NationWIDE THE OFFICIAL NEWS MAGAZINE OF THE GOVERNMENT OF SAINT LUCIA NationSATURDAY FEBRUARYWIDE 20, 2016 Celebrating Nationhood with Pride and Restored Confidence! Photo by Marius Modeste As seen in this photo, Saint Lucians are this weekend in the full grip of Independence 37 n celebrations as the country gears-up for Monday’s official activities across the island. But celebratory and observance activities actually started since last week at home and abroad, Agency Targets US $1.5 Billion In Investments and as Saint Lucians here and in the Diaspora did as they increasingly do every year: sporting 8,000 Jobs by 2020 - Page 2 the national flag and colours everywhere they are. Saint Lucians in New York and Florida, London and Toronto, Barbados and Jamaica, Guyana and Trinidad & Tobago, Martinique and Cayenne are all savouring the enjoyment of yet another celebration of the island’s CIP To Boost Economy - Page 2 true national day (See pages 4, 5, 8 and 12). But Saint Lucians aren’t only celebrating Independence this weekend. The entire nation is also basking in the recognition and Tourism Director Welcomes Additional 700 Rooms acknowledgement that investor confidence has clearly returned, as seen in the number To Island’s Hotel Inventory! - Page 3 of new construction projects around the island and the resulting creation of jobs to reduce the unemployment rate (See Centre Pages 6 and 7). In addition, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the movers and shakers of world travel are all singing songs of Saint Lucia Showcases Its Renewable Energy praise and encouragement to Saint Lucia for the progress being shown in the economy Transition - Page 9 and in tourism (See Editorial on Page 2). This issue of Nationwide brings you additional news about everything from the continuing transition of our education system through Information and Communication Technology (See Page 3) to the continuing thrust to New Utilities Regulation Commission take Wi-Fi and Computer Access Centres to Fond St Jacques and all other communities Established - Page 10 island-wide (See Page 9). And, as always, world events of interest to Saint Lucia are captured in The Diplomatic Courier (See Page 11). Read on and enjoy this latest update Prime Minister Lauds Sports on all the Government of Saint Lucia has been doing at home and abroad, for country and people, as we take this opportunity to wish all Saint Lucians here, there and everywhere Personalities - Page 12 a Happy Independence Weekend! And don’t forget to view NationwideTV on NTN and browse the Nationwide Website at stlucianationwide.com at any time! Happy Reading! Happy Viewing! Happy Browsing! WHAT’S INSIDE Page 2 NationWIDE Saturday February 20, 2016 Agency targets US $1.5 Billion in Editorial investments and 8,000 jobs by 2020 Rebuilding With nvest Saint Lucia (ISL) has attributed to investments. ment and another development Confidence Restored! projected a flow of US $1.5 Some 277 of the permanent that straddles both the tourism Ibillion in investment proj- jobs created last year by ISL and infrastructure sectors. s we get ready to cel- the National Wellness Centre ects in Saint Lucia by the year went to tourism, while 183 went Several developments that ebrate the island’s to serve Saint Lucians and 2020. The island’s lone national to infrastructure and 117 to the started last year are also due for A37th Anniversary of other Caribbean citizens. investment company also says it private commercial sector. completion this year, including our Independence, the island Later this year too, $150 plans to create 8,000 jobs by that For this year, ISL projects for hotels and commercial centres. is experiencing a revival of million the Choc-Gros Islet time. investment flows of US $331 Apart from several hotel and confidence on several fronts. Highway project will take ISL says last year it recorded million and 2,200 jobs. commercial properties under The International Monetary off with all its added ancili- US $168 million worth of invest- Among new investments ex- construction in the north of the Fund (IMF) has confirmed ary works, as will prelimi- ments, out of which US $124 has pected this year are: chicken pro- island, ongoing projects also in- that the island’s economy is nary works for the new East been attributed to foreign in- cessing facilities, a pasta and ra- clude the Six Senses Residences back on track. Coast Highway that will vestment and the rest local. men processing facilityt, a flour at Freedom Bay and a hotel The Central Statistics Office run from Gros Islet through Also last year, the company mill, an insulated concrete farm project being undertaken in the has confirmed that more jobs Babonneau to Dennery and helped Saint Lucia welcome factory, a dining and entertain- Anse La Raye/Canaries area by are being created and unem- Vieux Fort. 2,914 transient jobs and 577 per- ment centre, two 4-star develop- The Boka Group. (More on Page ployment is being reduced. By the end of the year too, manent ones that were directly ments, a 5-star hotel develop- 2 and in Centre Pages) Foreign and private invest- several more Community Ac- ments are on the upswing, cess centres will be opened in with some 700 new hotel more communities to provide rooms being built. free Wi-Fi and access to com- CIP to boost economy Big businesses are con- puters and ICT services. structing mega stores in Similarly, more students, Marisule and Castries, with teachers and principals will overnment has designed development, and the increas- a high level of growth to our other properties taking join and continue the transi- a transparent and struc- ing use of citizenship programs economy.” shape from Freedom Bay to tion of our education system tured program to ensure by other countries as an incen- Dr. Anthony asserts that gov- G Anse La Raye/Canaries. through Information and that issues of credibility and in- tive tool, we took the decision ernment designed a transpar- The island earlier this week Communication Technology tegrity are well- protected. to offer a similar program,” Dr. ent, robust and structured Citi- welcomed it’s 15th interna- (ICT). Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony says. zenship by Investment Program tional private bank to our And the list can go on and Anthony says the Citizenship He adds, "While we have spent to ensure that issues of credibil- shores, after having been on… by Investment Program will the last four years stabilizing ity and integrity are well- pro- chosen by its owners and di- When Prime Minister Dr provide impetus for the recover- and restoring our economic tected. rectors over the likes of Bar- Kenny D. Anthony told the ing economy, in order to lessen foundation, the Citizenship by The program began accepting bados and The Bahamas. nation four years ago that the the effects of a decline in foreign Investment Program will pro- applications in January. The movers and shakers in road to recovery would be direct investment. vide impetus to our recovering A qualifying investment must the world of travel are shwer- long but sure, he also warned The program grants citizen- economy to take off in the com- satisfy the minimum invest- ing the island with acco- that things would get worse ship on the basis of various ing months. ment level in the Saint Lucia lades: over 50 awards in the before getting better. forms of investment. "A number of resorts will National Economic Fund, an ap- past year – from being a Top All the evidence today “It was a difficult decision to [soon] be constructed in Saint proved real estate project, an ap- Trending Caribbean Desti- shows that under his leader- make, but given the persistent Lucia. These resorts will create proved enterprise project or the nation to gracing the Home ship and stewardship, con- decline in foreign direct invest- much needed jobs in the con- purchase of government bonds. Page of American Express fidence has been restored in ment caused by the world finan- struction sector, add more jobs Similar programs are offered Travel to The World’s Best both country and economy, cial crisis, the mounting chal- in the hospitality sector, revive in Saint Kitts, Dominica, Anti- Honeymoon Destination to on this administration’s lenges to raise money for our our real estate sector and restore gua and Barbuda and Grenada. One of the Cheapest Places watch. to Vacation and to ten of the As the IMF noted last week, island’s hotels ranking above the economy has moved out and beyond most of their re- of the red and in to the black. Health leaders adopt gional competitors in less It has commended the gov- than the past year. ernment, with warning. And With 5,000 more jobs cre- it urges caution while point- ated in the last quarter of last ing to risks to be avoided. regional Zika strategy year and more construction Yes, confidence has been re- projects tocome on stream stored. But this is still no time egional health ministers Zika and other mosquito-borne To date, 26 countries and ter- later this year, the future for complacency, because we aim to promote coopera- viruses such as Dengue and ritories of the Americas have looks bright for employment. are still not yet out of the tion and develop proto- Chikungunya. reported local transmission of Invest Saint Lucia is target- woods. R ing US $1.5 billion in invest- Now is the time to keep on cols and guidelines on surveil- The health ministers requested Zika virus infection. lance, risk communication, and the assistance of the Pan Ameri- In early March, PAHO/WHO ments and 2,200 jobs by 2020.