“Exciting Times Ahead,” says Deputy PM Hillarie while sharing brief of week proceedings

St Lucia: The week went by without notice, but there were a lot of crucial meetings and activities that happened. More of that is in time to come.

Monday was business as usual, with Cabinet taking up the majority of the day. In everything the government does, we are dedicated to rebuilding our local economy, particularly from the negative effects of the Covid-19 pandemic.

Tuesday was dedicated to moving forward with Carnival plans for this year. The day started with a meeting with Calypso tent leaders. ‘Kaiso’ is a crucial cultural pillar of our Carnival, so we need to ensure that we protect the art form. It was then followed by a meeting with public health officials to discuss protocols for the Carnival season. We need to ensure that the protocols are inclusive and are able to give us the best cultural showcase. The day then ended with a presentation from tourism officials on the new Tourism Development Act. This new Act will be sure to make the pie bigger for all investors, both local and foreign.

Wednesday was dedicated to my constituents. This day always brings me the most joy. My constituents are the reason that I am here doing the people’s work. It always keeps me grounded and reminds me of where I have come from.

The next day I joined the board of directors and senior management of Invest Saint Lucia for a Strategic Alignment Workshop. As the lead investment agency, they are tasked to facilitate investments on the island that are to the benefit of all. The day continued with a handing over ceremony of devices to primary schools in District 4. Education is a key pillar of sustainable development, and we are dedicated to equipping our future leaders with all tools they need to succeed.

Friday started off with a zoom presentation with Sandals Chairman’s Royal Club. It was exciting to present our beautiful Helen of the West to travel advisors across the world. There are exciting times to come! The day continued with a thank you ceremony for the staff of the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority working on the travel portal. They were one of the unsung heroes during the pandemic approving travel authorisation. Later in the night, I travelled to London for a series of meetings.