As the New Year begins, the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce Industry and Agriculture continues its journey of strengthening its ties and working relationships with key institutions on the island.

President Ross Gardner has been meeting regularly with the Acting Commissioner and understanding his approach to the mammoth task he has inherited.

A key element of his tactics is to utilize technology at various levels to facilitate the important work the Police is doing. In that vein the President is turning to members to assist the Police through the supply of a few pieces of equipment so that police Officers have access to the required hardware at their fingertips.    

Attached is a list of computer equipment that would be extremely useful if provided on a timely basis, (at the end of the budget cycle), by members of the Chamber.

We should be grateful if you would assist in any way you can in contributing to this small project. See list below.

•5 Desktop Computers (US$900 – US$1000 each)

•5 Laptops (US$800 – US$1000 each)

•5 Tablets (US$300 – US$400 each)

Financial Donations: Donations can be made directly to the Chamber, with a note indicating the purpose as "RSLPF Crime Prevention Support."

Device Donations: Contribute one or more devices that meet the specifications outlined in the attached document.

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‍As we celebrate St. Lucia’s 46th year of independence, let’s bring the island’s colors to life by decorating your business in the vibrant hues of our flag—blue, yellow, black, and white. These colors represent the beauty, strength, and unity of our nation. By showcasing them in your space, you’re not only honoring our independence, but also spreading pride and joy throughout the community. Whether it’s through window displays, banners, or special promotions, your decorations will remind everyone of the incredible journey St. Lucia has taken and the bright future ahead. Let’s come together to celebrate our culture, history, and shared pride as a nation!

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The plethora of derelict vehicles that adorn the roadways in St. Lucia has been identified as a problem that if addressed will have significant impact, on the ease of access, lessening road congestion and cleaning up of the environment, among others.

The Royal St. Lucia Police Force will be embarking on an operation to remove derelict vehicles that are parked indiscriminately along the roads. These vehicles pose a threat and hazard to health and safety and restricts traffic flow in many areas. Further these vehicles serve as repositories of material and items that cannot be linked to any owner in the vicinity.

Chamber Members are invited to call the Chamber to report the location of any derelict vehicle that is located close to their place of business that poses a direct or indirect impediment to business operations.  Let's help the Police Help You!!!

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Port Congestion and Operational Issues Spill into Streets of City

The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture on Tuesday 7th January 2025, convened a critical meeting with key stakeholders, including the St. Lucia Air & Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA), Royal St. Lucia Police Force (RSLPF), and representatives of the trucking sector, to address growing traffic congestion and operational inefficiencies linked to Port Castries.

Since that Meeting SLASPA has provided the Truckers with access to land in the Bannan's Area ending the practice of Truckers queuing on the sidewalks as they await entry into Castries Seaport. This measure is understood to be temporary as in the near future, the area will not be available for such a use.  The Chamber continues to insist that SLASPA actively seeks access to alternative areas that have been proposed in the interim.

SLASPA has also removed all dilapidated cargo handling equipment, abandoned concrete trucks, and all vehicles landed before 2024 to Vieux Fort Port, thus making available space for port users, including Truckers.

Additionally, Tropical Shipping also made a ship available to remove empty containers from Castries Seaport to help reduce congestion and space limitation on the Port. This operation was however hindered when a Ferry was given berthing priority over the Tropical Ship severely limiting the number of empty containers that were eventually removed.  

The Chamber and attendees at the meeting have urged and continues to urge SLASPA to work more assertively with Carriers and other Port User to utilize some nontraditional approaches to addressing the chronic space shortage and congestion problem the Port is experiencing.

Meanwhile, the Customs & Excise Department have announced measures that will increase productivity on the Port in areas they directly impact, including a soon to be introduced and long called for staggering of lunch hours by Customs & Excise staff, where their services will be available during their traditional "lunch hour."

The Chamber is seeking to convene an urgent meeting among, Customs, SLASPA, Ministry of Commerce, Ministry of Finance and Ministry for Ports to discuss urgent measures to address the major issues confronting the import and export of goods into St. Lucia which requires a multipronged and collaborative approach, recognizing that the issue of congestion at the ports is being aggravated by international circumstances, that may not recede in the medium term.  This reality demands assertive action on the local front where the country has direct control over.

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Strengthening Inventory & Supply Chain Workshop with Dr. Harvi Millar

Delivers High-Impact Learning Experience

The highly anticipated and long called for workshop “Strengthening Your Inventory & Supply Chain Management” took place and lived up to its “excellent and high value billing”. The two-day interactive and practical workshop took place on January 29th and 30th, 2025 at the Chamber Conference Room at the Secretariat Headquarters Bois D’Orange.

23 keen participants from 13 different organizations, public and private sector. took a journey through the intricacies, advanced systems and techniques used Fortune 500 firms when managing and seeking to get the best out of their inventory and supply chain systems. -Read More

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Executive Luncheon

"Transforming Our Customers’ Journey"

FASTER, SMARTER, GREENER TRADE

Custom & Excise Department

On Thursday January 16th, 2025, the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce hosted its first Executive Luncheon for the year 2025, featuring the Custom & Excise Department at the Coco Palm Resort. The luncheon was very well attended by over 60 members of the business community.

The Comptroller of Customs & Excise, Mr. Sherman Emmanuel, along with is team updated the attendees on the work of the Department and some of the exciting changes to be introduced during 2025.

Read More

Click to view Proposed Changes & Enhancements

Executive Luncheon Recording

See Video

Climate Change Impacts on the Water sector

Part 1: Securing Saint Lucia's Water Future: Facing the Climate Challenge Together

WASCO is pleased to contribute to the Chamber of Commerce’s Newsletter sharing insights into the critical connection between climate change and water security. This is the first of many features on how climate change impacts Saint Lucia’s water network. We hope you find this information useful.

Saint Lucia's water system is both intricate and vulnerable, woven into the natural landscape of rivers, reservoirs and underground aquifers that provide essential resources to communities and businesses across the island. Water is primarily sourced from rivers and streams, with the John Compton Dam serving as the main storage reservoir that supplies the north of the island (Millet to Cap Estate). The Grace, Beausejour, Delcer, Canaries and Micoud Water Treatment Facilities are the major suppliers of water to the island’s south. However, our water system is increasingly strained by climate change.

Over recent years, shifts in weather patterns have led to higher temperatures, decreased rainfall and prolonged dry seasons, putting unprecedented pressure on water sources. When rain does fall, it often arrives in intense bursts, resulting in flash floods rather than replenishing the water table. This inconsistent rainfall disrupts the natural cycle that supplies reservoirs by diminishing river flows and exacerbating sedimentation in the dam.

Climate change also brings increased instances of extreme weather events, like hurricanes and tropical storms, which can severely damage infrastructure, disrupt supply lines and affect water quality. For businesses, these vulnerabilities translate into a less reliable water supply, which can impact operations, raise costs, and strain resources. Understanding these impacts is the first step for businesses in Saint Lucia to prepare for the changes ahead.

Look out for the WASCO feature in the next edition of the Chamber of Commerce’s Newsletter for more information on WASCO's actions during the dry season, and the steps businesses can take to secure water!

Article 164 Regime

The Ministry of Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives, and Consumer Affairs has provided important updates regarding the extension of the Article 164 Regime. This update follows the publication of Statutory Instruments (SI) No. 161 of 2024 and SI No. 172 of 2024, which formalize the decisions made at the 58th meeting of the Council for Trade and Economic Development (COTED).

Key Updates:

Extension of Regime Expiry Dates:

The Ministry has confirmed that the special regime concerning curry and pasta will remain in effect until June 30th, 2029.

For the remaining twelve product groups, the expiry date has been extended to June 30th, 2034.

Legal Effect and Regional Agreement Alignment:

These updates ensure that stakeholders can now proceed with confidence, as the Statutory Instruments provide legal effect to the decisions made at the 58^th COTED meeting. The Ministry emphasized that these changes align with regional trade agreements and are designed to foster the growth of trade and economic development within the region.

Contact Information: StakeholdersStakeholders who require further details are encouraged to reach out to the Director, Mr. Jonathan Allain,  via telephone at 468-4220 or email at jonathan.allain@govt.lc.

Click Flyers to Register & Learn More

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Renewals & New Applicants

New Applicants:

We are excited to offer you an exclusive opportunity to showcase your company’s logo, social media handles, and contact details prominently on the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce website and in our widely circulated Annual Report. This is a unique chance to amplify your brand visibility while aligning with the credibility and outreach of the Chamber.

Renewals:The current arrangement for your company’s logo placement on the Chamber’s website, along with links to your email, telephone number, and social media assets, is set to expire on December 31, 2024. Access will cease on February 1, 2025, if not renewed.
For your convenience, we encourage you to visit our website at www.stluciachamber.org and review your company’s listing. This is an excellent opportunity to confirm or update your existing information.Kindly Note: The placement for 2025 will remain valid until December 31, 2025, ensuring extended value for your investment.Thank you once again for your continued support and partnership. Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.

KPI's Series : Key Performance Indicators

Healthy Lifestyle Series

Part 2

Annual Report Sponsors

2025 Public Holidays

Please note this information can be found in the resources tab on the Chambers website.

See Document

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