Saint Lucia Magazine (August 5th 2026)

[music] Hello and welcome to St. Nishia Magazine, your weekly roundup of the nation's top stories in education, the economy, infrastructure, agriculture and more. I am your host, Nal Ogist. In this edition, St. injured hospital opens a new diialysis unit and government maintains fuel price stability. [music] >> St. Jude Hospital has officially commissioned its new diialysis unit, expanding accessibility to lifesaving treatments. Fenel Neptune reports. With the successful commissioning of the diialysis unit to the newly rehabilitated Stured Hospital OA site, this marks a major step towards the ongoing efforts of improving healthcare service delivery in St. Lucia. Individuals requiring diialysis treatment now have a more comfortable, enhanced, and modern space to receive care. The diialysis unit at the newly rehabilitated St. hospital o site has been upgraded with equipment and also now has available 14 diialysis service stations. The Ministry of Health Wellness and Nutrition praised the smooth transition of diialysis services at Synjur Hospital and ensuring there was uninterrupted lifesaving care for patients. Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Health Jenny Daniel spoke on the measures which were taken by the ministry. Of course, the ministry of health is cognizant of the of the nature of diialysis and the service that is required by diialysis patients. Um the fact that you know when you need to be dialized, you need to be dialized and you know if you don't receive the diialysis that you that is required it can be life-threatening. So we ensured that we had an arrangement in place with the other facilities who normally dialize patients referred by the Ministry of Health and we [snorts] ensured that we put in place the the system and the finances that would allow for those patients to continue to receive diialysis while the transitioning was taking place because during the transitioning process we would have stopped diialysis at the stadium and of course this the the diialysis unit would not have been ready to receive patients until today. And so during this time during the days that that fell in between we ensured that there was continuity of service for the patients. >> Jenny Danielle also spoke on the transitioning of the diialysis unit to the newly rehabilitated hospital as one which required teamwork collaborative effort and support in order to achieve a high standard of care. >> So the move of the diialysis services from the stadium to this OJ site has not been an overnight move. I know that the you know the general public public has been concerned and clamoring for you know the the quick movement but the success of the move here today speaks to a lot of foundational work that took place background work with our technical officers with the company Renal Dynamics who has traveled to St. Russia to provide us with that support and assistance, ensuring that the correct units were put in place, that the water systems were fully operational, electrical systems and everything. And this is what has contributed to a successful move to the diialysis unit. Minister for Health, Wellness, and Nutrition, the Honorable Moses Jabatis expressed great excitement and satisfaction following the full commissioning of the diialysis unit and reiterated the government's commitment to strengthen healthcare infrastructure and to also improve overall patient experience. >> We know that uh there are many individuals who live in the south of St. Lucia who require diialysis services. In our experience, we know that over the years many patients had to wait and other patients had to go to castries for diialysis. This improved department will certainly provide opportunities for individuals from the south who require diialysis. It will help them in terms of uh transportation saving transportation um costs and also um being able to access the service closer to home. The Ministry of Health reaffirmed its commitment to advancing healthcare delivery and ensuring that residents in the south of the island continue to benefit from improved health infrastructure and strengthening of health services as the full commissioning of the St. Jude hospital continues in a phased approach. Reporting from the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition, I am FA Neptune. >> The government of St. Asia has absorbed nearly $45 million in fuel tax reductions and cooking gas subsidies since April to shield consumers from rising global oil prices. Prime Minister Honorable Philip JPS says fuel prices will remain unchanged despite growing costs. Melissa Paul has the details. Government's efforts to limit fuel and cooking gas costs have had a combined EC44.9 million impact on public finances since the start of the financial year on April 1st. The figures include reduced revenue from excise tax on fuel as well as the cost of subsidizing cooking gas. Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, Honorable Philig GPS says the cost is concerning. Despite the pressure, government will keep fuel prices unchanged during the next pricing cycle >> because of the issues [snorts] in the in the world oil market, the war between Iran and the US. The government of St. Lucia has lost $44.9 million in revenue between the period 1st of April till now. $44.9 million revenue loss. And I think that's a very concerning situation. Um and let let me tell you the the breakdown the breakdown of that loss is $39.2 $2 million lost in fuel, excise tax on fuel and gas, an increase in subsidies for cooking gas of $5.7 million between the 1st of April and now. We've subsidized cooking gas by $5.7 million and we've exercised tax on gasoline of $39.2 million. >> Governments cannot control international oil prices or events which may cause them to rise. It can however limit the effects on consumers by collecting less tax on fuel and covering part of the cost of cooking gas. Government helps to keep fuel prices below what consumers would otherwise pay. In some cases, government covers a substantial portion of the actual cost of the 20 and 22 cooking gas cylinders, sometimes amounting to more than half of the actual cost. >> The situation on the oil market is not very good news for St. Lucia. Not good news at all. But we continue to continue to we we are going to be g giving support to um for for education um the education sub the education support will continue for the for the coming period in September. We're going to be getting a a cleanup program for St. Lucia. uh step program will commence in the first week of August to help um unemployed people to help them to get some sort of revenue to be able to send the help their children education. We continue and we will continue giving um education subsidies to thousands of people in throughout the island for the incoming school year. The UNIPASS system regarding secondary schools is going to continue. Educations for UNIPASS, the first generation scholarships are going to continue and the government's program as for the early childhood education program is going to continue. We're going to be increasing the all the budgetary proposals that you made regarding education, early childhood, the government is going to fulfill them. Prime Minister Pier says that despite the reduced revenue and the growing cost of the subsidies, sound fiscal management will allow the government to continue delivering on major promises made to St. Lucian's in the 2026 2027 budget, particularly as it relates to education and early childhood. >> St. Ina observed Emancipation Day on August 1st with a call for citizens to reflect on the nation's history in order to help shape a stronger future. Virgil Leanti reports. St. Lucian have been challenged to personally find meaning in the theme for Emancipation Day 2026. Understanding your past to create a pathway for the future. Minister with responsibility for culture. Honorable Ernest Hiller explains that understanding slavery provides clearer context to what former colonies like St. Lucia are still enduring. >> That we were inserted into an international system where they used our ancestors and degraded and dehumanized them for the sake of profit. That's what it was. And the the fact that he would go to such extreme measures to do so tells you that that desire is insatiable. There's no limit. There's no end to it. And fast forward, fast forward and we can speak of our own experiences in those small islands. Our banana industry, we produce less than.5% of world production of bananas. But an international system according to its trading rules would have destroyed that from us. Think about it. Just how much profit, how much money is in less than.5% of world production. Just think of how much. But why would you destroy us? Destroy all the possibilities in those small island just to gain a couple more hundred millions of dollars. But that's the nature of the system. The minister added that this is the same system which took away financial services and is threatening citizenship by investment for Caribbean countries. >> If you understand the past that that system would have done to human beings, what they did to black people during slavery for the sake of generating profit. You can understand what we are going through now and why it will not end and why we must create a pathway that can navigate and be strategic and see openings and be agile and adaptive to make sure we can continue to deliver for our people. >> The minister provoked everyone to contemplate what they can personally do to create a brighter future for the country since no one is coming to our rescue. Reporting for the Government Information Service, I am Virtually Leonte. >> Still to come, the ECCB unveils new bank notes honoring three St. Lucian. Stay with us. >> [music] [music] >> Test pressure. [music] Community [music] Health Center check pressure [music] check because you [music] welcome back. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank has unveiled a new series of banknotes featuring regional heroes and nation builders, replacing the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II for the first time. Three distinguished St. Lucian are among those honored. Melissa Paul tells us more. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank has unveiled a new series of EC Bank notes celebrating the people heritage and achievements of the Eastern Caribbean, marking the first time the region's currency no longer features the image of the late Queen Elizabeth II. The unveiling took place during the ceremony to mark the change of chairmanship of the ECCB monetary council in Potsmouth, Dominica, where governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, Timothy NJtoan, officially revealed the redesigned notes. The redesign follows a decision by the ECCB monetary council in July 2023 to replace the image of the British monarch on the EC currency. Public consultation held across the Eastern Caribbean between July and December that year found overwhelming support for recognizing national heroes and nation builders from across the currency union. >> Recognizing that the currency belongs to the people of the Eastern Caribbean currency union, the Monetary Council invited the public through the central bank to help shape this new chapter in our shared history. Between July and December 2023, citizens across the currency union were consulted on who or what should appear on the redesigned currency. The response was clear and compelling. The people called for our currency to honor our own heroes, nation builders, and persons whose lives and achievements have enriched our countries and strengthened our region. Guided by that mandate, each participating member country was invited to nominate an individual whose life and legacy reflect the highest ideas of service, leadership, scholarship, and excellence. >> The new bank note series honors distinguished citizens from each of the eight member countries of the Eastern Caribbean currency union. Three distinguished salutions are among those recognized. The new EC 100 notes features Nobel laurate Sir William Arthur Lewis alongside the right honorable Sir John George Melvin Compton, St. Lucia's first prime minister and national hero. The EC $50 note honors the honorable Sir K. Dwight Venna, former governor of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, recognizing the lasting contributions of three St. Lucian to both the nation and the wider Eastern Caribbean. Members of the ECCB monetary council unveiled the redesigned banknotes during the ceremony. Prime Minister Honorable Philip JPierre revealed St. Lucia's selection. >> St. Lucia's selection is John George Melvin Compton. [applause] >> The right honorable Sir John George Melvin Compton served as St. Lucia's first premier and first prime minister, leading the nation to independence. His vision for economic diversification, nation building, and regional integration helped shape modern St. Lucia while advancing cooperation across the currency union. He also represented St. Lucia as a signary to the ECCB agreement, establishing one of the region's most enduring institutions. The ceremony also marked the official transfer of the chairmanship of the ECCB monetary council from Antigga and Barbuda's prime minister, Honorable Gaston Brown to Dominica's Minister for Finance, Honorable Dr. Irving McIntyre, who now chairs the governing body of the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. The redesigned EC bank notes will be introduced into circulation across the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union in phases, ushering in a new chapter for the region's common currency while celebrating the people whose vision, leadership, and service helped shape the Caribbean. 48 St. Lucian have been awarded scholarships to pursue higher education in Taiwan, forming the country's largest ever scholarship cohort. Amanda Fay Clark has the story. >> 48 names, 48 journeys, one national investment in human possibility. In late August of 2026, the largest ever cohort of St. Lucian scholars bound for the Republic of China, Taiwan, will leave the island to pursue higher education across a diverse range of disciplines. At a ceremony held at the financial administrative center this week, the scholars received the official documents opening the next chapter of the academic and professional lives. The occasion also marked another first complete gender parity. 24 men and 24 women are equally represented within the 2026 cohort. A powerful signal that opportunity, talent, and national responsibility belong to everyone. When you arrive in Taiwan next month, there will be around 200 St. Lucian students studying in Taiwan. This demonstrates the shared values of both St. Lucia and Taiwan and our common aspiration to empower the youth through education. I am proud to share with you that Taiwan is globally recognized uh for innovation and competitiveness. According to the latest 2026 IMD world competitiveness ranking, Taiwan ranks number four in the world. That partnership continues in quest to move beyond the traditional view of education as a pathway to personal advancement alone. Within the country's revamped educational policy direction, learning is increasingly being positioned as a national infrastructure, more inclusive, digitally responsive, connected to innovation, and aligned with the competencies demanded by a rapidly changing world. >> These scholarships therefore represent more than overseas study. They form part of a wider national effort to develop globally competent citizens who can return with new knowledge, strengthen institutions, create solutions and expand St. Lucia's intellectual, technological and economic capacity. But as you as we celebrate you, I never never forget that academic excellence must always be accomp accompanied by service to humanity. I never want you to perish that thought. I never want you to resile from that thought. I always want you to remember that with academic excellence comes service to humanity. Use your education to uplift others. Use your education to strengthen your nation. Use your education to ensure that someone else's life is better with your influence. For these scholars, Taiwan will offer far more than academic instruction. It [clears throat] will expose them to new disciplines, languages, cultures, and perspectives that may reshape how they understand their chosen fields and how they position themselves within an increasingly interconnected world. For St. Lucia, the departure raises an equally significant national question. How will the knowledge, expertise, and international exposure they acquire be translated into lasting value at home? The answer will be measured not only by the degrees they earn, but by the ideas they introduce, the institutions they strengthen, the enterprises they establish, and the communities they help to advance. [applause] 48 scholars are leaving St. Lucia. What the nation anticipates is the return of 48 citizens better equipped to help shape its future. Reporting for the Department of Education and Digital Transformation, I am Amanda [clears throat] F. Clark. >> Coming up next, UHC expands services to provide free treatment for premature babies. As we continue to refine St. Lucia's tourism and hospitality industry. Data gathering and identifying our needs for training and capacity building will close the gaps and connect the dots between where we are now and where [music] we want to be. Ensuring that we bolster our hospitality workforce and businesses to maintain our prestige as a top tier island destination. It's a national call to action. Take part in the national assessment of training and capacity needs. survey rolled out by the Ministry of Tourism. Hospitality businesses, stakeholders, [music] vendors, taxi drivers, and all other tourism related operators [music] are invited to take the survey and be part of the movement to shape and refine the future of St. Lucia's tourism product. Look out for [music] the survey via email or facilitate one of our authorized enumerators via phone call or in person starting Wednesday, [music] 23rd August, 2023. It's a national call to action to participate in the Ministry of [music] Tourism's training needs assessment, shaping our future, starting now. [music] For more information, please contact 7202305 or 713209. Welcome back. The Universal Health Coverage Project is expanding its maternal and child health services to include free surfactant replacement therapy for premature babies. We hear more from Dr. Alicia Eugene Ford. [music] The St. Lucia Universal Health Coverage Project [music] under the Ministry of Health Wellness and Nutrition continues to launch health services in a phased [music] manner under UAC. In June of 2023, we launched maternal and child health services, which was the first service we launched under UAC, where [music] we gave mothers all the labs they need for their antiatal period or during their pregnancy, as well as the ultrasounds they would need [music] because we noticed that mothers will it was a bit difficult for them to be able to pay for all the labs and get their ultrasounds done. On August 1st of this year, which is the next few days, we are we will be expanding [music] the service under maternal and child health services by offering mothers offering premature babies rather surfactant replacement therapy. We know that we have premature babies being born and these mothers or fathers or parents are [music] asked to purchase the surfactant replacement therapy. One vial is about $2,000. And sometimes a baby would need one or two vials for them to be able to have lung maturity to leave out of the womb seeing that they were born before the time they're supposed to be born cuz they're premature. So under UHC, come August 1st, we we will be providing surfactant replacements therapy as an [music] expansion of the maternal and child health services under UAC at both Millennium Heights Medical Complex and [music] St. June hospital. So premature babies would have a better chance of survival by getting the surfactant replacement therapy at no cost to the parents. St. Lucia hosted Caribbean leaders for the 51st regular meeting of the conference of heads of government of Caraccom where regional integration, climate resilience, security and economic development topped the agenda. Once again, here is Melissa Paul with the details. St. Lucia has welcomed Caribbean leaders to the 51st regular meeting of the conference of heads of government of Caraccom with regional integration. Economic resilience, climate change and security dominating that agenda. The 4day summit also marks the beginning of St. Lucia's chairmanship of the regional body and the prime minister Philip G. Pierre. in welcoming them to this important conference. I recognize that it is with a deep sense of duty that they have come together unified in the belief that our future depends on accentuating regional interest, adapting to global challenges and strengthening our collective voice for sustainable development and regional stability. Leaders are expected to consider a broad range of issues affecting the Caribbean, including food security, economic development, climate resilience, and regional cooperation. Secretary General Dr. Carla Barnett said the region must move beyond resilience and actively shape its own future. To move from resilience to renewal, as this meeting's theme urges, requires active recognition that as architects of this region's future, we should work in unison to shape our own destiny on our own terms. >> Outgoing chairman, Prime Minister Dr. Terren Drew said the past six months has reinforced one central lesson that Caribbean unity remains its strongest strategic asset. >> These past six months have been strengthened have strengthened one conviction above all others and that is unity is not simply our highest ideal. It is our greatest strategic advantage. >> Assuming the chairmanship, Prime Minister Pierre calls for a greater emphasis on implementation, saying the value of regional cooperation should ultimately be measured by the difference it makes in people's lives. >> During this chairmanship, my commitment will be guided by a simple but important principle. Kaka must move from conference rooms to communities, from rhetoric from reality, from communicates to results. Our people must be able to see and feel the benefits of visional cooperation. >> The conference continues through July 8th with heads of government expected to adopt decisions intended to strengthen regional cooperation and address shared Caribbean priorities. And with that, we wrap up this edition of St. Lucia Magazine. A heartfelt thank you to everyone who contributed to this production, the national television network, the GIS team, and the communications officers across government ministries. Thank you for watching NCN Channel 122 and following the official social media platforms of the government of St. Lucia. I am Nvalogist. Until next time, stay informed, stay engaged as we continue tracking St. Nia's progress.