Castries, Saint Lucia – The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture participated in national consultations on proposed amendments to the country’s Solid Waste Management legislative framework. Consultations were held on December 9, 2025, and February 20, 2026. Programme Officer, Ms. Riquel St. Marthe represented The Chamber at these consultations.

The consultation allowed participants to review several proposed amendments, most of which were considered to be “minor drafting changes” to improve clarity and strengthen existing provisions within the legislation.

A notable amendment relates to the definition of derelict vehicles, with the proposed change reducing the timeframe for those vehicles to be so declared and removed to twelve months to six months. Stakeholders noted that the adjustment allowed for more timely identification and removal of these “abandoned” vehicles. The proposal also includes provisions for designated Officers to be assigned to identify and initiate the removal process.

Participants also discussed updates to several definitions within the legislation, including the recommendation to expand the definition of biomedical waste producers to include establishments that handle bodily fluids or related materials, such as tattoo and body-piercing businesses.

The draft legislation also provides for the use of Public-Private Partnerships (PPPs) to support waste management infrastructure and services.

Generally, the consultation sought to and did involve a wide cross section of stakeholders in the review and enhancement of the legislation and focused in part on technical refinements and updates aimed at improving the effectiveness of the legislative framework and aligning it with modern waste management practices.

The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce continues to participate in national consultations that support sound policy development and sustainable environmental management in St. Lucia.

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