2. Introduction
Following a long, challenging and testing
campaign, and three (3) full days of the recount of
ballots, Emma Hippolyte emerged victorious on 2nd
December, 2011, to represent the people of Gros
Islet in the most honourable house – the House of
Parliament.
Jubilation After Emma Hippolyte was Declared
Winner of the Constituency of Gros Islet
Since then, Hon Hippolyte has taken on the mantle
of delivering quality representation to her
constituents based on the promises made in her
Manifesto. Then, she proposed a ten year plan
which she put into effect from her first day in
office.
The task of delivering as Parliamentary
Representative has had its challenges, however,
the Hon Minister is undaunted and remains
resolute in her mission to fulfil the promises made
during her campaign. The large population and
sheer size of the Gros Islet Constituency (the
largest constituency in Saint Lucia) has not
deterred her from attempting to meet the needs of
all constituents. This has demanded tremendous
energy, fortitude, time, dedication, patience and
diligence from Hon Emma Hippolyte and her team;
nonetheless, she has maintained contact and good
relations with the constituents of Gros Islet,
through dedicated, committed representation.
As a God-fearing, devoted Christian, Emma
Hippolyte worships with her constituents at all
denominations – Roman Catholic, Seventh Day
Adventist, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Baptist,
Anglican, Methodist, etc. She takes an interest in
the lives of the people she serves by rejoicing in
their successes, sympathising in their times of great
loss, visiting the sick and shut-in and sharing candid
moments at the supermarket.
Hon Emma Hippolyte has worked assiduously to
ensure that there has been overall improvement in
the constituency, especially in the areas of youth
development and sports, rehabilitation and
reconstruction of infrastructure, housing,
healthcare, people empowerment and cultural and
economic development. Moreover, the Minister,
along with her Cabinet colleagues, has
implemented necessary social reforms which have
had positive impacts on the lives of the citizens of
Gros Islet and Saint Lucia. These include:
The Home Help Programme,
The After-School Programme,
The National Initiative to Create Employment
(NICE),
The Single Mothers In Life Empowerment
(SMILE) Project,
The Holistic Opportunities for Personal
Empowerment (HOPE) Project,
The Short Term Employment Programme
(STEP),
The Project for the Rationalisation of
Unplanned Development (PROUD),
The Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurial
Program (YAEP), as well as other programmes
aimed at ensuring human resource
development, economic improvement and
progress in culture and community
empowerment.
These could have only been achieved with your
support, patience and cooperation.
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Emma Cares
Our Journey thus far!!!
Infrastructure
Demands for new infrastructure and
improvement to existing structures in the
Constituency of Gros Islet are great and
continuous. Unfortunately, funding for
infrastructural projects do not match those
demands and the Minister has had to make very
tough decisions to satisfy dire needs. Whether it is
repairing, rehabilitating or reconstructing the
infrastructure, there is always the challenge of
finding funds for these construction efforts. The
issue of limited funds and funding agencies tends
to mask an equally important requirement—the
need to develop a rational basis for making far‐
reaching decisions about the required degree of
rehabilitation, replacement or construction. In
Gros Islet, Hon Hippolyte has developed a system
to guide these decisions based on evaluations of
life‐cycle considerations and costs; because these
evaluations influence the entire useful life of the
project and determine its true total cost to the
public.
Street Lamps: The comfort and
safety of constituents remain a priority of the
Parliamentary Representative and as such, she
undertook the Gros Islet Lighting Project in which
she engaged the Saint Lucia Electricity Service
(LUCELEC) to effect the installation of street lamps
throughout the constituency between 2012 and
2013. This was especially impactful in Cap Estate
where the issue of security was a huge concern to
the residents.
This project, which was suspended to allow
LUCELEC to transition to Light Emitting Diodes
(LED) lighting, happily recommenced in May 2016.
With the installation of about 120 street lamps,
many more residents throughout the constituency
will benefit from this irradiating project.
Bridges: The structural integrity of bridges
in Saint Lucia were certainly put to the test in
October 2010 when the country was ravaged by
Hurricane Tomas. Since then, incidents like the
Christmas Eve Trough and several other weather-
related disasters have undermined, and in some
cases, destroyed our bridges. Gros Islet has not
been immune to this, thus Hon Hippolyte has
successfully reinforced and constructed the
bridges at Bonne Terre, Bois d’Orange, Assou Canal
and Monchy. Remedial work was also done on the
Choc Bridge.
The Bonne Terre Bridge
A thorough investigation of the Bonne Terre Bridge
revealed that the Armco pipes which formed part
of the initial construction of the said bridge had
outlived their useful life. This resulted in persistent
flooding during heavy downpours and subsequent
failure of the road carriage.
The Bonne Terre Bridge Before Construction.
A new bridge was constructed to facilitate the high
volume of water produced during heavy rainfall,
storms and hurricanes. Consistent with the
government’s plans, the new bridge consists four
(4) lanes to accommodate anticipated future traffic
volume. It is expected to protect homes situated
along the Bonne Terre Ravine in the event of
flooding. It also hoped that it will create a sense of
comfort in the minds of those traversing the route.
It has a projected life span of 120 years and will
undergo periodic routine maintenance.
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The Bonne Terre Bridge After Construction
The Bois d’Orange Bridge
Work on the Bois d’Orange Bridge was
commissioned after the old bridge suffered severe
structural damage due to debris carried by the
floodwaters of Hurricane Tomas in 2010.
Although emergency repair works were performed
on the collapsed section of the roadway following
the passage of the hurricane, the Government of
Saint Lucia determined that the bridge had to be
replaced for the safety of commuters. Therefore,
funding for the construction of the bridge was
secured from the World Bank as part of the
Disaster Relief Fund. Construction commenced in
October, 2013.
The Bois d’Orange Bridge after Hurricane Tomas
in 2010
The Bois d’Orange Bridge Just Before Construction
in 2013
The Bois d’Orange Bridge After Construction
Similar to the Bonne Terre Bridge, the newly
constructed Bois d’Orange Bridge will operate as a
two-lane roadway, although it was built to
accommodate four-lane traffic consistent with
future road infrastructure plans for the northern
highway. This 18-meter, single span, composite
steel and concrete structure is supported on
reinforced concrete piles.
The Choc Bridge
The Choc Bridge started to collapse as a result of
the2013 Christmas Eve Trough. The bridge was
closed for a short period during 2014 to allow for
remedial work.
The Choc Bridge Before Remedial Work was Done
on It
The Assou Canal Bridge
The Assou Canal Bridge was completely destroyed
during Hurricane Tomas. Construction on the
Bridge began in 2014 and it is expected to be
opened to the public by the end of June, 2016.
The Assou Canal Bridge During Construction
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The Almost Completed Assou Canal Bridge
Roads: Roads are clearly a critical enabling
condition for improving living standards,
connecting people, providing access to essential
services and building communities and is a gateway
to economic development. For these reasons, Hon.
Emma Hippolyte placed significant emphasis in
restoring and rehabilitating roads and drains in the
entire constituency. Some of these funded by the
Government of Saint Lucia while others were
funded by the Taiwanese funds. These projects are
as follows:
1. The Constituency Development
Programme (CDP)
A1:
Bonne Terre – Bougainvillea Drive
Road and Drains
Cas En Bas
Drainage Works
Cas En Bas – Fostin Development
Road and Drains
Gros Islet Town – Cemetery Road
Road and Drains
Gros Islet Town – Dauphin and Marina Streets
Sidewalks and Grills
Cas En Bas – Italian Guests House Road
Road and Drain
A2:
Desrameaux
Drainage Works
Monchy – Hunter J Francois Drive
Road and Drain
Monchy
Drainage Works
Monchy – Cletus Drive
Road and Drains
Caye Manage
Drainage Works
Caye Manage – Cedar Heights Drive
Road and Drains
Caye Manage link to Bonne Terre – Charles
Monoco Drive Road and Drains
Monchy – La Refrain Road
Road and Drain
A3:
Assou Canal
Road and Drain
Inglewoods
Side Walks and Steps
Monier – Croton Drive
Road and Drains
Monier
Roads and Drains
Degazon
Drains
Piat – Fostin Development
Roads and Drains
Grande Riviere – near Prince Supermrket
Road and Drain
Grande Riviere – Deewee Doo Road
Road and Drain
Grande Riviere – near Corinth Secondary School
Road and Drain
Grande Riviere – opposite Roman catholic Church
Road and Drains
A4:
Marisule – Belle Vue Drive
Drainage Works
Corinth – Main Road
Road and Drains
Bonaire
Roads and Drains
Marisule – Tool Rental Road
Road
Marisule – Parrot’s Hideaway Road
Road and Drain
Marisule – Road leading to the Beach
Road and Drain
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Rehabilitation of Residential Road in Bonaire
Rehabilitation of the Deewee Doo Road in Grande
Riviere
Rehabilitation of the Hunter J. Francois Drive in La
Feuille
This road was named in honour of a great sun of
the soil, pictured here – Hunter J. Francois
2. The Ministry of Infrastructure
A1:
Bonne Terre, Peewee Drive
Road and Drain
Beausejour Gardens,
Roads and Drain
Beausejour Phase 2
Eight Roads and Drain
Fostin Development, Cas En Bas
Road and Drain
A2:
Beverly Hills, Riviere Mitant
Road and Drain
A3:
Degazon
Road and Drain
After the last heavy rains in November 2015, the La
Bourne/Dauphin Road was backfilled in order for
persons to gain access to their homes.
Residential Road in
Fostin Development in
Cas En Bas Before
Rehabilitation
Residential Road in
Fostin Development in
Cas En Bas After
Rehabilitation
Pewee Drive in Bonne
Terre Before
Rehabilitation
Pewee Drive in Bonne
Terre After
Rehabilitation
Beverly Hills in Riviere
Mitant Road Before
Rehabilitiation
Beverly Hills in Riviere
Mitant After
Rehabilitation
Causeway in La Bourne
After the Heavy Rain in
November, 2015
Causeway at La Bourne
During the Backfilling
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Road at Trouya Before
Rehabilitation
Road at Trouya After
Rehabilitation
Planning for development is one of the most
important functions of any government. With the
increase in population in the north of the island,
particularly in Gros Islet, the Government of Saint
Lucia, under the leadership of Hon. Dr. Kenny D.
Anthony, commissioned the extension of the four-
lane highway from the roundabout at Choc, to the
junction of the Gros Islet town.
In 2015, the Hon. Prime Minister signed a $48
Million loan for the repairs of several side roads in
the Constituency to accommodate traffic during
the upgrading of the Castries/Gros Islet Highway.
Commuters’ patience will be tested no doubt,
hence, the Parliamentary Representative for Gros
Islet is urging commuters to plan their journeys
with care and give the project all the cooperation
that is needed. The repairs of the side roads will
result in an improved road network throughout the
Constituency as well as provide much needed jobs
for the residents, thereby contributing to economic
growth. These by-pass roads include:
1. Castries, Gros Islet – Beausejour – Beausejour
Bella Rosa (JAG) = 0.3km
2. Bella Rosa, Bonne Terre – Bonne Terre Monchy
= 2.7km
3. Bonne Terre – Monchy to Monchy – Vieux
Secrieux = 0.8km
4. Monchy – Vieux Secrieux – Norbert, Corinth =
3.1km
5. Beausejour (JAG) – Bella Rose = 0.21km
6. Union, Grande Riviere – Choc Roundabout =
1.5km
7. Union, Grande Riviere – Grande Riviere Bridge
= 2.0km
8. Grande Riviere Bridge – Norbert, Corinth =
1.2km
9. Corinth, Marisule – Norbert, Corinth = 1.5km
10. Corinth, Bois d’Orange – Norbert, Corinth =
1.9km
11. Monchy, Bois d’Orange – Monchy, Vieux
Secrieux = 0.8km
12. Aquatic Center – Monchy = 1.2km
13. Bonne Terre Access Road (near bridge) =
0.35km
14. Castries, Gros Islet (Marina) – Bella Rosa,
Bonne Terre = 0.25km
Total 17.81km
As part of the four-lane highway extension
feasibility study, Hon Hippolyte has requested that
a Gros Islet Bus Terminal and Market be included
to service the many residents who live and work
around the constituency. Presently, three major
bus routes exist – 1A, which transports people
along the Castries-Gros Islet Highway to the town
of Gros Islet; 1D, which transports people from
Castries to Grande Riviere and environs; and 1E,
which services the residents of Monchy and
environs.
Due to the fact that Gros Islet is an economic
centre with many businesses, hotels, etc. which
employs thousands of people from the north, it is
necessary to establish a transportation route which
will take residents directly to Gros Islet. Presently,
commuters have to take two buses (and
sometimes more) from communities like Piat,
Desrameaux and Caye Mange to get to work, go to
the supermarket and access recreational areas in
Rodney Bay and Gros Islet – this is expensive.
Therefore, the Parliamentary Representative will
continue working toward establishing this Bus
Terminal and Market to provide more comfortable
and affordable commute within the constituency
and facilitate the establishment of small businesses
where people can earn a living.
Drains and Culverts: A
number of culverts and drains were rehabilitated
and in some cases, larger culverts were
constructed to withstand the great capacity of
water during heavy rains and alleviate the problem
of flooding.
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Demolition of Old
Drain in Corinth
Construction of New
Drain in Corinth
Drain in La Retraite
Before Construction
Drain in La Retraite
After Construction
Construction of Box
Culvert in Bois d’Orange
in Progress
Construction of Box
Culvert in Bois
d’Orange
In November, 2015, emergency work had to be
undertaken on the Castries-Gros Islet Highway
near the J.Q. Rodney Bay Mall as a result of a
collapsed culvert which occurred almost overnight.
The Government had to construct a new box
culvert which cost approximately EC$1.9 Million.
Collapsed Culvert near
J.Q. Rodney Bay Mall
Rodney Bay Culvert
During Construction
Rodney Bay Culvert
During Construction
Rodney Bay Culvert
Near Completion
Potholing: The Ministry of
Infrastructure undertook potholing work in every
community in the Constituency. Here is an
example:
Potholing Work in
Progress in Assou Canal
Road in Assou Canal
after potholing work
Grills: The Government has spent a
considerable amount on the fabrication and
placement of grills in Bonaire, Assou Canal, Grande
Riviere, Trouya, Gros Islet, Monchy, Top of the
World, Marisule, Bois d’Orange and Rodney Bay.
Work in Progress
Replacing Grill near
Choc Hill
Replacement of Grill
near Choc Hill
Damaged Grill in
Grande Riviere
Grill Replacement in
Grande Riviere
Damaged Grill on Bay
Street, Gros Islet Town
Replacement of
Damaged Grill on Bay
Street, Gros Islet Town
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Retaining Walls: A number of
retaining walls were built in Bonne Terre, Union,
Assou Canal and Degazon which cost the
Government well over EC$400,000.00
Construction of Retaining Wall in Norbert in
Progress
Construction of Retaining Wall and Drain in
Pomsitere Drive Bonne Terre
Construction of Retaining Wall in Union in
Progress
Assou Canal River Before Construction of
Retaining Wall
Construction of gabion basket retaining wall in
Assou Canal
Before the
Construction of
Retaining Wall and
Drainage in Degazon
After the Construction
of Retaining Wall and
Drainage in Degazon
Safety Enhancement
Project:
1. De-bushing
Through the STEP programme, the
Government has done extensive de-
bushing work in the Constituency to
ensure that bush does not encroach on
roads which could cause hazards to both
motorists and pedestrians. Hundreds of
persons (men and women of all ages) were
employed in this endeavour, with all
communities from Cap Estate to Rodney
Bay to Vieux- Sucre benefitted from this
very important project.
Area in White Rock
Before De-Bushing
Area in White Rock
After De-Bushing
2. Sidewalks
During 2014, the Ministry of Infrastructure
collaborated with the St Lucia Hotel and
Tourism Association (SLHTA) to construct
the sidewalk near the Rodney Bay Marina.
The IGY Rodney Bay Marina is a port of
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entry for many visitors to the island. Since
our economy is tourist-based, it is
necessary for us to ensure the safety of
visitors who grace our shores. Therefore,
sidewalks were built by the SLHTA to make
the area safer for pedestrians.
Near IGY Rodney Bay
Marina Before
Construction of
Sidewalks
Constructed Sidewalk
Near IGY Rodney Bay
Marina
Construction of Sidewalk Near IGY Rodney Bay
Marina
In Gros Islet town as well, the rehabilitation of
sidewalks were one of the first CDP projects
undertaken by the Parliamentary Representative.
The previous sidewalks were broken, unsightly and
unsafe and posed a threat to the residents of Gros
Islet and patrons of the weekly Gros Islet Friday
Night Street Party. Therefore, the Parliamentary
Representative prioritised this project and
facilitated its completion in time for the Saint Lucia
Jazz and Arts Festival 2013.
Construction of Sidewalks in Gros Islet Town
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HEALTHCARE
Throughout her campaign in 2011, Hon.
Emma Hippolyte crusaded for good healthcare for
Saint Lucians. She actively participated in the
Universal Healthcare (UHC) Programme as the
Chair of the Steering Committee. Her passion for
people translated into her approach to healthcare
thus it was the cornerstone of her campaign.
In keeping with her passion, Hon. Hippolyte has
hosted a health fair on the anniversary of her
victory since 2012. She lobbied for the
refurbishment of the Gros Islet Polyclinic and this
was achieved in 2013. In addition, the Polyclinic
now has a fully-equipped dental unit with state of
the art equipment allowing residents of the North
access to better oral and dental healthcare.
Most notably, the Minister worked vociferously for
the extension of the opening hours at the Poly
Clinic, and since this has been achieved, emergency
services and a wide range of health services has
been extended to the general public.
Gros Islet Polyclinic
Fully-Equipped Dental Unit at the Gros Islet
Polyclinic with State of the Art Equipment
Constituents getting Tested at the Annual Health
Fair
Health Practitioners Participating in the Health
Fair
The Parliamentary Representative is pleased that
Universal Healthcare (UHC) features prominently
in the Saint Lucia Labour Party’s Fifteen-Point Plan
and looks forward to the fulfilment of this
campaign promise.
Rodent Eradication: In 2012,
the Parliamentary Representative partnered with
the Ministry of Health, the Saint Lucia Social
Development Fund (SSDF) and the Gros Islet
Constituency Council to launch a baiting exercise
dubbed “Rodent Eradication” which was carried
out throughout the constituency in order to rid the
Constituency of the rodent problem. This project
was deemed a huge success, particularly by the
residents and business owners of Rodney Bay.
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HOUSING
The Government of St. Lucia, facilitated
through the Hon. Emma Hippolyte, undertook the
construction of forty-two (42) affordable housing
units located in the Monchy Residential
Development. This was executed through the St.
Lucia National Housing Corporation (SLNHC).
Twenty (20) families from Conway, Castries were
relocated to the development while 22 of these
houses were available for sale.
Affordable Housing Units at the Monchy
Residential Development
Additionally, sixty-two (62) service lots were
developed for sale in Trouya. Persons who
previously occupied the lands were given the
opportunity to own their plot and the balance of
the land will be available for sale.
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COMMUNITY
DEVELOPMENT &
EMPOWERMENT
Hon Hippolyte firmly believes that
community development activities build stronger
and more resilient communities. She also believes
that our people must be empowered and must be
involved in decisions affecting the community,
working shoulder to shoulder with the
Parliamentary Representative in order for true
development to occur.
It is through this process of enabling communities
to take charge of the development of the
community, sustainable development will be
achieved. In order for this to happen, there must
be collaboration and empowerment resulting in
significant economic returns and social benefits.
Human Resource
Development Centres: Upon
assuming office in 2011, the Parliamentary
Representative inherited an incomplete Human
Resource Development Centre in Gros Islet Town,
an unfinished Mothers & Fathers Hall in La Feuille
and an incomplete Community Market. While the
town of Gros Islet is in great need of a Human
Resource Centre, the project seemed to have been
rushed, with construction beginning on the eve of
elections. The location of the building was not the
most ideal and design for the building did not
include space for parking to allow for easy access.
Likewise, the Community Market, for which
construction began around the same time was built
on a side street with little traffic (thereby limiting
visibility and affecting sales) and was designed to
house only the market; however, with the
assistance of the new Mayor, Felix Finisterre, the
market was redesigned in 2012 to accommodate
office space (the new Gros Islet Municipal Office)
and an entertainment space on the top floor for
use by the community. Most unfortunately, these
projects were left with no budgetary allocation by
the previous administration to facilitate their
completion.
Appreciating the importance of these three
projects to the people of Gros Islet, Hon. Hippolyte
has had to utilise creative ways to engage partners
to complete them.
Upon completion, the Mothers & Fathers Hall at La
Feuille will also house a mini Human Resource
Centre. Five (5) computers have been sourced for
the centre and the burglar bars that were needed
to make the place secure have received funding
approval.
Most recently, EC$4 million from the Community
Development Program was allocated for the
completion of the Human Resource Centre in the
town of Gros Islet. The refurbishment and
expansion of this building will commence on Friday
27th May, 2016. The youth of Gros Islet, therefore,
can look forward to having a fully functional HRDC
for youth development and community
empowerment in the near future.
Recognising that community of Grande Riviere
lacked a learning facility, the Parliamentary
Representative embarked on sourcing finances to
establish a Human Resource Centre for the people.
This was made possible with the help of
benefactors. It is a 12-seat computer learning
centre which is very well utilized by the youth in
Grande Riviere and its environs, particularly the
students of the Corinth Secondary School. It also
offers free wifi, allowing residents to use their
smart phones and other devices to access the
internet and connect to the World Wide Web.
The Human Resource Development Centres in
Monchy and Riviere Mitant service these
communities very well. In addition to hosting
community meetings, these centres have been
used to host social activities aimed at improving
community spirit. Hon Hippolyte has engaged the
Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social
Transformation and the Director of the St Lucia
Social Development Fund (SSDF) for a full
evaluation of the programmes offered at the
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Centre and how best they can benefit the
communities they serve.
Additionally, land has been identified in Trouya for
the construction of a Human Resource
Development Centre to service the communities of
Corinth, Marisule and Bois d’Orange.
Recreational Facilities
and Community Squares:
We are social beings and we mature, learn and
grow mainly through our social interactions. For
this reason, Hon. Hippolyte has commissioned the
improvement of the squares in Gros Islet Town and
Monchy, to create a welcoming environment for
residents, children, young adults and community
elders to meet and recreate.
Many of the other communities in Gros Islet lack
recreational facilities. Since Gros Islet does not
have significant amounts of crown lands for
Government use, Hon Hippolyte has engaged the
Minister for Physical Planning in the hope that
lands can be acquired to build multi-purpose courts
in Caye Mange, Vieux Secrieux, Monier and
Marisule. The use of green spaces is also being
rationalised to beautify neighbourhoods and
serves as play areas for children.
Gros Islet Town Square Before Reconstruction
Monchy Square Before Reconstruction
Children’s Park in Gros Islet
Youth Development: While
much is being done in the area of sports, the
Parliamentary Representative has sought to
partner with young leaders in the constituency and
youth groups to develop programs to benefit the
young constituents. In an address to the young
people during a Youth Christmas Cocktail in
December 2015, Hon Hippolyte urged youth
groups to develop youth programs and strengthen
youth organisations to advise her on their vision for
the constituency of Gros Islet.
Hon Hippolyte was very instrumental in lobbying
the Government of Saint Lucia for implementing
the cruise ship programme which allowed
Government, through the Saint Lucia Development
Bank (SLDB), to guarantee loans for young persons
who are desirous of undergoing training with
Springboard and Mampa Agencies to gain
employment in the cruise ship industry.
Furthermore, due to her concerns for the
unemployed youth in sports, she worked with the
National Skills Development Centre (NSDC) and
Shayne Paul, President of the Gros Islet Football
League, to explore training opportunities for
unemployed youth.
Since 2014, Hon Hippolyte has facilitated the
delivery of training in entrepreneurship and
proposal writing to young people desirous of
launching small businesses and seeking funding for
community projects. She has since had
approximately 300 participants over the last two
years, trained by expert facilitators who, in
addition to sharing their experiences, have
committed to work with and mentor the youth.
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The Hon Minister for Youth Development and
Sports, Hon Shawn Edward, was present at the
launch of this initiative and he was of the view that
Gros Islet should collaborate with the other
constituencies to make this activity a national one.
In 2015 and 2016, the Gros Islet Parliamentary
Office conducted a successful workshop on team
building and proposal writing for members of
community development committees in Gros Islet.
Debate Competition held in 2011 on the topic:
“National Service should be made Mandatory of
Persons between the ages of 18 and 24.”
The Opposition and
Winners of the Debate:
Darnell Boxill (Leader)
and Dawnavan Foster
(Seconder)
The Proposition side
were Henri-Jacques
Mangal (Leader) and
Blossom Fregis
(Seconder)
Hon Hippolyte Addressing the Youth of Gros Islet
at the Parliamentary Office
Hon Hippolyte
Addressing the Youth
at the Christmas
Cocktail at the Bay
Gardens Beach Resort,
Decmber 2015
Hon Hippolyte
Interacting with the
Youth at the Christmas
Cocktail
Community Outreach: Hon
Hippolyte has maintained close ties with her
constituents through workshops, meetings, school
activities, competitions, home visits, chatting after
church service, phone calls, hospital visits,
ceremonies, etc.
Hon. Hipployte Participating in the Beausejour
Community Domino Competition
(She Won!)
Hon Hippolyte with Families at the end of the
Beausejour Community Fun Walk
The Parliamentary Representative firmly believes
that the efforts of our citizens (men, women and
youth) in building our communities must be
recognised and celebrated. It is by honouring and
rewarding excellence that our youth would have
heroes to emulate.
Between March and June, 2015, Hon Hippolyte
recognised women in the constituency who had
made sterling contributions to our country. She
also honoured deserving mothers and fathers who
have moulded and shaped our society.
Between March and May 2016 she continued the
tradition of acknowledging the accomplishments
of Gros Islet’s great men and women.
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Hon Hippolyte Honouring the women of the Gros
Islet Constituency on International Women’s Day
2014
Honouring Mothers in the During the 2015
Mother’s Day Celebrations
Hon Hippolyte Paying a Special Visit to Theresa
Decembre on her 100th
Birthday
At Christmas, we reflect on the blessings of the
year and we share love and good cheer to the ones
who matter most. In that spirit, Hon Hippolyte has
hosted a Christmas Party for the Children of Gros
Islet and a Christmas Lunch for the elderly every
year.
At the Christmas Party, she engages the children in
games, song and dance and culminates the
program with gift distribution from Santa Claus
himself. The program for the Christmas Lunch
consists a live entertainment for our community
elders and the Parliamentary Representative
breaks bread and socialises with the wisest among
us.
Aunty Emma at 1 of 3
Children Christmas
Parties held in 2015
2015 Christmas
Lunch for the Elderly
hosted by Hon
Emma Hippolyte
Throughout the year, the Minister distributes
hampers to constituents who are most in need.
These include the sick and shut in, the disabled and
the poor and indigent.
Local Economic
Development: Monchy: Mizik En
Kwéyòl was conceptualised in 2012 with an aim to
promote local artistes and facilitate the
participation of indigenous musical ensembles
during the very popular Saint Lucia Jazz Festival
(now re-branded the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts
Festival). The event has brought economic
development to the community of Monchy and has
facilitated the growth and strengthening of
community groups such as the Monchy Vendors
Association and the Monchy Management
Committee. The 5th
show was hosted this year and
the event has become a feature on the National
Jazz Calendar.
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Monchy Mizik en Kwéyòl 2014 – The Crowd
Moving to the Sweet Sounds of Music
Secret Band of La Bourne Performing at Monchy
Mizik en Kwéyòl 2015
Hon Hippolyte Addressing the Crowd, Monchy
Mizik en Kwéyòl 2015
Hon Hippolyte partnered with the Grande Riviere
Development Committee to host the second
Grande Riviere Roadside Jazz in May, 2015. It
featured home-grown talent such as students from
the Frank Norville Centre, Awards from the Boys
Training Centre, Bands from the Gros Islet and
Corinth Secondary Schools and talented artistes
from across Saint Lucia.
In 2014, the Monchy Vendors Association hosted
Monchy Jounen Kwéyòl. The Monchy Vendors
Association is also hosting the Monchy Mélé
(Creole Street Party) as a regular, last Saturday of
the month activity.
Hon Hippolyte is always exploring ways to create
opportunity for constituents to increase their
income and so, when she was approached in 2014
by the organisers of the Mercury Beach Event who
were looking for a new home for a very popular,
revenue-generating event out of Martinique, she
jumped on the opportunity and partnered with the
Ministry of Tourism to bring it to the home of the
once popular Aqua Action – Pigeon Pointe, Gros
Islet.
Now, Mercury Beach is a highly anticipated annual
event which rakes in thousands of dollars from
tourists and visitors.
With the assistance of the Canadian-funded
project, Caribbean Local Economic Development
(CARILED) Programme, the Parliamentary
Representative has been encouraging local
economic development projects throughout the
constituency but particularly in the town of Gros
Islet.
1. Pantime Steel Orchestra Panyard Tour:
approximately eleven (11) young persons
were trained in tour guiding to facilitate
the first-ever panyard tour to cruise ship
passengers. It is expected that this tour
will form part of a greater Gros Islet Town
Tour to include historic places such as the
St. Joseph’s The Worker Roman Catholic
Church, the Chapel, the Calvary, etc.
2. Gros Islet Friday Night Vendors
Association: the Project gave immense
assistance to the re-conceptualisation of
the weekly Gros Islet Friday Night Street
Party. A comprehensive Business Plan was
developed to include the construction of
bathroom facilities, an information desk
and an emergency point.
3. Gros Islet Community Market: recognising
that the location of the Community
Market was not best suited for a high level
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of traffic, Saturday Market Day was
organised to attract a variety of vendors
(flea market, produce and craft) and
patrons.
A strategic plan has been created with a view to
improve the planning of the town centre and
organize local economic development activities,
especially, the Friday Night Street Party.
It is hoped that the beach front will be a place to
welcome locals and visitors alike and enable small
businesses, single mothers and unemployed youth
to earn a living.
Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party
Community
Empowerment: The Gros Islet
Partnership for Development has been registered
to implement the Gros Islet LED Strategic Plan
which includes the Gros Islet Waterfront
Redevelopment Plan. Having participated in
several stakeholder consultations with residents,
businessmen and potential investors, over the last
three (3) years participants agreed the Gros Islet
Partnership for Development should be given the
requisite authority to manage the community
assets on behalf of the people of Gros Islet with a
view to generate income and facilitate local
economic development.
Participants of LED Strategic Planning
Workshop where the Gros Islet Waterfront
Redevelopment Plan was fleshed out
The Gros Islet Waterfront Redevelopment Plan
includes the construction of moorings and dingy
jetty to welcome yachtsmen and women directly to
the town of Gros Islet. On any average day, one can
find up to 100 yachts mooring in the Gros Islet Bay,
yet the town and its people derive very little
benefit from these yachts.
Yachts Mooring in the Gros Islet Bay which is a
Potential Source of Revenue
The Plan also incorporates water sports and day
beach facility on the Gros Islet beach-front, for
cruise ship passengers; a promenade along Bay
Street, and Gros Islet Waterfront Vending Facility.
The Parliamentary Representative is particularly
excited about this project as it will bring new life to
the town of Gros Islet and afford the people of Gros
Islet the avenue to create employment for
themselves and others.
Coupled with this project, is the thrust to establish
a ferry terminal in the town of Gros Islet to
welcome the thousands of French visitors who
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come every year. This too will help with the
development of the town’s economy and will lead
to the improvement of infrastructure and the
town’s social status.
Hon Hippolyte is also lobbying funding agencies to
develop a comprehensive waste disposal plan to
ensure that sustainable environmental practices
are maintained and that all homes in Gros Islet
(town and environs) are connected to the sewer
line.
Tours: Since her election into office, Hon
Hippolyte has embarked on several town tours to
document the assets of Gros Islet and explore how
these assets can be used to facilitate local
economic development. She is presently working
with government agencies and NGOs to develop a
Local Economic Development Plan for the
constituency.
SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION:
Hon. Emma Hippolyte understands the importance
of empowering individuals to make the necessary
social change in order to improve their lives and, by
extension, their society. For this reason, social
transformation is an important part of her service
to the constituency of Gros Islet.
Cemetery: The Gros Islet Cemetery has
reached its capacity, and a cemetery to service the
largest populated constituency in Saint Lucia is now
a matter of urgency. Several areas have been
explored, including Beausejour, where the soil
testing for the designated area failed. In the
interim, the Government of Saint Lucia has agreed
to expand the existing cemetery in Gros Islet Town
because they recognise that honouring our
deceased friends and relatives is an important part
of our lives.
The Overcrowded Cemetery in Gros Islet Town
Education: Our first Nobel Laureate and
namesake of our National Tertiary Institution, Sir
Arthur Lewis, postulated that the key to poverty is
not money but knowledge and Hon Emma
Hippolyte is convinced of this truth.
Education begins in the womb and early childhood
education is a significant foundation for
development. In that regard, when Hon Hippolyte
inherited an incomplete Pre-School in Gros Islet
with no funding allocation for its completion, she
determinedly sought funding for the completion of
the school so that our young ones would not be
disadvantaged.
She secured funding from the Saint Lucia Social
Development Fund (SSDF) and was able to
complete the school by 2013. The school now
accommodates many of our young leaders from
Gros Islet.
Inside the Newly Constructed Pre-School in Gros
Islet Town
Teachers, students and staff at the Corinth
Secondary School had complained for years
because of structural issues at the school. In 2014,
the Government commissioned work on the
Corinth Secondary School under the Basic
Education Enhancement Project (BEEP). The work
was completed in November 2015. Construction
work included the construction of two 2-storey
blocks in the north of the school site to replace the
demolished timber building. These buildings house
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five (5) standard size classrooms, storeroom, an
office and working space for a Guidance
Counsellor, a physics lab, an art and craft room, a
music room and modern toilet facilities. Provision
was also made for a covered multi-purpose space
for the school’s general assembly and other large
gatherings. The school’s existing sewerage system
was rehabilitated, the drainage system was
reconfigured and access and parking area were
also reconfigured.
The Corinth Secondary School Before
Rehabilitation Work
The Corinth Secondary
School After
Rehabilitation
The Covered Multi-
Purpose space for the
School’s General
Assembly and other
Large Gathering
Hon Hippolyte has introduced a new, creative and
inclusive approach to governance, therefore she
consults sector-related experts as she develops
projects and systems in the constituency. This is
the method that was adopted when the
Parliamentary Representative met regularly with
Principals in her constituency to collaborate on
projects to improve the education system in her
constituency.
She acknowledges the great contribution that
teachers make to the development of Saint Lucia
and so she has made it a practice to recognise and
value all teachers in her constituency on Teacher
Appreciation Day.
Gros Islet Clean-Up
Campaign: The environment is
important to us. As an island-nation, climate
change threats are especially frightening because
of our vulnerabilities and exogenous shocks. For
this reason, the Parliamentary Representative was
pleased to participate in the Gros Islet Clean-Up
Campaign in which Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Town
and Monchy were cleaned by community
volunteers.
Hon Hippolyte encourages other communities to
mount their own clean-up projects to ensure safety
all residents from health threats such as Zika and
climate change related risks.
Information Technology:
In today’s world, the use of Information technology
is a significant aspect of our daily lives. For this
reason, the Parliamentary Representative was
most disappointed that the wifi facility which was
installed in Monchy on the eve of elections, 2011
was removed shortly after the change of
administration by some unknown individual(s). To
address this concern, Hon Hipployte received
assistance from the Ministry of Sustainable
Development, Energy, Science and Technology to
open a Monchy ICT Access Centre which was
commissioned on 20th May, 2016. On a happy
note, it came with free wifi for the Monchy Park.
She is grateful that the Government of Saint Lucia
has distributed laptops to Secondary School
students during its term of office.
She continues to seek funding to make free wifi
available in every community in Gros Islet.
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SPORTS
According to sportscotland (2003)
“participating in sport can improve the quality of
life of individuals and communities, promote social
inclusion, improve health, counter anti-social
behaviour, raise individual self-esteem and
confidence, and widen horizons” (p. 7). It is also
widely believed that boosting participation in
sports can generate a variety of socio-economic
benefits, as well as, improve the academic
achievement of students, result in lower
absenteeism and drop-out rates, improve
discipline and increase progression to higher
education.
Believing firmly in the benefits of sports and the
holistic development of the people, Hon Hippolyte
has facilitated the development of several sports
clubs, associations and societies and encouraged
the strengthening of existing clubs. She respects
the perseverance, dedication and sportsmanship
of the men and women of her constituency and so
always tries to be present at every sporting activity
including football, cricket, swimming, tennis,
sailing, etc.
Football
Since 2012, football competitions have
been held under the patronage of the
Parliamentary Representative in
collaboration with the Gros Islet football
league with support from the Ministry of
Youth Development and sport and the
National Lotteries Authority and private
sector sponsorship. It is noteworthy that in
2014, four (4) major football tournaments
were held in Gros Islet, and in 2015, the
number of tournaments increased to five
(5).
In ensuring the sustainability and future
development of the sport at the national
level, the Gros Islet Football League, in
collaboration with FIFA hosted a uniquely
designed football youth development
camp targeting youth between the ages of
6 to 12 years. This was held in the
community of Grande Riviere. The
children were exposed to skills training
and subsequently
With a firm belief in gender parity, the
Hon. Minister fully supported the initiative
by FIFA and the National Football League
which included the launch of a programme
aimed at developing football teams for
both males and females. This resulted in
the successful hosting of the first female
football tournament held in 2015.
In December, 2015 the SNLA/Emma
Hippolyte Football Tournament was
widely accepted as a huge success. This
tournament was won by Northern United
All Stars, captained by Everton Lambert
and coached by Francis McDonald. GMC
United placed second and was captained
by David Sam and coached by Darren
Gaspard.
2015 SNLA/Emma Hippolyte Football Tournament
Winner – Northern United All Stars
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2015 SNLA/Emma Hippolyte Football Tournament
Second Place Winner – GMC United
Going forward, Hon. Emma Hippolyte intends to
continue her active participation in supporting the
sport and collaborating with the Gros Islet football
league to build a club structure which would
contribute to the holistic development of our
young people.
2014 SNLA/Emma Hippolyte Football Tournament
Winner - Windjammer Landings
Cricket
Hon. Emma Hippolyte supports the
developmental work done by the Crafton
brothers and John Eugene through their
community outreach programmes and the
John Eugene Academy. Both work being
critical for moulding our young men and
women into successful world-class
athletes and model citizens. It is he
Minister’s dream to produce another (or
even a few!) world-renowned cricketers to
join the likes of Darren Sammy, Johnson
Charles and Gairy Mathurin.
Tennis
Hon. Emma Hippolyte is delighted with the
work being done at the National Tennis
Centre. Since 2012 she has attended and
lent support to the annual international
tournaments. The centre’s grass roots
programme, under the Junior Tennis
Initiative (JTI) of the International Tennis
Federation (ITF) is facilitated through pre-
schools primary and secondary schools,
and provides free tennis instruction and
use of equipment (racquets, balls, etc.) to
students.
Eighteen (18) schools access the
programme by transporting students to
the Centre and six (6) schools benefit from
its outreach component where coaches
hold lessons at the schools.
Through this programme, the average
Saint Lucian child is introduced to this non-
traditional sport and is provided the
opportunity to broaden their scope for
personal and professional development.
We hope to groom Olympians in tennis
and we wish every success to national
athletes such as Meggan William, Adriel
and Aiden Bousquet, Julia D’Auvergne and
Jean-Phillipe Murray.
Swimming
Swimming is another non-traditional sport
steadily breaking barriers and opening
opportunities for our young people. Hon
Hippolyte is most passionate about this
sport and holds firmly to the belief that St
Lucia should produce masterful
swimmers. In keeping with that belief, she
has supported the management, staff,
clubs and athletes of the Aquatic Centre
and has lobbied for the establishment of a
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National Aquatic Centre for the benefit of
all St. Lucians. We are proud of the
achievements of all our athletes: Jordan
Augier, Katie Kyle, Runako Daniel, Terrel
Monplaisir and all the others striving
success.
Water Sports
Saint Lucia is an island-nation surrounded
by water and should have a natural
advantage in the area of water sports.
Gros Islet presently boasts a few
organisations aimed at youth
development through water sports.
Hon Emma Hippolyte has supported Mr
Urban Augustin and his team in their
annual summer camp aimed at engaging
the youth of Gros Islet in several water
sports including dive certification.
The Saint Lucia Yacht Club, with support
from the IGY Rodney Bay Marina, has
introduced a grass roots programme
created to advance the sport of sailing
among the youth. The children of Gros
Islet and students of the GroWell Centre
are the primary beneficiaries. They are
given the chance to participate in national
and regional championships to fine-tune
their skills and open windows of
opportunities to improve their socio-
economic status.
Children of Gros Islet Learning New
Skills
The Parliamentary Representative
welcomes such partnerships and
initiatives as they work to improve the
children of Gros Islet – our future.
Track & Field
The vision for Beausejour is to transform it
into a National Sports Complex which will
be the home to first class facilities in
cricket, tennis, swimming, football,
basketball, track & field, etc. Hon.
Hippolyte is excited at the possibilities this
will afford the young people of Gros Islet.
It is her hope that more world class
athletes like Jeanelle Scheper will emerge
from Gros Islet.
Jeanelle Scheper jumping to Amazing Heights
Facilities: Fields, and
Sports Centres
2015 was quite an illuminating year which
witnessed the completion of the Grande
Riviere Field Lighting Project started under
the previous administration. The
installation of the lights was done in time
for the commencement of the 2015
football season and was welcomed by
players, spectators and residents.
In addition, Hon Hippolyte utilised the
funds from the Community Development
Programme to a construct of a
multipurpose court in Riviere Mitant.
Lands have been acquired in Caye Mange
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for the construction of a multipurpose
playing court as well.
Efforts to acquire the lands where the La
Bourne playing field is located failed,
resulting in a search for crown lands for
the location of a playing field. In like
manner, Hon Hippolyte continues to work
toward acquiring lands to establish a
suitable playing facility in Monier.
The Multi-Purpose Court in Riviere Mitant under
Construction
Recognising the wealth of talent that our
youth possess in swimming, the strengths,
experiences and passions displayed by the
management of Rodney Heights Aquatic
Centre and the various swim clubs, Hon
Hippolyte welcomed the initiative by the
Government of Saint Lucia to erect and
operationalise a National Aquatic Centre
at Beausejour. The Centre will include a
50-metre pool, built to international
standards and capable of hosting regional
and international meets, as well as a 500-
seat pavilion.
The twelve million dollar project will
realise the dream of Beausejour becoming
a National Sports Centre including the
Beausejour Cricket Grounds which hosts
international-level cricket, the Beausejour
Indoor Sports Facility and the six court
National Tennis Centre.
Sod Turning Ceremony for the National Aquatic
Centre in Beausejour
A Phenomenal Minister, Hon Emma Hippolyte
Sod Turning Ceremony, National Aquatic Centre
Notwithstanding our National sporting facilities
located in Gros Islet, we recognise that our local
community playing fields such as Gros Islet, Corinth
and Grande Riviere require proper seating and
cover to make our spectators more comfortable.
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HON EMMA HIPPOLYTE –
MINISTER FOR COMMERCE,
BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT,
INVESTMENT AND
CONSUMER AFFAIRS
In December, 2011, Hon Hippolyte was
sworn in as a Member of the House of Parliament
of Saint Lucia and she was given responsibility for
the Ministry of Commerce Business Development,
Investment and Consumer affairs.
Hon Hippolyte at her Swearing in Ceremony
As Minister for Commerce, Hon Hippolyte is
responsible for developing policies that would
promote and maintain a free flow of commerce by
facilitating and developing commerce, investment
and business and protecting consumer interests.
These are her achievements to date.
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Since taking up responsibility for the
Ministry of Commerce, Business Development,
Investment and Consumer Affairs in December
2011, the focus of the Minister has been on
working with the Permanent Secretary and staff of
the Ministry, and the Management and staff of the
Allied Agencies, viz., Invest St. Lucia, the Saint Lucia
Bureau of Standards (SLBS) and later the Trade
Export Promotion Agency (TEPA), to serve the
Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of
Saint Lucia. We have done this by working closely
together with the various private sector agencies,
viz., the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce and
Agriculture, the Saint Lucia Manufacturers
Association (SMA), the Saint Lucia Small Business
Association (SLISBA), and later, the Saint Lucia
Coalition of Services Industries (SLCSI) through
periodic meetings and support through
subventions.
She is happy to see the small but steady progress
that has been made over the four plus years since
she was given responsibility for this Ministry. She
is confident in the future of our people and the
future of our business community.
As the Minister of Commerce, Business
Development, Investment and Consumer Affairs,
she is proud of the creativity of our people and she
is committed to leading our people in this
knowledge-based economy and world.
Our Country is small and so is our economy, yet as
an independent nation we are expected to
compete with the world and so as the Minister, she
used the approach of continual dialogue and
focused engagement, coupled with the provision of
relevant training and targeted intervention and
incentives to grow our industries.
It is for these reasons that the Ministry of
Commerce continually works with the Ministry of
International Trade to ensure that our companies
comply with all international agreements.
With the support of the Cabinet of Ministers, the
Ministry took the bold step of implementing Article
164 of the Treaty of Chaguaramas which allowed
St. Lucia to use tariff to provide an environment for
our small manufacturing sector to grow. She is
therefore proud of the Manufacturers who have
taken the bold step to expand and modernize their
businesses by utilizing the incentive regime that
the Government provided. The Ministry is now
reaping this reward with higher export market
penetration.
Hon Hippolyte is proud of the work that the Saint
Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS) has done with the
business community, particularly, the
Manufacturing Sector in embracing international
standards and thus positioning themselves to
penetrate international markets. The introduction
of the SMA awards has served as an impetus for
quality amongst the manufacturers. The SLBS
continues to work with schools as part of its
strategy of educating the country in embracing
international standards.
The Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA), which
we established in 2012 to implement Saint Lucia’s
National Export Development Strategy (NEDS),
made steady progress in supporting manufacturers
in market penetration, and technical support. The
Ministry’s efforts saw some twenty one products of
one major manufacturer reaching the Cuban
market with the products of another six under
consideration.
In its continued effort to streamline St. Luca’s
services and improve its services to the MSME
sector; in March 2016 Cabinet supported the
Ministry’s preposition and approved the creation
of TraDE Saint Lucia (The Saint Lucia Agency for
Trade Promotion and Development of Enterprise).
TraDE Saint Lucia combines the core competencies
of the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC)
and the Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA) to
enhance the provision of business support services
to the business sector.
The creation of TraDE Saint Lucia is part of a wider
restructuring effort at the Ministry of Commerce as
they continually seek to improve their service to
the local commercial sector, thereby creating an
ecosystem that will enhance Saint Lucia’s
international competitiveness.
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The Ministry’s targeted intervention with the
furniture manufacturers and Courts Unicomer saw
a revival in the small furniture sector and the
signing of a purchase agreement between the
parties. This also resulted in one manufacturer,
with the help of Courts, exporting to an OECS
country.
The Ministry’s focused intervention with the
Chamber of Commerce, the National Poultry
Association and the Ministry of Agriculture
resulted in structures being put in place for the
poultry farmers to embrace standards and Hon
Emma Hippolyte is pleased that the farmers have
responded positively and have attended training at
the SLBS.
The Ministry collaborated with the Ministry of
Creative Industries and formed the St. Lucia
Fashion Council; when legislated it will be the first
such Council in the Caribbean.
The Ministry’s persistence paid off with the
enactment of the Consumer Protection Act in
February 2016, after almost ten (10) years in the
making. This Act equalizes the consumer and the
supplier by providing guidance to both parties and
providing a structure and systems where consumer
complaints will be heard, investigated and
decisions taken.
In the area of investments, Invest St. Lucia hosted
its first international investment forum here in St.
Lucia in an effort to signal to the world that St.
Lucia is ready for the investor and investment.
Invest St. Lucia also held a local business forum
aimed at providing critical information on the
market to our local investors. We are seeing the
results of this and other initiatives in the form of
renewed investor interest and confidence resulting
in a 1.3% growth in our economy, a 7.4% growth in
the construction sector, a 2.4% increase in the
manufacturing sector, with increase in export of
food products at 13.2% and commercial packaging
at 10.8%.
The Ministry, under the abled leadership of Hon
Emma Hippolyte, has achieved a lot in the last four
years as testament by the excerpt of achievement
which follows.
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Excerpt of Achievements
BUSINESS
DEVELOPMENT – Small
Enterprise Development
Unit (SEDU)
1. Argentine Cluster Development Programme:
The Ministry of Commerce worked in
collaboration with the Government of
Argentina and the Ministry of Agriculture to
strengthen (a) The Textile Industries
Cooperative Society (TICSL) in 2012 and (b)
Saint Lucia ICT Association as an ICT cluster in
the making in 2013. The associations
benefited through a study tour of relevant
clusters in Argentina and local workshops.
2. Business Exposium - Global Entrepreneurship
Week (GEW) 2013: SEDU hosted a “Business
Exposium” under the theme, “Networking for
Growth” on November 18th
and 19th
, 2013,
during GEW 2013. The main objective was to
facilitate strategic alliances among small
business persons. Approximately 147 persons
were impacted.
3. Adaptation of the Small Business
Development Centre (SBDC) model: By far,
the most significant achievement was the
progress made toward adopting and
adapting the best practices of the US
Small Business Development Centre (SBDC)
model. The salient features of the model
are that it will:
i. result in greater collaboration
between Academia, Private
Sector and Government, with
SEDU as the hub,
ii. facilitate the measurement of
economic impact, while
enhancing service delivery, and
iii. enhance the competitiveness
of the MSME sector.
4. Other Accomplishments: SEDU assisted
approximately 2,078 clients; registered 1,339
(i.e. 64%) businesses; and trained more than
1,000 persons:
i. VAT Preparedness Training for
MSEs (2012): 538
ii. Training specifically for start-up
clients (2015): 150
iii. Other entrepreneurial
development courses and
workshops: >283
5. Entrepreneurial and Business Development:
Between 2015 & 2016 440 persons accessed
the SBDC's services and approximately 86%
(i.e. 379) registered their businesses. Clients
have enjoyed market exposure through the Sir
Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC)
"GEW 2015 Exhibition", Saint Lucia-Taiwan
Exhibition, Nov 2015, and the Atlantic Rally for
Cruisers (ARC), Dec 2015. Entrepreneurial
development & networking initiatives have
resulted in a Digital Marketing Symposium,
August 2015 in which over 80 MSMEs received
training in digital marketing; a Business
Finance Symposium, September 2015 in which
45 MSME owners received training in Finance
Management and the financial products
available; and Business Planning sessions
conducted for: SLISBA members, NCPC,
Ministry of Social Transformation, St. Lucia
Teachers’ Credit Cooperative, National
Farmers’ Cooperative, Fond St. Jacques
Development Committee, etc.
Department of
Commerce & Industry
The Department of Commerce undertook the
following:
1. Train the Trainers: Sixteen (16) trained
practitioners in Garment Production who
were exposed to a number of modules and
presentation styles for the development
and delivery of training material to young
artisans and persons operating within the
Garment/Textile Sector. Twenty-five (25)
artisans were coached in garment
production. This was sponsored by the
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CDB/CTCS NETWORK SERVICES in
Garment /Textile Sector.
2. Computerized Management Accounting
Systems (CMAS) Training: This was
delivered in collaboration with the
CDB/CTCS Network Services Unit. A total
of 14 persons within the MSME Sector
were trained in various categories such as,
Services (ITC, Consultancy, Events
Management), Farming, Construction,
Manufacturing and Agriculture (Flora).
3. Establishment of the Textile Industry
Cooperative Society Limited: This was
established to develop and improve
existing capacity within the
Garment/Textile Sector in Saint Lucia.
4. Implementation of Article 164
(Promotion of Industrial Development)
under the Revised Treaty of
Chaguaramas): This will enable companies
to build capacity and to become more
competitive. The Ministry is currently
working with beneficiary companies to
assist with accessing supportive measures
to maximize gains to be achieved.
5. Bottled water Industry Analysis: An
assessment of the bottled water sector
assisted with the imposition of Articles 150
(Safeguard Measures) and 164 (Promotion
of Industrial Development) under the
Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. The
assessment gave an indication of the state
of the sector and what interventions are
required to jump start the sector. A policy
document on bottled water was also
created and will guide development in the
sector. Cabinet, as a result agreed to
provide through the Ministry of
Commerce, support for domestic
companies through plant upgrade, market
development, standards and marketing,
including research and development.
6. In collaboration with the Trade Export
Promotion Agency (TEPA) and the
Procurement Unit of the Ministry of
Education, furniture manufacturers were
able to secure small contracts to supply
furniture to identified schools for the new
academic year. The Ministry of Commerce
is hopeful that we will be able to formalize
business relationships between the
Procurement Agencies of Government, to
give priority to the purchase of local
furniture. In addition, as a result of this
thrust, expressions of interest were made
by two (2) hotels in the north of the island.
7. As a direct intervention, the Ministry
worked on strengthening the business
relationships between the manufacturers
and local importers of furniture. As a
result, a number of meetings were held in
conjunction with the import monitoring
unit and a number of importers namely
Inside Out Ltd, Renwick & Company,
Courts Unicomer (St. Lucia) Ltd,
Commercial Supplies, in an effort to
manage the relationships and encourage
local sales.
8. Partnership with the Caribbean
Development Bank (CDB) and St. Lucia
Coalition of Services Industries: A
National Services Policy, Strategy and
Action Plan is being developed as a
comprehensive policy guide to the
services sector. Furthermore, a Gender
Analysis Report and Action Plan for various
sub-sectors (ICT, Professional Services,
Creative Industries and Spa and Wellness)
has been created. The Services Policy is
expected to be submitted to the Ministry
by the end of the 3rd quarter. Strides have
been made in the Spa and Wellness Sector
where approximately twenty-three (23)
persons were trained and certified in the
Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ)
training in November. Also, ten (10)
Management Consultants were
endorsed – St. Lucia now boasts of the
highest number of certified
Management Consultants in the region,
out- numbering Barbados, Jamaica
and Trinidad.
9. Trade Facilitation Validation
Conferences: A number of Trade
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Facilitation Validation Conferences were
held during the fiscal year to provide
guidance for the finalisation of the
National Trade Facilitation Report. This
will present the road map for
implementation of the Trade
Facilitation agreement as agreed
to; signed and ratified by members of the
World Trade Organization in Bali
Indonesia.
10. Saint Lucia/Martinique Cooperation
Trade Facilitation Agreement: Regarding
the implementation of the Cooperation
Agreement between Saint Lucia
and Martinique, much work had been
done with the Martinique counterparts in
the selection of the products to be
exchanged between the countries. The
strategy has been reviewed to ensure the
opportunity for export is extended to all.
11. Poultry Value Chain Analysis (VCA): The
UWI St. Augustine funded this VCA of the
Broiler Industry in St. Lucia. This analysis
was a major achievement as the report
was very useful to address the issues
which emanated from the Poultry
Stakeholders. The Ministry deemed this
VCA in order to assess the true value that
could be derived from the
domestic poultry industry.
12. Saint Lucia/Taiwan Trade Show, 2015:
The Department organised and facilitated
the participation of 54 local exhibitors in
the Saint Lucia/Taiwan Trade Show, 2015.
13. Buy Local Campaign: The Ministry
facilitated consultations among local
manufacturers, service providers and
Government Procurement Officers to give
greater consideration to the procurement
of locally produced goods and services. In
that regard, a joint committee is being
established between the Ministries of
Commerce, Agriculture and Tourism to
prepare a “Buy Lucian” strategy paper for
submission to Cabinet.
Consumer Affairs
Department (CAD)
This has been the output of the Consumer Affairs
Department:
1. Twenty-eight (28) consumer-related
sensitisation lectures were conducted at
various primary and secondary schools
island-wide.
2. Seventy-eight (78) businesses were
engaged at the management level to
educate them on their obligations when
conducting “lay away” transactions in
accordance with the Consumer Credit Act
No. 29 of 2006 and the withdrawal of the
one cent and two cent coins.
3. Eight hundred and twenty six (826) Price
Calculation Sheets were processed and
approved at the Department.
4. A total of eighteen (18) special surveys
relating to sale of Agricultural Supplies and
Cement have been conducted island-wide.
5. A survey was undertaken in relation to
impact of the removal of VAT on
Pharmaceuticals.
6. There was weekly monitoring and
surveillance of approved prices of items
offered for sale at supermarkets and retail
outlets island-wide.
7. Movement of price changes of diesel, and
gas and LPG petroleum was closely
monitored.
Invest Saint Lucia (ISL)
1. The Formal Launch, Presentation of
Vision and Rebranding of Invest Saint
Lucia in July 2012 was followed by the
hosting of the inaugural Saint Lucia
Investment Forum in May 2014;
2. Conceptual separation of Strategic and
Non-strategic Land Assets and digital
mapping of those key land assets was
done in order to allow a seamless
regularization of non-strategic lands to
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deserving families in the South of the
island while facilitating the leveraging of
strategic lands for cogent investments.
3. Facilitation and rekindling interest in a
number of stalled investments, which,
other than Le Paradis which remains in
legal limbo, have all been successfully
resuscitated.
4. Signing of a new Memorandum of
Understanding (MOU) between Invest
Saint Lucia and the Federal Owens Group
(FOG), which secured FOG’s agreement to
set aside, without penalty, the original
Joint Venture Agreement (JVA), which
disproportionately favoured FOG and
threatened to dispossess ISL, and
ultimately the country, of approximately
300- 600 acres of strategic land in Fond
D’Or Bay Dennery without any
development or investment taking place.
The new agreement, which was
negotiated by a high level Invest Saint
Lucia delegation in New York On February
1st 2013, resulted in the rescue of 600
acres of land that would have been lost in
much the same way as the ill-fated Ritz
Carlton lands at Black Bay/Canelles, and
possible saving of US$5 million in
compensation.
5. Online Companies Registration System
via the Registry of Companies and
Intellectual Property.
6. Continuation of Public Sector
Modernisation including the
establishment of a new Government of
Saint Lucia portal, an Internet Exchange
Point (IXP) and online filing and payment
of taxes.
7. The upgrade of National Doing Business
Forum and Task Force, with the Minister
responsible for Investment as chairman.
8. The establishment of a Commercial Court.
9. The development of a National
Investment Policy.
10. The institution of a Citizenship by
Investment Programme (CIP) that has
already begun to distinguish itself as one
of the most transparent and attractive in
the region. The CIP is essentially an
investment vehicle that bridges the equity
divide and facilitates the inflow of
development related investments from
reputable high net worth individuals and
companies.
11. Saint Lucia was ranked by FDI Magazine in
the top 10 for FDI strategy and Cost
Effectiveness of Doing Business in an FDI
survey Caribbean Countries of the Future
2015-2017.
12. Site Selection Magazine recognized Saint
Lucia as one of the locations of the future.
Saint Lucia was identified by location
consultants as a country outside the US
that Investors will locate to 5 to 10 years
from now because of an educated
workforce and growing middleclass,
among other reasons.
13. As a self-financing institution, ISL used its
land assets to generate revenue for the
agency and as a result has now completed
the Black Bay Gardens Residential Project
with an almost 98% uptake. This
development was pursued as a joint
venture with OB Sadoo Engineering
Services Ltd. It provided 52 lots (mixed use
and residential) to the people of the south.
Many are first time buyers and others
want to benefit from the opportunity of
developing apartments to capture the
growing market of university students.
The net profit from that venture
amounted thus far to EC$1.4 million of
which 50% will accrue to OB Sadoo.
14. ISL coordinated and executed a Domestic
Business Forum that brought together
local business concerns as well as a
number of government agencies such as
the Customs and Excise and Inland
Revenue Departments; the Development
Control Authority (DCA); the Ministry of
Commerce; commercial banks and lending
agencies to discuss issues relating to doing
business with a view to improving same.
15. Advancing of the Medical Research
Agenda outlined by the Governor General
in the 2015 Throne Speech. The GOSL
hosted consultants from the law firm
Clifford Chance LLC who were contracted
to draft the Clinical Trials Act.
Consultations were held with key
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stakeholders and a draft Clinical Trials Act
has been developed and has since been
passed in both Houses of Parliament. This
is one of the first steps towards developing
a true clinical trials and medical research
investment proposition for Saint Lucia.
16. Continued regional collaboration on
investment promotion and capacity
building through the Caribbean
Association of Investment Promotion
Agencies (CAIPA) training programmes
and leveraging ISL’s current position of
CAIPA President.
Information Technology
In addition to the great achievements of this
department (e.g. the launch of the Import License
Module and the MSE Website for SEDU), this
department has been able to produce the
eCommerce Policy and Strategy which was
approved by Cabinet.
Trade Export Promotion
Agency (TEPA)
1. Restructure/streamline the Trade Export
Promotion Agency (TEPA) and the Small
Business Development Centre (SBDC) to
provide seamless business support
services to prospective and existing
enterprises.
2. Stimulate the growth of the local business
sector and increase its employment
generating capacity by promoting
entrepreneurship and decentralization of
business support services.
3. Encourage new employment
opportunities by creating a structured
support programme for businesses during
the start-up stage (i.e. for the first two
years of existence).
4. Introduce a National Export Advisory
Service and Volunteer Technical
Assistance Programme to increase the
level of technical expertise available to
micro and small enterprises, and to
increase technology transfer by industry
experts.
5. Introduce a Business Internship
Programme and Mentorship Programme
for Micro and Small enterprises to
augment their human resource capacity,
improve productivity and enhance
performance.
6. Implement programmes to strengthen the
linkages between the tourism and export
sectors and strengthen the local value
addition of the tourism product by
creating opportunities for local
producers/suppliers
7. Develop a branding strategy to promote
local goods and services in both the
domestic and export markets - a
Trustmark that depicts, quality, excellence
and distinguishes Saint Lucian products
and services
8. Develop a framework for the promotion,
application and regulation of the national
brand geographic indicators and other
existing quality marks to enhance the
benefits to producer/exporters.
9. Create an online Business Knowledge
“Academy” to reduce training costs and
increase access to training by potential
entrepreneurs and business owners.
10. Support the creation of a National
Convention Centre for hosting of business
events and expositions, and encourage
networking at the national and
international level.
11. Create space for small and medium-sized
enterprises (SME) to operate by creating
business incubators in the north and south
of the island.
12. Also encourage the creation and operation
of incubator production facilities in
strategic locations so that small
producers/exporters can meet
international quality and standard
requirements and overcome technical
barriers to trade in this regard and thus
compete globally.
13. We will with all relevant stakeholders to
implement a strategy to encourage
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business development and promote
exports in targeted sectors of provide
greater encouragement to young people
to become entrepreneurs, particularly in
areas like the creative industries, the ICT
and Agriculture sector.
14. We will establish an Innovation Fund to
stimulate and facilitate the patenting of
inventions in select areas and generate
viable new business concepts that create
employment.
15. Introduce Anti-dumping Legislation and
the corresponding implementation and
monitoring capability to safeguard local
producer/ exporters from unfair practices
by external competitors.
16. Define and operationalize an MSE
Development Policy that enhances
resilience and competitiveness in the
global value chain through government
procurement and measures that ensure
MSEs participate in international contracts
a suppliers of parts and components, sub-
contractors and providers of other related
services to larger companies,
Multinational Corporations or
Government linked companies.
St. Lucia Bureau of
Standards (SLBS)
Between 2012 and 2016, the SLBS increased
coverage of the gas pumps and scale
verification schemes as follows:
1. 2012-2013: A total of five hundred and
eleven (511) gas pump verifications were
conducted, generating $38,325.00. Some
161 scales used in the commercial sector
were calibrated at $19,470.00.
2. 2013-2014: A total of five hundred and
four (504) gas pump verifications were
conducted, generating $37,800.00. Some
two hundred and thirty eight (238) scales
used in the aviation, tourism,
construction, forensics, agriculture,
manufacturing and commercial sectors
were verified or calibrated which
generated $30,270.00.
3. 2014-2015: A total of two hundred and
eighty-five (285) gas pump verifications
were conducted as at January 30, 2015
generating $21,375.00.
The electrical safety testing scheme for electrical
appliances continued in 2012 with improvements
in the programme. Under this scheme, electrical
appliances imported into and sold in Saint Lucia are
tested against requirements outlined in the 13
national compulsory electrical safety standards. A
total of 3,658 appliances were tested generating
approximately $57,800.00 in 2012/13, $30,640.00
in 2013/14 and $57,800.00 in 2014/15.
Approximately 474 persons were trained in the
Food and Beverage sector during 2012/13, 231
during 2013/14 and 251 during 2014/15 by the
SLBS.
Standards of relevance to various sectors were
developed including agriculture, tourism,
manufacturing, health, education, construction
etc. A total number of seven (7) standards were
developed
The SLBS hosted the Pan American Standards
Commission 2013 AGM. Over 110 delegates from
the Americas attended the AGMs.
Saint Lucia Coalition of
Services Industries
Introduce a grant programme for businesses to
encourage them to provide on-the-job workplace
skills training for students of the Sir Arthur Lewis
Community College
a. Funded the placement of 6 interns (graduates
of Sir Arthur Lewis Community College) at
Converge Solutions Inc. for a period of 6
months
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Make capital available to assist local small and
medium enterprises to become export-ready and
to capitalise on opportunities created by the
CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement
(EPA).
a. Coached 17 firms in the preparation of export
market plans
b. Supported 15 firms to Trade Mission – Market
Best Bets
c. At least 25% of exporters in target sectors (ICT,
Creative Industry, Professional Services,
Health and Wellness) have strengthened their
internal operations for export competitiveness
d. Implement Export Development Training
Programme “Services Go Global” – target of 25
firms to be trained, including coaching and
mentoring
e. Small Grant Call Down facility to assist SMEs
and associations participating in the Services
Go Global Programme
Partnered with the Bureau of Standards to step up
its programme of ensuring that products from
Saint Lucia meet the highest quality standards
and can compete in international markets
a. Facilitate the enhancement and increase of the
international competitiveness of the Spa &
Wellness Sector
b. Develop National Code of Practice for Beauty
& Wellness Facilities
c. Certify day spas to the national standards (12
spa operators gained certification from the
Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards under the
Code of Practice for Health and Wellness
Facilities, Levels I and II)
Create greater space for small and medium-sized
enterprises to operate by creating business
incubators in the north and south of the island.
a. Establish a Business Support Unit to serve
associate members
b. 21 service enterprises were strengthened
directly under the CARTFund financed project;
approximately 17 enterprises have
strengthened their operations as a result of
business support services provided through
the strengthened SLCSI secretariat
Provide a window of assistance to SMEs for
training, preparation of business plans, feasibility
studies and marketing.
a. Assist ten (10) member associations in set up,
formulation and implementation of action
plans, secretariat services
b. Funding support to the Association of
Management Consultants resulted in nine (9)
members receiving the CMC designation
c. 23 spa service providers certified at Level III
TVET
d. Eight (8) associations have been assisted in
formation and development and
implementation of work plans
e. Export Market Penetration Training
commenced with 21 organizations, 17 of which
received in -depth coaching. 13 completed
and implemented Market Penetration Plans, 4
others have partially completed plans
Work with the Chamber of Commerce and other
partners to provide greater encouragement to
young people to become entrepreneurs,
particularly in areas like the creative industries
and the ICT Sector
a. Implement an ICT empowerment programme
in technology business innovation and
entrepreneurship skills development for girls
and women in the ICT Sector – Gender in ICT in
collaboration with CARCIP
b. “Gender in ICT” also seeks to facilitate greater
gender equity and increase the opportunities
for women in the ICT Industry
c. Trained 50 female entrepreneurs in social
media
d. The Trade Export Promotion Agency is a
collaborator of SLCSI and offers export
promotion/ marketing support to SLCSI clients
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Conclusion
Hon Emma Hippolyte has served the
Constituents of Gros Islet and the People of Saint
Lucia with unmatched class, dignity and diligence.
She has faithfully worked toward achieving her
proposed ten-year plan and she will undoubtedly
finish the good work she has started.
As a Parliamentary Representative and a Minister
of Government, she has exemplified the attitude
and posture of a true stateswoman. She has served
the rich and poor, men and women, children and
adults, and supporters of all political parties with
honour.
Hon Emma Hippolyte embodies Leadership with
Service.
