtocolensuresthat
if Saint Lucia’s unique resources are
used for research or commercialisation,
the entire country would benefit. For
example, if a citizen or community
has a special recipe for reversing the
effects of balding using a native plant, or
whitening teeth using traditional methods,
or if the treatment for cancer is discovered
in an extract taken from a fish found in our
rivers; the Protocol will help to secure this
information and convert it into a viable and
mutually beneficial opportunity. The range of
benefits may be monetary or non-monetary
and may include citation in publications,
support for research projects, investment in
education, royalties and many more.
UNFCCC
COP 23
HIGHLIGHTED
Members of the Saint Lucia delegation to
the twenty-third Conference of the Parties
(COP 23), Bonn, Germany, were very actively
engaged in pushing the Alliance of Small Island
States (AOSIS) and Caribbean Community
(CARICOM) positions in negotiations on the
further development of the Paris Agreement
Work Programme (PAWP). The Work
Programme deals with the development of
a set of rules that will help
countries implement the Paris
Agreement. These have to be
completed and approved by
December 2018.
Likewise, loss and damage
remains dear to the hearts
of Small Island Developing
States (SIDS) and this too,
was under the leadership
of Saint Lucia, in its role as
Working towards the
finalization of PM’s
remarks for the HLS
29

Ms. Dawn Pierre Nathaniel
huddling with Loss and
Damage Colleagues trying
to arrive at consensus
CARICOM and AOSIS
Thematic Coordinator for
loss and damage. Saint
Lucia was very vocal on
mitigation, transparency,
markets, the public
registry and the importance
of the best available science
in informing our implementation of the Paris
Agreement.
This process is slow... almost 200
countries, with different cultures, different
languages, different expectations and
experiences all seeking to get their views heard
and push all others to endorse, so as to arrive
at a consensus as to what goes forward as a
decision. No dice, until every comma is agreed.
FIJI
MOMENTUM
FOR
IMPLEMENTATIONThe Fiji Momentum for Implementation
underscored the importance of keeping the
momentum and continuing to uphold the spirit
and vision of the Paris Agreement, highlighting
the urgency for the completion of the PAWP by
its twenty-fourth session (December 2018). It
comprises:
1. Completion of the work programme
under the Paris Agreement;
2. Talanoa dialogue;
3. Pre-2020 implementation and ambition.
1. COMPLETION OF THE WORK
PROGRAMME UNDER THE PARIS
AGREEMENT
Partiesconfirmedtheirdeterminationtooversee
and accelerate the completion of the PAWP by
its twenty-fourth session (December 2018) and
to forward the outcomes for consideration
and adoption by the Conference of the Parties
serving as the meeting of the Parties to the
Paris Agreement (CMA) in December 2018
(COP 24). The work programme deals with the
development of the set of rules that will help
countries implement the Paris Agreement.
2. TALANOA DIALOGUE
‘Talanoa’ is a traditional approach used in
Fiji and the Pacific to engage in an inclusive,
participatory and transparent dialogue, to
share stories, build empathy and trust. It
will be conducted in a manner that promotes
enhanced ambition and consider, as one of
its elements, the efforts of parties on action
and support, as appropriate, in the pre-
2020 period. A dedicated space will also be
provided in the dialogue, both during the
preparatory and the political phase to facilitate
the understanding of the implications of
the special report by the intergovernmental
panel on climate change on global warming
of 1.5°C.
3. PRE-2020 IMPLEMENTATION AND
AMBITION
Parties emphasized that enhanced pre-2020
ambitioncanlayasolidfoundationforenhanced
post-2020 ambition. There was further
recognition of the commitment undertaken by
developedcountrypartiestoagoalofmobilizing
jointly USD 100 billion annually by 2020 to
address the needs of developing countries in
the context of meaningful mitigation actions
and transparency on implementation. Thus,
biennial high-level ministerial dialogues on
climate finance will be held in 2018 and 2020.
The Talanoa dialogue will also consider, the
efforts of parties in relation to action and
support, as appropriate, in the pre- 2020 period.
The loss and damage decision noted the
concerns raised by Parties on the increasing
frequency and severity of climate-related
disasters that have affected many countries,
including heat waves, drought, floods, tropical
cyclones, dust storms, other extreme weather
events, the increasing impacts associated with
slow onset events, and the urgent need to avert,
minimize and address these impacts. The COP,
among others, agreed to a five-year rolling
work plan of the Executive Committee for the
Warsaw International Mechanism for Loss and
Damage (ExCom WIM), comprising five work
streams on: slow onset events, such as sea level
rise and ocean acidification; comprehensive risk
management, including risk assessment and
transfer (e.g. insurance); non-economic losses,
such as loss of land, culture self, life; human
mobility, including displacement, migration and
planned relocation (recall the case of Barbuda);
30

and action and support (support refers to
finance, technology and capacity building). The
decision also included a call to Parties to make
resources available for the work of the ExCom
and its 5-year rolling work plan including its
expert groups, a call to relevant organisations to
mobilize resources and tools to avert, minimise
and address loss and damage.
There were a number of key decisions
specific to finance, including the Standing
CommitteeonFinance,ReviewoftheFinancial
Mechanism, Budget for the Biennium 2016-
2017 and 2017-2018, the Green Climate Fund
(GCF),theGlobalEnvironmentFacility(GEF)
and the Adaptation Fund, some of which have
special provisions for developing countries in
general or SIDS in particular.
Germany proved itself to be a climate
change leader on many fronts, including, inter
alia, a pledge by German Chancellor, Angela
Merkel, that Germany would double its climate
finance by 2020. She further indicated that
the country would be able to export clean
technology worldwide and it is ready to support
developing countries to go green. Last week,
Germany’s Federal Environment Minister,
Barbara Hendricks, announced support for the
Adaptation Fund with an additional 50 million
euros. A German-led effort, Insuresilience
initiative, also aims to reach 400 million more
climate-vulnerable people with disaster risk
insurance by 2020.
Members of the Saint Lucia delegation also
participated in a number of high-level events,
consistent with Saint Lucia’s goals, including,
inter alia, as follows:
»» Leaders in Island Resilience
»» 2050 Pathways to prosperity and a safe
climate
»» Integrating human rights in climate
action
»» The Ocean Pathway-A Strategy for
the Ocean into COP23-Towards an Ocean
Inclusive UNFCCC Process
»» High Level Roundtable on Food
Security, Nutrition and Fisheries in SIDS in
a Changing Climate
»» SIDS High Level Dialogue on
Strengthening Resilience through Energy
Transformation
»» CARICOM-UNDP Side Event on
Bolstering resilience for vulnerable countries
facing acute climate risks and sustainable
development challenges
»» A presentation on the results of a study
of the impacts of 1.5 vs. 2 degrees in the
Caribbean
»» Policy coherence and joint delivery:
UN System’s support to low-emission and
climate resilient development at the national
level
»» Eastern Caribbean Regional Climate
Change Implementation Plan
»» One Action, Five Outcomes: Aligning
National Actions to Amplify Achievement of
Global Goals
»» Building Resilience through Linkages
between Insurance and Climate Risk
Management
»» Spotlighting ambitious action with focus
on Finance SDG11 (cities), Resilience,
Innovation and SDG2 (hunger)
»» The Global Climate Action Opening at
COP23
»» Meetings of the High Ambition
Coalition (HAC), where Saint Lucia is co-
lead for Ambition
»» Delivery of Statement by Head of State at
High Level Segment
“COP23 delivered on what it set out to do,”
said Laurence Tubiana, CEO, European Climate
Foundation. “We now have the processes in
place to conclude the Talanoa Dialogue and the
Rulebook for Paris at COP 24 in Poland [venue of
COP 24]. There really is no time to lose; we have
been painfully reminded of the urgency to scale
up our collective climate action by the devastating
climate impacts across the world this year.”
In the words of Saint Lucia’s Prime Minister,
Honourable Allen Chastanet, “…this process is
far too slow for us…I call on developed countries
to help SIDS help themselves. We cannot wait till
2020 to see finance to deal with the emergency
situations, build resilience in our countries as far
as possible, and address the loss and damage that
is already occurring …no more excuses, no more
bureaucracy…just urgent action-NOW”.
Alliance of Small Island
States (AOSIS) Meeting:
Minister featured with
Climate Analytics Team
providing legal and
scientific“gratis”advice
31

Responding to the climate
changechallenge
In 2017, the Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL)
continued its efforts to respond to the climate
change challenge and the international call
for climate action under the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) and the Paris Agreement,
consistent with Sustainable Development
Goal (SDG) thirteen (13). The Department of
Sustainable Development (DSD), responsible
for coordinating the Government’s response,
reported progress on a number of initiatives
during the review period, as outlined below:
»» Saint Lucia submitted its Third
National Communication (TNC) to
the UNFCCC as part of its international
obligations as a Party to the Convention.
This highlighted Saint Lucia’s greenhouse
gas (GHG) inventory, a reporting
requirement, despite the negligible
contribution of the island to global
warming that causes climate change. The
TNC also included vulnerability and
adaptation assessments in key sectors;
measures taken and key recommendations
to mitigate and adapt to climate change,
taking into account national circumstances;
gaps and constraints, as well as other
relevant information for the UNFCCC
reporting process. The process leading
to submission of the TNC was a multi-
stakeholder, continuous engagement
process coordinated by the DSD that
commenced in 2013.
»» As part of its continued efforts in
ensuring that the adequate policy and
legislative environment exists to facilitate
the country’s response to climate change
and environmental management in general,
the DSD began the process of reviewing
draft environmental legislation, with
the view to also develop specific climate
change-relevant legislation. The current
work programme of the DSD is quite
varied and includes Renewable Energy,
Climate Change, Chemicals Management,
Engaging stakeholders
to gather information
for Saint Lucia’s
Communication to the
United Nations Climate
Change Conference
Biodiversity, Coastal Zone and Protected
Areas Management; therefore, the need for
the development of such legislation can be
greatly appreciated. Key for consideration
would be the need to avoid duplication
in mandates, while covering relevant
grey areas, especially in light of emerging
developments at the national, regional and
international levels. The development of
this legislation with much support from
the DSD legal Officer and the LDU of the
Attorney General’s Chambers, is critical to
enhancing the effectiveness and efficiency
of the Department in its mandate.
»» The GOSL commenced the process for
the development of a National Adaptation
Plan (NAP). The 10-year Plan identifies
immediate, medium and long-term climate
change adaptation needs, develops and
implements strategies and actions to
address those needs. The Government
also developed Sectoral Adaptation
Strategies and Action Plans (SASAPs) for
the Water, Agriculture and Fisheries sectors
in the first instance (to be completed in
2018), through an extensive consultative
process, noting that a similar exercise was
conducted with the Ministry of Tourism in
2015.
As funding becomes available, SASAPs for
infrastructure and spatial planning; natural
resource management -terrestrial, coastal and
Local journalists from the print and
broadcast media with Government and
other partners
32

marine; health; and education are expected
to be developed. The NAP and associated
plans, are consistent with the provisions of the
UNFCCC and Paris Agreement and provide
the foundation through which finance can
be channelled to the country to implement
climate-relevant, priority programmes,
projects and activities.
As part of the NAP process, the DSD hosted
one session each for Government officials
and journalists in better communicating the
climate change message.
»» Through the Climate Adaptation
Financing Facility (CAFF), Saint Lucian
households and businesses were able to
begin, in 2017, to access financing through
the Saint Lucia Development Bank (SLDB),
under the Disaster Vulnerability Reduction
Project (DVRP), to reduce climate-related
risks.
The CAFF, focused on adaptation, is
designed to pilot an innovative financing
mechanism to promote increased climate
resilience among households and businesses
in Saint Lucia. The CAFF offers concessional
loans and other financial services to finance
investments and activities for resilience
building of assets and livelihoods to adverse
weather events. Loans, with interest rates
as low as 4.5%, allow eligible households
and businesses to obtain support to: finance
investments such as rainwater harvesting
systems; improve drainage; strengthen
roofs and windows; undertake solar power
generation; construct irrigation systems; and
embark on other climate adaptation measures.
The DSD of the GOSL, in collaboration with
the Nationally Determined Contribution
Partnership Support Unit (NDCP-SU)
and a number of key partners, such the
OECS Commission, Germany’s Agency for
International Cooperation (GIZ), and the
SLDB takes to the Constitution Park to
provide the citizenry with an opportunity
to apply for loans from the low-interest
Climate Adaptation Financing Facility
Donors and partners
with Government
representatives for
Regional NDC Investment
Forum preparatory
meeting for the Caribbean
UNFCCC, hosted a Regional NDC Investment
Forum Preparatory Meeting for the Caribbean
in September 2017. Through NDCs, consistent
with the Paris Agreement, countries put
forward their intentions in the context
of their own national circumstances,
capabilities and priorities, with the ambition
to reduce GHG emissions.
The overarching goal of the Investment
Forum is to mobilise the financial resources
needed to achieve low GHG emission, climate-
resilient sustainable development in the
Caribbean region, through public and private
investment in NDC-related development
projects including, but not limited to:
»» Renewable energy
»» Enhancing energy efficiency, mainly in
the building sector
»» Sustainable transport solutions
»» Sustainable water management
»» Agriculture and forestry
»» Building resilience and adaptation
The 2018 Investment Forum seeks to address
development requirements for target sectors,to
advance the development of the region in line
with the objectives of the 2030 SDGs and the
Paris Agreement.
Planned well ahead of the devastating two
Category 5 hurricanes to hit the Caribbean in
2017,theDSDhostedaseminarforcontractors,
Engineers, contractors,
architects and other
artisans gather to discuss
best building practices in an
era of climate change
33

Dr. David Evers,
Consultant with the
Biology Research Institute,
presenting the results of
the mercury-in-fish study
at the National MIA Results
Validation Workshop
held on October 25, 2017,
Castries, Saint Lucia
architects, engineers, and other artisans
involved in the general construction industry.
This well-attended seminar held in September
2017, gathered professionals involved in the
construction industry to facilitate buy-in into
the concept of designing and constructing
infrastructure to better withstand weather-
related events, at a time when climatologists
forecast worst storms, droughts, and floods.
SAFEGUARDING OUR HEALTH,
FOOD AND ECOSYSTEMS
Recognising that chemicals and hazardous
wastes have poisoned water and land for
decades when dumped indiscriminately,
spilled accidentally or managed improperly
and that pollution does not respect borders,
the Department of Sustainable Development
(DSD), in 2017, continued its efforts to lead
and coordinate the national implementation
of international agreements aimed at reducing/
managing pollution from chemicals and wastes
with the support of key agencies.
The sound management of chemicals and
wastes is a key crosscutting factor for achieving
the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),
including amongst others, achieving food
security (SDG Goal 2), ensuring good health
and promoting well-being (Goal 3) and
ensuring water and sanitation for all (SDG
Goal 6). The Department has a lead role in
coordinating the achievement of these goals
by promoting synergies between multilateral
environmental agreements (MEAs) and
national sectoral strategies and action plans.
Over the last year, several initiatives were
undertaken:
Development of a National Minamata
Initial Assessment (MIA): The Minamata
Convention on Mercury is the newest
International Agreement related to pollution
from chemicals and wastes and entered into
force on August 16, 2017. Saint Lucia, through
the DSD, has sent a strong
signal to the international
community of its intention
to accede (i.e. become a
Party) to the Convention.
The Convention is the first
global Agreement specifically
designed to address
contamination from a heavy
metal(mercuryorquicksilver).
Under the Minamata Convention, individual
countries are charged with protecting human
health and the environment from the risks of
mercuryexposure,bysystematicallycontrolling
mercury emissions and releases, including
phasing out the use of mercury in certain
products and processes. In order to support
the decision-making process towards accession
to the Convention, analysis of mercury sources
and releases into the environment, as well as
an assessment of the national and institutional
framework to support implementation of the
Convention’s obligations, was launched on
March 13, 2017 and completed in December
2017. A rapid assessment of locally consumed
fish for mercury levels was also completed. The
findings have been presented and validated by
the National Working Group, a core group of
national stakeholders, representing different
sectors. The findings of these assessments have
supported knowledge building on the extent
of local mercury pollution and will support
sound decision-making for accession to the
Convention and national activities needed to
effectively manage mercury within our borders.
»» Development and Implementation of
a Sustainable Management Mechanism
for Persistent Organic Pollutants (POPs):
January 30, 2017 saw the launch of
the regional project “Development
and Implementation of a Sustainable
Management Mechanism for POPs in the
Caribbean” in Saint Lucia. This five-year
project funded by the Global Environment
Facility (GEF), seeks to strengthen the
capacity of participating countries (Antigua
and Barbuda, Bahamas, Belize, Saint Lucia,
St. Kitts and Nevis, St. Vincent and the
Grenadines, and Trinidad and Tobago)
to deal with the impacts of POPs and
unintentionally produced POPs. POPs are
a group of chemicals (mainly agrochemicals
and industrial chemicals) which are toxic,
long-lasting, and accumulate in the food
chain. As a result of these properties, these
chemicals have adverse effects on human
health and ecosystems if not properly
regulated and managed.
As Party to the Stockholm Convention
on Persistent Organic Pollutants, Saint
Lucia is required to develop a plan for the
implementation of its obligations under the
Convention and to continuously review and
34

update this plan as new chemicals are added
to the annexes of the Convention. These
plans are known as National Implementation
Plans (NIPs) and Saint Lucia is currently
working towards updating its NIP to include
12 additional POPs which have been added
to the Convention. Prior to the NIP update
process, an inventory of the various sources
and quantities of POPs released in Saint Lucia
was completed in May, 2017.
Phasing out ozone depleting substances
(ODS) - As Party to the Montreal Protocol
on Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer,
Saint Lucia is continuing its efforts to phase-
out the consumption and use of ODS by 2030,
in particular, hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFCs). HCFCs are chemicals that are
mainly used as refrigerants, typically found
in either a fluid or gaseous state that can
provide refrigeration or air conditioning.
Unfortunately, releases of HCFCs deplete
the Earth’s protective ozone layer and, like
their counterpart, the hydrofluorcarbons or
HFCs, contribute to climate change; hence the
decision to eliminate their use globally. Saint
Lucia is eager to ratify the Kigali Amendment
to the Montreal Protocol, which was adopted
in October 2016, as this will help contribute
to the overall reduction in emissions of one of
the most powerful global-warming agents, the
HFCs.
Through specific interventions, such as
the enforcement of the HCFC-licencing and
quota system, the banning of new imports of
equipment using HCFCs, training of Customs
Officers to monitor the trade in HCFCs, and
training of technicians in good refrigeration
management practices, Saint Lucia has
managed to significantly reduce its national
consumption of HCFCs by almost 38% in 2016
(compared to 2009/2010 levels), and will soon
join the global effort to phase-out HFCs under
the Kigali Amendment.
THE KIGALI AMENDMENT- A DEAL TO
CURB POTENT GREENHOUSE GASES
The Parties to the Montreal Protocol on
Substances that Deplete the Ozone Layer
unanimously adopted the Kigali Amendment
on October 15, 2016, paving the way for the
reduction of powerful greenhouse gases called
hydrofluorocarbons (HFCs). Globally, this
move has been hailed as the single largest
step made thus far towards meeting the goal
of keeping global warming well below 2°C
above pre-industrial levels, while pursuing
efforts towards keeping it below 1.5°C, a key
commitment made by countries in the 2015
Paris Agreement on climate change. The Kigali
Amendment is seen as crucial to mitigating
climate change as it is expected to prevent up to
0.5°C of global temperature increase by the end
of the century.
PROBLEM WITH HFCS
Hydrofluorocarbons, or HFCs, are chemical
substances which are commonly used in air
conditioners, refrigerators, aerosols, foams
and other products. They were introduced as
substitutes for commonly used ozone depleting
refrigerants such as chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) and hydrochlorofluorocarbons
(HCFCs), which are being phased out under
the Montreal Protocol. However, what was
meant as a solution to the problem of ozone
depletion, soon became another major global
threat, as HFCs are powerful greenhouse gases,
contributing to climate change.
Globally, HFCs are among the fastest
growing greenhouse gases and as developing
Technicians receive training in good
refrigeration management practices,
recovery, recycling and retrofitting-
November 25, 2017
Customs Officers receive
training in the use of
refrigerant identifiers to
aid in the monitoring of
refrigerant imports- June
27, 2017
35

world incomes grow and urbanisation
advances, power consumption for air
conditioning alone is forecasted to surge 33-
fold by the end of the century1
. This is likely
to put a setback on targets for curbing global
warming if left unchecked.
It is estimated that limiting the use of HFCs
under the Montreal will prevent the emissions
of up to 105 million tonnes of carbon dioxide
equivalent of greenhouse gases, helping to avoid
up to 0.5°C of global temperature rise by 2100.
While this may seem as a small difference, the
wider potential climate benefits are tremendous,
including improvements in energy efficiency of
air-conditioners and other appliances.
SO WHAT IS SAINT LUCIA DOING?
2017 marked the 30th
anniversary since the
adoption of the Montreal Protocol. The Protocol
has contributed to the phase-out of almost 98%
of ozone depleting substances (ODS) globally.
Saint Lucia has contributed to this effort by
successfully phasing out the consumption of a
major group of ODS called chlorofluorocarbons
(CFCs) in 2008, and through current action
towards the phase-out of a second group of
ODSs, namely, HCFCs. Under the Montreal
Protocol, developing country parties are
obligated to completely phase-out their
consumption of HCFCs by 2030, following a
stepwise pattern. Saint Lucia has managed
to phase-out the consumption of HCFCs by
38% compared to 2009/2010 levels. This is
a remarkable achievement as the Montreal
Protocol set a target for developing countries of
a 35% reduction by 2020.
Key to this achievement has been the:
»» diligent enforcement of the HCFC
licensing and quota system and the training
of customs officers in that regard;
»» training of refrigeration and air-
conditioning technicians in good
refrigeration and air conditioning
management practices; and,
»» promotion of ozone and climate
friendly alternative technologies.
As it relates to the Kigali Amendment, Saint
Lucia’s Minister for Sustainable Development,
Hon. Dr. Gale T. C. Rigobert, has expressed
the country’s intention to ratify the Kigali
Amendment to the Montreal Protocol. In
response to this, the Government of Saint Lucia
has secured funding from the Multilateral Fund
(MLF) for the Implementation of the Montreal
Protocol to implement enabling activities
towards ratification of the amendment by the
end of 2018.
36

37
Given Saint Lucia’s wealth of biological
diversity, it is imperative that there are
effective monitoring and management regimes
implemented with a view of ensuring high-
quality reporting to the United Nations
Convention on Biological Diversity (UNCBD)
and also, an evidence-based approach to
sustainable development on the island.
Likewise, each Party to the United Nations
Framework Convention on Climate Change
(UNFCCC) is required to produce ‘National
Communications’ which outline both the
state of affairs for climate change in the given
country and progress that has been made
with respect to key indicators. The United
Nations Convention to Combat Desertification
(UNCCD) requires reporting on the status of
land in the country and how degradation is
being countered with sustainable land use
practices.
The Government of Saint Lucia (GOSL),
as Party to these Conventions or Multilateral
Environmental Agreements (MEAs), is
working assiduously towards strengthening
the island’s environmental information
systems. Under the ‘Increase Saint
Lucia’s Capacity to Monitor Multilateral
Environmental Agreements Implementation
and Sustainable Development Project’, the
Department of Sustainable Development,
as the Executing Agency, is facilitating the
coordination of environmental information.
The main output of this Global Environment
Facility (GEF) initiative, with additional
support from the United Nations Environment
Program (UN Environment), is the design and
establishment of a fully operational National
Environmental Information System (NEIS) for
improved reporting and monitoring.
Each one of the aforementioned MEAs has
a series of indicators that relate to broader
Strengthening Saint Lucia’s
ENVIRONMENTAL INFORMATION SYSTEMS
and MULTILATERAL ENVIRONMENTAL
AGREEMENTS reporting
Members of the Project
Steering Committee (PSC)
at the 4th PSC meeting,
April 2017
policy goals and objectives, and whose
periodic production will be based upon data
and information managed through this
NEIS. Currently, several government agencies
generate data regularly; however, this data is
often inaccessible due to limitations of existing
mechanisms for sharing of this data among
agencies to facilitate easier reporting and
better evidence-based decision making. Saint
Lucia’s first NEIS includes a Common Data
Storage Facility (CDSF), which will serve as a
supporting and foundation tool for agencies
who have data collection activities as part of
their operational mandates. The Department of
Sustainable Development has engaged agencies
responsible for information management
to become signatories to a Memorandum of
Schematic overview of the
reporting process to the MEAs

38
Understanding (MOU) that will facilitate their
collaboration in data collection and sharing, to
further common goals and agency mandates.
The Minister with responsibility for the
Department of Sustainable Development,
Honourable Dr. Gale T.C. Rigobert, in
underscoring the commitment of the
Department to successfully implement an
efficient and sustainable mechanism, which
will meet the information and data sharing
needs of all Stakeholder Agencies, asserted that
“the development of such a system will, inter
alia, serve as a supporting tool for reporting on
MEAs and the translation of data into useful
and actionable information.”
Project Coordinator, Francesco Gaetani
of the UN Environment Regional Office
for Latin America and the Caribbean, as
the Implementing Agency, says with “the
introduction of the ‘Increase Saint Lucia’s
Capacity to Monitor MEAs Implementation
and Sustainable Development Project’, Saint
Lucia can strengthen the way we report on
the state of the environment”. The project
will allow institutions to coordinate and adopt
legal frameworks that will aid the production
and sharing of their data and hopes that the
project can be replicated soon in neighbouring
Caribbean countries”.
As Party and signatory to MEAs, the GOSL
must report on the sustainable use of its natural
resources, and efforts to reduce the negative
impacts on the environment. The NEIS will
benefit the GOSL greatly as the system will
make it easier to report, monitor and integrate
environmental concerns into existing work
programs. The general public will also be able
to access data on the country’s biodiversity,
climate change effects and land desertification
by searching key phrases as the NEIS will have
an online portal for viewing or downloading
in various formats such as: images, maps,
tables, graphs and links to documents.
Despite challenges relating to engaging
a large number of key stakeholders to work
together, including government agencies,
private sector and non-governmental
organizations, Project Manager, Teshia Jn
Baptiste, reports of an increased willingness of
agencies to cooperate and address information
and data management issues in Saint Lucia.
A Group of Workshop
Participants

Ministry of Education end of Year Review (2017-2018)

Ministry of Education end of Year Review (2017-2018)

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