PERFORMANCE REPORT HON. EMMA HIPPOLYTE

2011 - 2016

Leadership through Service

Introduction

Following a long, challenging and testing

campaign, and three (3) full days of the recount of ballots, Emma Hippolyte emerged victorious on 2nd December, 2011, to represent the people of Gros Islet in the most honourable house – the House of Parliament.

Jubilation After Emma Hippolyte was Declared

Winner of the Constituency of Gros Islet

Since then, Hon Hippolyte has taken on the mantle of delivering quality representation to her constituents based on the promises made in her Manifesto. Then, she proposed a ten year plan which she put into effect from her first day in office. The task of delivering as Parliamentary Representative has had its challenges, however, the Hon Minister is undaunted and remains resolute in her mission to fulfil the promises made during her campaign. The large population and sheer size of the Gros Islet Constituency (the largest constituency in Saint Lucia) has not deterred her from attempting to meet the needs of all constituents. This has demanded tremendous energy, fortitude, time, dedication, patience and diligence from Hon Emma Hippolyte and her team; nonetheless, she has maintained contact and good relations with the constituents of Gros Islet, through dedicated, committed representation. As a God-fearing, devoted Christian, Emma Hippolyte worships with her constituents at all denominations – Roman Catholic, Seventh Day

Adventist, Evangelical, Pentecostal, Baptist, Anglican, Methodist, etc. She takes an interest in the lives of the people she serves by rejoicing in their successes, sympathising in their times of great loss, visiting the sick and shut-in and sharing candid moments at the supermarket. Hon Emma Hippolyte has worked assiduously to ensure that there has been overall improvement in the constituency, especially in the areas of youth development and sports, rehabilitation and reconstruction of infrastructure, housing, healthcare, people empowerment and cultural and economic development. Moreover, the Minister, along with her Cabinet colleagues, has implemented necessary social reforms which have had positive impacts on the lives of the citizens of Gros Islet and Saint Lucia. These include:

The Home Help Programme,

The After-School Programme,

The National Initiative to Create Employment (NICE), The Single Mothers In Life Empowerment (SMILE) Project,

The Holistic Opportunities for Personal Empowerment (HOPE) Project,

The Short Term Employment Programme (STEP),

The Project for the Rationalisation of Unplanned Development (PROUD),

The Youth Agricultural Entrepreneurial Program (YAEP), as well as other programmes aimed at ensuring human resource development, economic improvement and progress in culture and community empowerment.

These could have only been achieved with your support, patience and cooperation.

#EmmaNation 3

Emma Cares

Our Journey thus far!!! Infrastructure

Demands for new infrastructure and

improvement to existing structures in the Constituency of Gros Islet are great and continuous. Unfortunately, funding for infrastructural projects do not match those demands and the Minister has had to make very tough decisions to satisfy dire needs. Whether it is repairing, rehabilitating or reconstructing the infrastructure, there is always the challenge of finding funds for these construction efforts. The issue of limited funds and funding agencies tends to mask an equally important requirement—the need to develop a rational basis for making far‐reaching decisions about the required degree of rehabilitation, replacement or construction. In Gros Islet, Hon Hippolyte has developed a system to guide these decisions based on evaluations of life‐cycle considerations and costs; because these evaluations influence the entire useful life of the project and determine its true total cost to the public.

Street Lamps: The comfort and

safety of constituents remain a priority of the Parliamentary Representative and as such, she undertook the Gros Islet Lighting Project in which she engaged the Saint Lucia Electricity Service (LUCELEC) to effect the installation of street lamps throughout the constituency between 2012 and 2013. This was especially impactful in Cap Estate where the issue of security was a huge concern to the residents. This project, which was suspended to allow LUCELEC to transition to Light Emitting Diodes (LED) lighting, happily recommenced in May 2016. With the installation of about 120 street lamps, many more residents throughout the constituency will benefit from this irradiating project.

Bridges: The structural integrity of bridges

in Saint Lucia were certainly put to the test in October 2010 when the country was ravaged by Hurricane Tomas. Since then, incidents like the Christmas Eve Trough and several other weather-related disasters have undermined, and in some cases, destroyed our bridges. Gros Islet has not been immune to this, thus Hon Hippolyte has successfully reinforced and constructed the bridges at Bonne Terre, Bois d’Orange, Assou Canal and Monchy. Remedial work was also done on the Choc Bridge.

The Bonne Terre Bridge A thorough investigation of the Bonne Terre Bridge revealed that the Armco pipes which formed part of the initial construction of the said bridge had outlived their useful life. This resulted in persistent flooding during heavy downpours and subsequent failure of the road carriage.

The Bonne Terre Bridge Before Construction.

A new bridge was constructed to facilitate the high volume of water produced during heavy rainfall, storms and hurricanes. Consistent with the government’s plans, the new bridge consists four (4) lanes to accommodate anticipated future traffic volume. It is expected to protect homes situated along the Bonne Terre Ravine in the event of flooding. It also hoped that it will create a sense of comfort in the minds of those traversing the route. It has a projected life span of 120 years and will undergo periodic routine maintenance.

#EmmaNation 4

Emma Cares

The Bonne Terre Bridge After Construction

The Bois d’Orange Bridge Work on the Bois d’Orange Bridge was commissioned after the old bridge suffered severe structural damage due to debris carried by the floodwaters of Hurricane Tomas in 2010. Although emergency repair works were performed on the collapsed section of the roadway following the passage of the hurricane, the Government of Saint Lucia determined that the bridge had to be replaced for the safety of commuters. Therefore, funding for the construction of the bridge was secured from the World Bank as part of the Disaster Relief Fund. Construction commenced in October, 2013.

The Bois d’Orange Bridge after Hurricane Tomas

in 2010

The Bois d’Orange Bridge Just Before Construction

in 2013

The Bois d’Orange Bridge After Construction

Similar to the Bonne Terre Bridge, the newly constructed Bois d’Orange Bridge will operate as a two-lane roadway, although it was built to accommodate four-lane traffic consistent with future road infrastructure plans for the northern highway. This 18-meter, single span, composite steel and concrete structure is supported on reinforced concrete piles.

The Choc Bridge The Choc Bridge started to collapse as a result of the2013 Christmas Eve Trough. The bridge was closed for a short period during 2014 to allow for remedial work.

The Choc Bridge Before Remedial Work was Done

on It

The Assou Canal Bridge The Assou Canal Bridge was completely destroyed during Hurricane Tomas. Construction on the Bridge began in 2014 and it is expected to be opened to the public by the end of June, 2016.

The Assou Canal Bridge During Construction

#EmmaNation 5

Emma Cares

The Almost Completed Assou Canal Bridge

Roads: Roads are clearly a critical enabling

condition for improving living standards, connecting people, providing access to essential services and building communities and is a gateway to economic development. For these reasons, Hon. Emma Hippolyte placed significant emphasis in restoring and rehabilitating roads and drains in the entire constituency. Some of these funded by the Government of Saint Lucia while others were funded by the Taiwanese funds. These projects are as follows:

1. The Constituency Development Programme (CDP)

A1: Bonne Terre – Bougainvillea Drive Road and Drains Cas En Bas Drainage Works Cas En Bas – Fostin Development Road and Drains Gros Islet Town – Cemetery Road Road and Drains Gros Islet Town – Dauphin and Marina Streets Sidewalks and Grills Cas En Bas – Italian Guests House Road Road and Drain A2: Desrameaux Drainage Works Monchy – Hunter J Francois Drive Road and Drain Monchy Drainage Works Monchy – Cletus Drive Road and Drains

Caye Manage Drainage Works Caye Manage – Cedar Heights Drive Road and Drains Caye Manage link to Bonne Terre – Charles Monoco Drive Road and Drains Monchy – La Refrain Road Road and Drain A3: Assou Canal Road and Drain Inglewoods Side Walks and Steps Monier – Croton Drive Road and Drains Monier Roads and Drains Degazon Drains Piat – Fostin Development Roads and Drains Grande Riviere – near Prince Supermrket Road and Drain Grande Riviere – Deewee Doo Road Road and Drain Grande Riviere – near Corinth Secondary School Road and Drain Grande Riviere – opposite Roman catholic Church Road and Drains A4: Marisule – Belle Vue Drive Drainage Works Corinth – Main Road Road and Drains Bonaire Roads and Drains Marisule – Tool Rental Road Road Marisule – Parrot’s Hideaway Road Road and Drain Marisule – Road leading to the Beach Road and Drain

#EmmaNation 6

Emma Cares

Rehabilitation of Residential Road in Bonaire

Rehabilitation of the Deewee Doo Road in Grande

Riviere

Rehabilitation of the Hunter J. Francois Drive in La

Feuille This road was named in honour of a great sun of

the soil, pictured here – Hunter J. Francois

2. The Ministry of Infrastructure A1: Bonne Terre, Peewee Drive Road and Drain Beausejour Gardens, Roads and Drain Beausejour Phase 2 Eight Roads and Drain Fostin Development, Cas En Bas Road and Drain A2: Beverly Hills, Riviere Mitant Road and Drain

A3: Degazon Road and Drain After the last heavy rains in November 2015, the La Bourne/Dauphin Road was backfilled in order for persons to gain access to their homes.

Residential Road in

Fostin Development in Cas En Bas Before

Rehabilitation

Residential Road in Fostin Development in

Cas En Bas After Rehabilitation

Pewee Drive in Bonne

Terre Before Rehabilitation

Pewee Drive in Bonne Terre After

Rehabilitation

Beverly Hills in Riviere

Mitant Road Before Rehabilitiation

Beverly Hills in Riviere Mitant After

Rehabilitation

Causeway in La Bourne After the Heavy Rain in

November, 2015

Causeway at La Bourne During the Backfilling

#EmmaNation 7

Emma Cares

Road at Trouya Before

Rehabilitation Road at Trouya After

Rehabilitation

Planning for development is one of the most important functions of any government. With the increase in population in the north of the island, particularly in Gros Islet, the Government of Saint Lucia, under the leadership of Hon. Dr. Kenny D. Anthony, commissioned the extension of the four-lane highway from the roundabout at Choc, to the junction of the Gros Islet town. In 2015, the Hon. Prime Minister signed a $48 Million loan for the repairs of several side roads in the Constituency to accommodate traffic during the upgrading of the Castries/Gros Islet Highway. Commuters’ patience will be tested no doubt, hence, the Parliamentary Representative for Gros Islet is urging commuters to plan their journeys with care and give the project all the cooperation that is needed. The repairs of the side roads will result in an improved road network throughout the Constituency as well as provide much needed jobs for the residents, thereby contributing to economic growth. These by-pass roads include: 1. Castries, Gros Islet – Beausejour – Beausejour

Bella Rosa (JAG) = 0.3km 2. Bella Rosa, Bonne Terre – Bonne Terre Monchy

= 2.7km 3. Bonne Terre – Monchy to Monchy – Vieux

Secrieux = 0.8km 4. Monchy – Vieux Secrieux – Norbert, Corinth =

3.1km 5. Beausejour (JAG) – Bella Rose = 0.21km 6. Union, Grande Riviere – Choc Roundabout =

1.5km 7. Union, Grande Riviere – Grande Riviere Bridge

= 2.0km 8. Grande Riviere Bridge – Norbert, Corinth =

1.2km 9. Corinth, Marisule – Norbert, Corinth = 1.5km

10. Corinth, Bois d’Orange – Norbert, Corinth = 1.9km

11. Monchy, Bois d’Orange – Monchy, Vieux Secrieux = 0.8km

12. Aquatic Center – Monchy = 1.2km 13. Bonne Terre Access Road (near bridge) =

0.35km 14. Castries, Gros Islet (Marina) – Bella Rosa,

Bonne Terre = 0.25km

Total 17.81km As part of the four-lane highway extension feasibility study, Hon Hippolyte has requested that a Gros Islet Bus Terminal and Market be included to service the many residents who live and work around the constituency. Presently, three major bus routes exist – 1A, which transports people along the Castries-Gros Islet Highway to the town of Gros Islet; 1D, which transports people from Castries to Grande Riviere and environs; and 1E, which services the residents of Monchy and environs. Due to the fact that Gros Islet is an economic centre with many businesses, hotels, etc. which employs thousands of people from the north, it is necessary to establish a transportation route which will take residents directly to Gros Islet. Presently, commuters have to take two buses (and sometimes more) from communities like Piat, Desrameaux and Caye Mange to get to work, go to the supermarket and access recreational areas in Rodney Bay and Gros Islet – this is expensive. Therefore, the Parliamentary Representative will continue working toward establishing this Bus Terminal and Market to provide more comfortable and affordable commute within the constituency and facilitate the establishment of small businesses where people can earn a living.

Drains and Culverts: A

number of culverts and drains were rehabilitated and in some cases, larger culverts were constructed to withstand the great capacity of water during heavy rains and alleviate the problem of flooding.

#EmmaNation 8

Emma Cares

Demolition of Old Drain in Corinth

Construction of New Drain in Corinth

Drain in La Retraite Before Construction

Drain in La Retraite After Construction

Construction of Box

Culvert in Bois d’Orange in Progress

Construction of Box Culvert in Bois

d’Orange In November, 2015, emergency work had to be undertaken on the Castries-Gros Islet Highway near the J.Q. Rodney Bay Mall as a result of a collapsed culvert which occurred almost overnight. The Government had to construct a new box culvert which cost approximately EC$1.9 Million.

Collapsed Culvert near J.Q. Rodney Bay Mall

Rodney Bay Culvert During Construction

Rodney Bay Culvert During Construction

Rodney Bay Culvert Near Completion

Potholing: The Ministry of

Infrastructure undertook potholing work in every community in the Constituency. Here is an example:

Potholing Work in

Progress in Assou Canal Road in Assou Canal after potholing work

Grills: The Government has spent a

considerable amount on the fabrication and placement of grills in Bonaire, Assou Canal, Grande Riviere, Trouya, Gros Islet, Monchy, Top of the World, Marisule, Bois d’Orange and Rodney Bay.

Work in Progress

Replacing Grill near Choc Hill

Replacement of Grill near Choc Hill

Damaged Grill in Grande Riviere

Grill Replacement in Grande Riviere

Damaged Grill on Bay

Street, Gros Islet Town Replacement of

Damaged Grill on Bay Street, Gros Islet Town

#EmmaNation 9

Emma Cares

Retaining Walls: A number of

retaining walls were built in Bonne Terre, Union, Assou Canal and Degazon which cost the Government well over EC$400,000.00

Construction of Retaining Wall in Norbert in

Progress

Construction of Retaining Wall and Drain in

Pomsitere Drive Bonne Terre

Construction of Retaining Wall in Union in

Progress

Assou Canal River Before Construction of

Retaining Wall

Construction of gabion basket retaining wall in

Assou Canal

Before the

Construction of Retaining Wall and

Drainage in Degazon

After the Construction of Retaining Wall and Drainage in Degazon

Safety Enhancement Project:

1. De-bushing Through the STEP programme, the Government has done extensive de-bushing work in the Constituency to ensure that bush does not encroach on roads which could cause hazards to both motorists and pedestrians. Hundreds of persons (men and women of all ages) were employed in this endeavour, with all communities from Cap Estate to Rodney Bay to Vieux- Sucre benefitted from this very important project.

Area in White Rock Before De-Bushing

Area in White Rock After De-Bushing

2. Sidewalks During 2014, the Ministry of Infrastructure collaborated with the St Lucia Hotel and Tourism Association (SLHTA) to construct the sidewalk near the Rodney Bay Marina. The IGY Rodney Bay Marina is a port of

#EmmaNation 10

Emma Cares

entry for many visitors to the island. Since our economy is tourist-based, it is necessary for us to ensure the safety of visitors who grace our shores. Therefore, sidewalks were built by the SLHTA to make the area safer for pedestrians.

Near IGY Rodney Bay

Marina Before Construction of

Sidewalks

Constructed Sidewalk Near IGY Rodney Bay

Marina

Construction of Sidewalk Near IGY Rodney Bay

Marina

In Gros Islet town as well, the rehabilitation of sidewalks were one of the first CDP projects undertaken by the Parliamentary Representative. The previous sidewalks were broken, unsightly and unsafe and posed a threat to the residents of Gros Islet and patrons of the weekly Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party. Therefore, the Parliamentary Representative prioritised this project and facilitated its completion in time for the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival 2013.

Construction of Sidewalks in Gros Islet Town

#EmmaNation 11

Emma Cares

HEALTHCARE

Throughout her campaign in 2011, Hon.

Emma Hippolyte crusaded for good healthcare for Saint Lucians. She actively participated in the Universal Healthcare (UHC) Programme as the Chair of the Steering Committee. Her passion for people translated into her approach to healthcare thus it was the cornerstone of her campaign. In keeping with her passion, Hon. Hippolyte has hosted a health fair on the anniversary of her victory since 2012. She lobbied for the refurbishment of the Gros Islet Polyclinic and this was achieved in 2013. In addition, the Polyclinic now has a fully-equipped dental unit with state of the art equipment allowing residents of the North access to better oral and dental healthcare. Most notably, the Minister worked vociferously for the extension of the opening hours at the Poly Clinic, and since this has been achieved, emergency services and a wide range of health services has been extended to the general public.

Gros Islet Polyclinic

Fully-Equipped Dental Unit at the Gros Islet Polyclinic with State of the Art Equipment

Constituents getting Tested at the Annual Health

Fair

Health Practitioners Participating in the Health

Fair The Parliamentary Representative is pleased that Universal Healthcare (UHC) features prominently in the Saint Lucia Labour Party’s Fifteen-Point Plan and looks forward to the fulfilment of this campaign promise.

Rodent Eradication: In 2012,

the Parliamentary Representative partnered with the Ministry of Health, the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF) and the Gros Islet Constituency Council to launch a baiting exercise dubbed “Rodent Eradication” which was carried out throughout the constituency in order to rid the Constituency of the rodent problem. This project was deemed a huge success, particularly by the residents and business owners of Rodney Bay.

#EmmaNation 12

Emma Cares

HOUSING

The Government of St. Lucia, facilitated

through the Hon. Emma Hippolyte, undertook the construction of forty-two (42) affordable housing units located in the Monchy Residential Development. This was executed through the St. Lucia National Housing Corporation (SLNHC). Twenty (20) families from Conway, Castries were relocated to the development while 22 of these houses were available for sale.

Affordable Housing Units at the Monchy

Residential Development Additionally, sixty-two (62) service lots were developed for sale in Trouya. Persons who previously occupied the lands were given the opportunity to own their plot and the balance of the land will be available for sale.

#EmmaNation 13

Emma Cares

COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT & EMPOWERMENT

Hon Hippolyte firmly believes that

community development activities build stronger and more resilient communities. She also believes that our people must be empowered and must be involved in decisions affecting the community, working shoulder to shoulder with the Parliamentary Representative in order for true development to occur. It is through this process of enabling communities to take charge of the development of the community, sustainable development will be achieved. In order for this to happen, there must be collaboration and empowerment resulting in significant economic returns and social benefits.

Human Resource Development Centres: Upon

assuming office in 2011, the Parliamentary Representative inherited an incomplete Human Resource Development Centre in Gros Islet Town, an unfinished Mothers & Fathers Hall in La Feuille and an incomplete Community Market. While the town of Gros Islet is in great need of a Human Resource Centre, the project seemed to have been rushed, with construction beginning on the eve of elections. The location of the building was not the most ideal and design for the building did not include space for parking to allow for easy access. Likewise, the Community Market, for which construction began around the same time was built on a side street with little traffic (thereby limiting visibility and affecting sales) and was designed to house only the market; however, with the assistance of the new Mayor, Felix Finisterre, the market was redesigned in 2012 to accommodate office space (the new Gros Islet Municipal Office) and an entertainment space on the top floor for use by the community. Most unfortunately, these

projects were left with no budgetary allocation by the previous administration to facilitate their completion. Appreciating the importance of these three projects to the people of Gros Islet, Hon. Hippolyte has had to utilise creative ways to engage partners to complete them. Upon completion, the Mothers & Fathers Hall at La Feuille will also house a mini Human Resource Centre. Five (5) computers have been sourced for the centre and the burglar bars that were needed to make the place secure have received funding approval. Most recently, EC$4 million from the Community Development Program was allocated for the completion of the Human Resource Centre in the town of Gros Islet. The refurbishment and expansion of this building will commence on Friday 27th May, 2016. The youth of Gros Islet, therefore, can look forward to having a fully functional HRDC for youth development and community empowerment in the near future. Recognising that community of Grande Riviere lacked a learning facility, the Parliamentary Representative embarked on sourcing finances to establish a Human Resource Centre for the people. This was made possible with the help of benefactors. It is a 12-seat computer learning centre which is very well utilized by the youth in Grande Riviere and its environs, particularly the students of the Corinth Secondary School. It also offers free wifi, allowing residents to use their smart phones and other devices to access the internet and connect to the World Wide Web. The Human Resource Development Centres in Monchy and Riviere Mitant service these communities very well. In addition to hosting community meetings, these centres have been used to host social activities aimed at improving community spirit. Hon Hippolyte has engaged the Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Social Transformation and the Director of the St Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF) for a full evaluation of the programmes offered at the

#EmmaNation 14

Emma Cares

Centre and how best they can benefit the communities they serve. Additionally, land has been identified in Trouya for the construction of a Human Resource Development Centre to service the communities of Corinth, Marisule and Bois d’Orange.

Recreational Facilities and Community Squares: We are social beings and we mature, learn and grow mainly through our social interactions. For this reason, Hon. Hippolyte has commissioned the improvement of the squares in Gros Islet Town and Monchy, to create a welcoming environment for residents, children, young adults and community elders to meet and recreate. Many of the other communities in Gros Islet lack recreational facilities. Since Gros Islet does not have significant amounts of crown lands for Government use, Hon Hippolyte has engaged the Minister for Physical Planning in the hope that lands can be acquired to build multi-purpose courts in Caye Mange, Vieux Secrieux, Monier and Marisule. The use of green spaces is also being rationalised to beautify neighbourhoods and serves as play areas for children.

Gros Islet Town Square Before Reconstruction

Monchy Square Before Reconstruction

Children’s Park in Gros Islet

Youth Development: While

much is being done in the area of sports, the Parliamentary Representative has sought to partner with young leaders in the constituency and youth groups to develop programs to benefit the young constituents. In an address to the young people during a Youth Christmas Cocktail in December 2015, Hon Hippolyte urged youth groups to develop youth programs and strengthen youth organisations to advise her on their vision for the constituency of Gros Islet. Hon Hippolyte was very instrumental in lobbying the Government of Saint Lucia for implementing the cruise ship programme which allowed Government, through the Saint Lucia Development Bank (SLDB), to guarantee loans for young persons who are desirous of undergoing training with Springboard and Mampa Agencies to gain employment in the cruise ship industry. Furthermore, due to her concerns for the unemployed youth in sports, she worked with the National Skills Development Centre (NSDC) and Shayne Paul, President of the Gros Islet Football League, to explore training opportunities for unemployed youth. Since 2014, Hon Hippolyte has facilitated the delivery of training in entrepreneurship and proposal writing to young people desirous of launching small businesses and seeking funding for community projects. She has since had approximately 300 participants over the last two years, trained by expert facilitators who, in addition to sharing their experiences, have committed to work with and mentor the youth.

#EmmaNation 15

Emma Cares

The Hon Minister for Youth Development and Sports, Hon Shawn Edward, was present at the launch of this initiative and he was of the view that Gros Islet should collaborate with the other constituencies to make this activity a national one. In 2015 and 2016, the Gros Islet Parliamentary Office conducted a successful workshop on team building and proposal writing for members of community development committees in Gros Islet.

Debate Competition held in 2011 on the topic: “National Service should be made Mandatory of Persons between the ages of 18 and 24.”

The Opposition and

Winners of the Debate: Darnell Boxill (Leader) and Dawnavan Foster

(Seconder)

The Proposition side were Henri-Jacques Mangal (Leader) and

Blossom Fregis (Seconder)

Hon Hippolyte Addressing the Youth of Gros Islet

at the Parliamentary Office

Hon Hippolyte

Addressing the Youth at the Christmas

Cocktail at the Bay Gardens Beach Resort,

Decmber 2015

Hon Hippolyte Interacting with the

Youth at the Christmas Cocktail

Community Outreach: Hon

Hippolyte has maintained close ties with her constituents through workshops, meetings, school activities, competitions, home visits, chatting after church service, phone calls, hospital visits, ceremonies, etc.

Hon. Hipployte Participating in the Beausejour

Community Domino Competition (She Won!)

Hon Hippolyte with Families at the end of the

Beausejour Community Fun Walk The Parliamentary Representative firmly believes that the efforts of our citizens (men, women and youth) in building our communities must be recognised and celebrated. It is by honouring and rewarding excellence that our youth would have heroes to emulate.

Between March and June, 2015, Hon Hippolyte recognised women in the constituency who had made sterling contributions to our country. She also honoured deserving mothers and fathers who have moulded and shaped our society. Between March and May 2016 she continued the tradition of acknowledging the accomplishments of Gros Islet’s great men and women.

#EmmaNation 16

Emma Cares

Hon Hippolyte Honouring the women of the Gros Islet Constituency on International Women’s Day

2014

Honouring Mothers in the During the 2015 Mother’s Day Celebrations

Hon Hippolyte Paying a Special Visit to Theresa

Decembre on her 100th Birthday

At Christmas, we reflect on the blessings of the year and we share love and good cheer to the ones who matter most. In that spirit, Hon Hippolyte has hosted a Christmas Party for the Children of Gros Islet and a Christmas Lunch for the elderly every year. At the Christmas Party, she engages the children in games, song and dance and culminates the program with gift distribution from Santa Claus himself. The program for the Christmas Lunch consists a live entertainment for our community elders and the Parliamentary Representative breaks bread and socialises with the wisest among us.

Aunty Emma at 1 of 3

Children Christmas Parties held in 2015

2015 Christmas Lunch for the Elderly

hosted by Hon Emma Hippolyte

Throughout the year, the Minister distributes hampers to constituents who are most in need. These include the sick and shut in, the disabled and the poor and indigent.

Local Economic Development: Monchy: Mizik En

Kwéyòl was conceptualised in 2012 with an aim to promote local artistes and facilitate the participation of indigenous musical ensembles during the very popular Saint Lucia Jazz Festival (now re-branded the Saint Lucia Jazz and Arts Festival). The event has brought economic development to the community of Monchy and has facilitated the growth and strengthening of community groups such as the Monchy Vendors Association and the Monchy Management Committee. The 5th show was hosted this year and the event has become a feature on the National Jazz Calendar.

#EmmaNation 17

Emma Cares

Monchy Mizik en Kwéyòl 2014 – The Crowd

Moving to the Sweet Sounds of Music

Secret Band of La Bourne Performing at Monchy

Mizik en Kwéyòl 2015

Hon Hippolyte Addressing the Crowd, Monchy

Mizik en Kwéyòl 2015

Hon Hippolyte partnered with the Grande Riviere Development Committee to host the second Grande Riviere Roadside Jazz in May, 2015. It featured home-grown talent such as students from the Frank Norville Centre, Awards from the Boys Training Centre, Bands from the Gros Islet and Corinth Secondary Schools and talented artistes from across Saint Lucia.

In 2014, the Monchy Vendors Association hosted Monchy Jounen Kwéyòl. The Monchy Vendors Association is also hosting the Monchy Mélé (Creole Street Party) as a regular, last Saturday of the month activity. Hon Hippolyte is always exploring ways to create opportunity for constituents to increase their income and so, when she was approached in 2014 by the organisers of the Mercury Beach Event who were looking for a new home for a very popular, revenue-generating event out of Martinique, she jumped on the opportunity and partnered with the Ministry of Tourism to bring it to the home of the once popular Aqua Action – Pigeon Pointe, Gros Islet. Now, Mercury Beach is a highly anticipated annual event which rakes in thousands of dollars from tourists and visitors. With the assistance of the Canadian-funded project, Caribbean Local Economic Development (CARILED) Programme, the Parliamentary Representative has been encouraging local economic development projects throughout the constituency but particularly in the town of Gros Islet.

1. Pantime Steel Orchestra Panyard Tour: approximately eleven (11) young persons were trained in tour guiding to facilitate the first-ever panyard tour to cruise ship passengers. It is expected that this tour will form part of a greater Gros Islet Town Tour to include historic places such as the St. Joseph’s The Worker Roman Catholic Church, the Chapel, the Calvary, etc.

2. Gros Islet Friday Night Vendors Association: the Project gave immense assistance to the re-conceptualisation of the weekly Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party. A comprehensive Business Plan was developed to include the construction of bathroom facilities, an information desk and an emergency point.

3. Gros Islet Community Market: recognising that the location of the Community Market was not best suited for a high level

#EmmaNation 18

Emma Cares

of traffic, Saturday Market Day was organised to attract a variety of vendors (flea market, produce and craft) and patrons.

A strategic plan has been created with a view to improve the planning of the town centre and organize local economic development activities, especially, the Friday Night Street Party. It is hoped that the beach front will be a place to welcome locals and visitors alike and enable small businesses, single mothers and unemployed youth to earn a living.

Gros Islet Friday Night Street Party

Community Empowerment: The Gros Islet

Partnership for Development has been registered to implement the Gros Islet LED Strategic Plan which includes the Gros Islet Waterfront Redevelopment Plan. Having participated in several stakeholder consultations with residents, businessmen and potential investors, over the last three (3) years participants agreed the Gros Islet Partnership for Development should be given the requisite authority to manage the community assets on behalf of the people of Gros Islet with a view to generate income and facilitate local economic development.

Participants of LED Strategic Planning

Workshop where the Gros Islet Waterfront Redevelopment Plan was fleshed out

The Gros Islet Waterfront Redevelopment Plan includes the construction of moorings and dingy jetty to welcome yachtsmen and women directly to the town of Gros Islet. On any average day, one can find up to 100 yachts mooring in the Gros Islet Bay, yet the town and its people derive very little benefit from these yachts.

Yachts Mooring in the Gros Islet Bay which is a

Potential Source of Revenue The Plan also incorporates water sports and day beach facility on the Gros Islet beach-front, for cruise ship passengers; a promenade along Bay Street, and Gros Islet Waterfront Vending Facility. The Parliamentary Representative is particularly excited about this project as it will bring new life to the town of Gros Islet and afford the people of Gros Islet the avenue to create employment for themselves and others. Coupled with this project, is the thrust to establish a ferry terminal in the town of Gros Islet to welcome the thousands of French visitors who

#EmmaNation 19

Emma Cares

come every year. This too will help with the development of the town’s economy and will lead to the improvement of infrastructure and the town’s social status. Hon Hippolyte is also lobbying funding agencies to develop a comprehensive waste disposal plan to ensure that sustainable environmental practices are maintained and that all homes in Gros Islet (town and environs) are connected to the sewer line.

Tours: Since her election into office, Hon

Hippolyte has embarked on several town tours to document the assets of Gros Islet and explore how these assets can be used to facilitate local economic development. She is presently working with government agencies and NGOs to develop a Local Economic Development Plan for the constituency.

SOCIAL TRANSFORMATION: Hon. Emma Hippolyte understands the importance of empowering individuals to make the necessary social change in order to improve their lives and, by extension, their society. For this reason, social transformation is an important part of her service to the constituency of Gros Islet.

Cemetery: The Gros Islet Cemetery has

reached its capacity, and a cemetery to service the largest populated constituency in Saint Lucia is now a matter of urgency. Several areas have been explored, including Beausejour, where the soil testing for the designated area failed. In the interim, the Government of Saint Lucia has agreed to expand the existing cemetery in Gros Islet Town because they recognise that honouring our deceased friends and relatives is an important part of our lives.

The Overcrowded Cemetery in Gros Islet Town

Education: Our first Nobel Laureate and

namesake of our National Tertiary Institution, Sir Arthur Lewis, postulated that the key to poverty is not money but knowledge and Hon Emma Hippolyte is convinced of this truth. Education begins in the womb and early childhood education is a significant foundation for development. In that regard, when Hon Hippolyte inherited an incomplete Pre-School in Gros Islet with no funding allocation for its completion, she determinedly sought funding for the completion of the school so that our young ones would not be disadvantaged. She secured funding from the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF) and was able to complete the school by 2013. The school now accommodates many of our young leaders from Gros Islet.

Inside the Newly Constructed Pre-School in Gros

Islet Town Teachers, students and staff at the Corinth Secondary School had complained for years because of structural issues at the school. In 2014, the Government commissioned work on the Corinth Secondary School under the Basic Education Enhancement Project (BEEP). The work was completed in November 2015. Construction work included the construction of two 2-storey blocks in the north of the school site to replace the demolished timber building. These buildings house

#EmmaNation 20

Emma Cares

five (5) standard size classrooms, storeroom, an office and working space for a Guidance Counsellor, a physics lab, an art and craft room, a music room and modern toilet facilities. Provision was also made for a covered multi-purpose space for the school’s general assembly and other large gatherings. The school’s existing sewerage system was rehabilitated, the drainage system was reconfigured and access and parking area were also reconfigured.

The Corinth Secondary School Before

Rehabilitation Work

The Corinth Secondary

School After Rehabilitation

The Covered Multi-Purpose space for the

School’s General Assembly and other

Large Gathering Hon Hippolyte has introduced a new, creative and inclusive approach to governance, therefore she consults sector-related experts as she develops projects and systems in the constituency. This is the method that was adopted when the Parliamentary Representative met regularly with Principals in her constituency to collaborate on projects to improve the education system in her constituency. She acknowledges the great contribution that teachers make to the development of Saint Lucia and so she has made it a practice to recognise and value all teachers in her constituency on Teacher Appreciation Day.

Gros Islet Clean-Up Campaign: The environment is

important to us. As an island-nation, climate change threats are especially frightening because of our vulnerabilities and exogenous shocks. For this reason, the Parliamentary Representative was pleased to participate in the Gros Islet Clean-Up Campaign in which Rodney Bay, Gros Islet Town and Monchy were cleaned by community volunteers. Hon Hippolyte encourages other communities to mount their own clean-up projects to ensure safety all residents from health threats such as Zika and climate change related risks.

Information Technology: In today’s world, the use of Information technology is a significant aspect of our daily lives. For this reason, the Parliamentary Representative was most disappointed that the wifi facility which was installed in Monchy on the eve of elections, 2011 was removed shortly after the change of administration by some unknown individual(s). To address this concern, Hon Hipployte received assistance from the Ministry of Sustainable Development, Energy, Science and Technology to open a Monchy ICT Access Centre which was commissioned on 20th May, 2016. On a happy note, it came with free wifi for the Monchy Park.

She is grateful that the Government of Saint Lucia has distributed laptops to Secondary School students during its term of office. She continues to seek funding to make free wifi available in every community in Gros Islet.

#EmmaNation 21

Emma Cares

SPORTS

According to sportscotland (2003)

“participating in sport can improve the quality of life of individuals and communities, promote social inclusion, improve health, counter anti-social behaviour, raise individual self-esteem and confidence, and widen horizons” (p. 7). It is also widely believed that boosting participation in sports can generate a variety of socio-economic benefits, as well as, improve the academic achievement of students, result in lower absenteeism and drop-out rates, improve discipline and increase progression to higher education. Believing firmly in the benefits of sports and the holistic development of the people, Hon Hippolyte has facilitated the development of several sports clubs, associations and societies and encouraged the strengthening of existing clubs. She respects the perseverance, dedication and sportsmanship of the men and women of her constituency and so always tries to be present at every sporting activity including football, cricket, swimming, tennis, sailing, etc.

Football Since 2012, football competitions have been held under the patronage of the Parliamentary Representative in collaboration with the Gros Islet football league with support from the Ministry of Youth Development and sport and the National Lotteries Authority and private sector sponsorship. It is noteworthy that in 2014, four (4) major football tournaments were held in Gros Islet, and in 2015, the number of tournaments increased to five (5). In ensuring the sustainability and future development of the sport at the national

level, the Gros Islet Football League, in collaboration with FIFA hosted a uniquely designed football youth development camp targeting youth between the ages of 6 to 12 years. This was held in the community of Grande Riviere. The children were exposed to skills training and subsequently With a firm belief in gender parity, the Hon. Minister fully supported the initiative by FIFA and the National Football League which included the launch of a programme aimed at developing football teams for both males and females. This resulted in the successful hosting of the first female football tournament held in 2015.

In December, 2015 the SNLA/Emma Hippolyte Football Tournament was widely accepted as a huge success. This tournament was won by Northern United All Stars, captained by Everton Lambert and coached by Francis McDonald. GMC United placed second and was captained by David Sam and coached by Darren Gaspard.

2015 SNLA/Emma Hippolyte Football Tournament

Winner – Northern United All Stars

#EmmaNation 22

Emma Cares

2015 SNLA/Emma Hippolyte Football Tournament

Second Place Winner – GMC United

Going forward, Hon. Emma Hippolyte intends to continue her active participation in supporting the sport and collaborating with the Gros Islet football league to build a club structure which would contribute to the holistic development of our young people.

2014 SNLA/Emma Hippolyte Football Tournament

Winner - Windjammer Landings

Cricket Hon. Emma Hippolyte supports the developmental work done by the Crafton brothers and John Eugene through their community outreach programmes and the John Eugene Academy. Both work being critical for moulding our young men and women into successful world-class athletes and model citizens. It is he Minister’s dream to produce another (or even a few!) world-renowned cricketers to join the likes of Darren Sammy, Johnson Charles and Gairy Mathurin.

Tennis Hon. Emma Hippolyte is delighted with the work being done at the National Tennis Centre. Since 2012 she has attended and lent support to the annual international

tournaments. The centre’s grass roots programme, under the Junior Tennis Initiative (JTI) of the International Tennis Federation (ITF) is facilitated through pre-schools primary and secondary schools, and provides free tennis instruction and use of equipment (racquets, balls, etc.) to students. Eighteen (18) schools access the programme by transporting students to the Centre and six (6) schools benefit from its outreach component where coaches hold lessons at the schools. Through this programme, the average Saint Lucian child is introduced to this non-traditional sport and is provided the opportunity to broaden their scope for personal and professional development. We hope to groom Olympians in tennis and we wish every success to national athletes such as Meggan William, Adriel and Aiden Bousquet, Julia D’Auvergne and Jean-Phillipe Murray.

Swimming Swimming is another non-traditional sport steadily breaking barriers and opening opportunities for our young people. Hon Hippolyte is most passionate about this sport and holds firmly to the belief that St Lucia should produce masterful swimmers. In keeping with that belief, she has supported the management, staff, clubs and athletes of the Aquatic Centre and has lobbied for the establishment of a

#EmmaNation 23

Emma Cares

National Aquatic Centre for the benefit of all St. Lucians. We are proud of the achievements of all our athletes: Jordan Augier, Katie Kyle, Runako Daniel, Terrel Monplaisir and all the others striving success.

Water Sports Saint Lucia is an island-nation surrounded by water and should have a natural advantage in the area of water sports. Gros Islet presently boasts a few organisations aimed at youth development through water sports. Hon Emma Hippolyte has supported Mr Urban Augustin and his team in their annual summer camp aimed at engaging the youth of Gros Islet in several water sports including dive certification. The Saint Lucia Yacht Club, with support from the IGY Rodney Bay Marina, has introduced a grass roots programme created to advance the sport of sailing among the youth. The children of Gros Islet and students of the GroWell Centre are the primary beneficiaries. They are given the chance to participate in national and regional championships to fine-tune their skills and open windows of opportunities to improve their socio-economic status.

Children of Gros Islet Learning New

Skills

The Parliamentary Representative welcomes such partnerships and initiatives as they work to improve the children of Gros Islet – our future.

Track & Field The vision for Beausejour is to transform it into a National Sports Complex which will be the home to first class facilities in cricket, tennis, swimming, football, basketball, track & field, etc. Hon. Hippolyte is excited at the possibilities this will afford the young people of Gros Islet. It is her hope that more world class athletes like Jeanelle Scheper will emerge from Gros Islet.

Jeanelle Scheper jumping to Amazing Heights

Facilities: Fields, and Sports Centres

2015 was quite an illuminating year which witnessed the completion of the Grande Riviere Field Lighting Project started under the previous administration. The installation of the lights was done in time for the commencement of the 2015 football season and was welcomed by players, spectators and residents. In addition, Hon Hippolyte utilised the funds from the Community Development Programme to a construct of a multipurpose court in Riviere Mitant. Lands have been acquired in Caye Mange

#EmmaNation 24

Emma Cares

for the construction of a multipurpose playing court as well. Efforts to acquire the lands where the La Bourne playing field is located failed, resulting in a search for crown lands for the location of a playing field. In like manner, Hon Hippolyte continues to work toward acquiring lands to establish a suitable playing facility in Monier.

The Multi-Purpose Court in Riviere Mitant under

Construction Recognising the wealth of talent that our youth possess in swimming, the strengths, experiences and passions displayed by the management of Rodney Heights Aquatic Centre and the various swim clubs, Hon Hippolyte welcomed the initiative by the Government of Saint Lucia to erect and operationalise a National Aquatic Centre at Beausejour. The Centre will include a 50-metre pool, built to international standards and capable of hosting regional and international meets, as well as a 500-seat pavilion. The twelve million dollar project will realise the dream of Beausejour becoming a National Sports Centre including the Beausejour Cricket Grounds which hosts international-level cricket, the Beausejour Indoor Sports Facility and the six court National Tennis Centre.

Sod Turning Ceremony for the National Aquatic

Centre in Beausejour

A Phenomenal Minister, Hon Emma Hippolyte

Sod Turning Ceremony, National Aquatic Centre

Notwithstanding our National sporting facilities located in Gros Islet, we recognise that our local community playing fields such as Gros Islet, Corinth and Grande Riviere require proper seating and cover to make our spectators more comfortable.

#EmmaNation 25

Emma Cares

HON EMMA HIPPOLYTE –

MINISTER FOR COMMERCE,

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT,

INVESTMENT AND

CONSUMER AFFAIRS

In December, 2011, Hon Hippolyte was

sworn in as a Member of the House of Parliament of Saint Lucia and she was given responsibility for the Ministry of Commerce Business Development, Investment and Consumer affairs.

Hon Hippolyte at her Swearing in Ceremony

As Minister for Commerce, Hon Hippolyte is responsible for developing policies that would promote and maintain a free flow of commerce by facilitating and developing commerce, investment and business and protecting consumer interests. These are her achievements to date.

#EmmaNation 26

Emma Cares

Since taking up responsibility for the

Ministry of Commerce, Business Development, Investment and Consumer Affairs in December 2011, the focus of the Minister has been on working with the Permanent Secretary and staff of the Ministry, and the Management and staff of the Allied Agencies, viz., Invest St. Lucia, the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS) and later the Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA), to serve the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) of Saint Lucia. We have done this by working closely together with the various private sector agencies, viz., the Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce and Agriculture, the Saint Lucia Manufacturers Association (SMA), the Saint Lucia Small Business Association (SLISBA), and later, the Saint Lucia Coalition of Services Industries (SLCSI) through periodic meetings and support through subventions. She is happy to see the small but steady progress that has been made over the four plus years since she was given responsibility for this Ministry. She is confident in the future of our people and the future of our business community. As the Minister of Commerce, Business Development, Investment and Consumer Affairs, she is proud of the creativity of our people and she is committed to leading our people in this knowledge-based economy and world. Our Country is small and so is our economy, yet as an independent nation we are expected to compete with the world and so as the Minister, she used the approach of continual dialogue and focused engagement, coupled with the provision of relevant training and targeted intervention and incentives to grow our industries. It is for these reasons that the Ministry of Commerce continually works with the Ministry of International Trade to ensure that our companies comply with all international agreements. With the support of the Cabinet of Ministers, the Ministry took the bold step of implementing Article

164 of the Treaty of Chaguaramas which allowed St. Lucia to use tariff to provide an environment for our small manufacturing sector to grow. She is therefore proud of the Manufacturers who have taken the bold step to expand and modernize their businesses by utilizing the incentive regime that the Government provided. The Ministry is now reaping this reward with higher export market penetration. Hon Hippolyte is proud of the work that the Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS) has done with the business community, particularly, the Manufacturing Sector in embracing international standards and thus positioning themselves to penetrate international markets. The introduction of the SMA awards has served as an impetus for quality amongst the manufacturers. The SLBS continues to work with schools as part of its strategy of educating the country in embracing international standards. The Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA), which we established in 2012 to implement Saint Lucia’s National Export Development Strategy (NEDS), made steady progress in supporting manufacturers in market penetration, and technical support. The Ministry’s efforts saw some twenty one products of one major manufacturer reaching the Cuban market with the products of another six under consideration. In its continued effort to streamline St. Luca’s services and improve its services to the MSME sector; in March 2016 Cabinet supported the Ministry’s preposition and approved the creation of TraDE Saint Lucia (The Saint Lucia Agency for Trade Promotion and Development of Enterprise). TraDE Saint Lucia combines the core competencies of the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) and the Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA) to enhance the provision of business support services to the business sector. The creation of TraDE Saint Lucia is part of a wider restructuring effort at the Ministry of Commerce as they continually seek to improve their service to the local commercial sector, thereby creating an ecosystem that will enhance Saint Lucia’s international competitiveness.

#EmmaNation 27

Emma Cares

The Ministry’s targeted intervention with the furniture manufacturers and Courts Unicomer saw a revival in the small furniture sector and the signing of a purchase agreement between the parties. This also resulted in one manufacturer, with the help of Courts, exporting to an OECS country. The Ministry’s focused intervention with the Chamber of Commerce, the National Poultry Association and the Ministry of Agriculture resulted in structures being put in place for the poultry farmers to embrace standards and Hon Emma Hippolyte is pleased that the farmers have responded positively and have attended training at the SLBS. The Ministry collaborated with the Ministry of Creative Industries and formed the St. Lucia Fashion Council; when legislated it will be the first such Council in the Caribbean. The Ministry’s persistence paid off with the enactment of the Consumer Protection Act in February 2016, after almost ten (10) years in the making. This Act equalizes the consumer and the supplier by providing guidance to both parties and providing a structure and systems where consumer complaints will be heard, investigated and decisions taken. In the area of investments, Invest St. Lucia hosted its first international investment forum here in St. Lucia in an effort to signal to the world that St. Lucia is ready for the investor and investment. Invest St. Lucia also held a local business forum aimed at providing critical information on the market to our local investors. We are seeing the results of this and other initiatives in the form of renewed investor interest and confidence resulting in a 1.3% growth in our economy, a 7.4% growth in the construction sector, a 2.4% increase in the manufacturing sector, with increase in export of food products at 13.2% and commercial packaging at 10.8%. The Ministry, under the abled leadership of Hon Emma Hippolyte, has achieved a lot in the last four

years as testament by the excerpt of achievement which follows.

#EmmaNation 28

Emma Cares

Excerpt of Achievements

BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT – Small Enterprise Development Unit (SEDU) 1. Argentine Cluster Development Programme:

The Ministry of Commerce worked in collaboration with the Government of Argentina and the Ministry of Agriculture to strengthen (a) The Textile Industries Cooperative Society (TICSL) in 2012 and (b) Saint Lucia ICT Association as an ICT cluster in the making in 2013. The associations benefited through a study tour of relevant clusters in Argentina and local workshops.

2. Business Exposium - Global Entrepreneurship Week (GEW) 2013: SEDU hosted a “Business Exposium” under the theme, “Networking for Growth” on November 18th and 19th, 2013, during GEW 2013. The main objective was to facilitate strategic alliances among small business persons. Approximately 147 persons were impacted.

3. Adaptation of the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) model: By far, the most significant achievement was the progress made toward adopting and adapting the best practices of the US Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) model. The salient features of the model are that it will:

i. result in greater collaboration between Academia, Private Sector and Government, with SEDU as the hub,

ii. facilitate the measurement of economic impact, while enhancing service delivery, and

iii. enhance the competitiveness of the MSME sector.

4. Other Accomplishments: SEDU assisted approximately 2,078 clients; registered 1,339

(i.e. 64%) businesses; and trained more than 1,000 persons:

i. VAT Preparedness Training for MSEs (2012): 538

ii. Training specifically for start-up clients (2015): 150

iii. Other entrepreneurial development courses and workshops: >283

5. Entrepreneurial and Business Development: Between 2015 & 2016 440 persons accessed the SBDC's services and approximately 86% (i.e. 379) registered their businesses. Clients have enjoyed market exposure through the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College (SALCC) "GEW 2015 Exhibition", Saint Lucia-Taiwan Exhibition, Nov 2015, and the Atlantic Rally for Cruisers (ARC), Dec 2015. Entrepreneurial development & networking initiatives have resulted in a Digital Marketing Symposium, August 2015 in which over 80 MSMEs received training in digital marketing; a Business Finance Symposium, September 2015 in which 45 MSME owners received training in Finance Management and the financial products available; and Business Planning sessions conducted for: SLISBA members, NCPC, Ministry of Social Transformation, St. Lucia Teachers’ Credit Cooperative, National Farmers’ Cooperative, Fond St. Jacques Development Committee, etc.

Department of Commerce & Industry The Department of Commerce undertook the following: 1. Train the Trainers: Sixteen (16) trained

practitioners in Garment Production who

were exposed to a number of modules and

presentation styles for the development

and delivery of training material to young

artisans and persons operating within the

Garment/Textile Sector. Twenty-five (25)

artisans were coached in garment

production. This was sponsored by the

#EmmaNation 29

Emma Cares

CDB/CTCS NETWORK SERVICES in

Garment /Textile Sector.

2. Computerized Management Accounting

Systems (CMAS) Training: This was

delivered in collaboration with the

CDB/CTCS Network Services Unit. A total

of 14 persons within the MSME Sector

were trained in various categories such as,

Services (ITC, Consultancy, Events

Management), Farming, Construction,

Manufacturing and Agriculture (Flora).

3. Establishment of the Textile Industry

Cooperative Society Limited: This was

established to develop and improve

existing capacity within the

Garment/Textile Sector in Saint Lucia.

4. Implementation of Article 164

(Promotion of Industrial Development)

under the Revised Treaty of

Chaguaramas): This will enable companies

to build capacity and to become more

competitive. The Ministry is currently

working with beneficiary companies to

assist with accessing supportive measures

to maximize gains to be achieved.

5. Bottled water Industry Analysis: An assessment of the bottled water sector assisted with the imposition of Articles 150 (Safeguard Measures) and 164 (Promotion of Industrial Development) under the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. The assessment gave an indication of the state of the sector and what interventions are required to jump start the sector. A policy document on bottled water was also created and will guide development in the sector. Cabinet, as a result agreed to provide through the Ministry of Commerce, support for domestic companies through plant upgrade, market development, standards and marketing, including research and development.

6. In collaboration with the Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA) and the

Procurement Unit of the Ministry of Education, furniture manufacturers were able to secure small contracts to supply furniture to identified schools for the new academic year. The Ministry of Commerce is hopeful that we will be able to formalize business relationships between the Procurement Agencies of Government, to give priority to the purchase of local furniture. In addition, as a result of this thrust, expressions of interest were made by two (2) hotels in the north of the island.

7. As a direct intervention, the Ministry worked on strengthening the business relationships between the manufacturers and local importers of furniture. As a result, a number of meetings were held in conjunction with the import monitoring unit and a number of importers namely Inside Out Ltd, Renwick & Company, Courts Unicomer (St. Lucia) Ltd, Commercial Supplies, in an effort to manage the relationships and encourage local sales.

8. Partnership with the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB) and St. Lucia Coalition of Services Industries: A National Services Policy, Strategy and Action Plan is being developed as a comprehensive policy guide to the services sector. Furthermore, a Gender Analysis Report and Action Plan for various sub-sectors (ICT, Professional Services, Creative Industries and Spa and Wellness) has been created. The Services Policy is expected to be submitted to the Ministry by the end of the 3rd quarter. Strides have been made in the Spa and Wellness Sector where approximately twenty-three (23) persons were trained and certified in the Caribbean Vocational Qualification (CVQ) training in November. Also, ten (10) Management Consultants were endorsed – St. Lucia now boasts of the highest number of certified Management Consultants in the region, out- numbering Barbados, Jamaica and Trinidad.

9. Trade Facilitation Validation Conferences: A number of Trade

#EmmaNation 30

Emma Cares

Facilitation Validation Conferences were held during the fiscal year to provide guidance for the finalisation of the National Trade Facilitation Report. This will present the road map for implementation of the Trade Facilitation agreement as agreed to; signed and ratified by members of the World Trade Organization in Bali Indonesia.

10. Saint Lucia/Martinique Cooperation Trade Facilitation Agreement: Regarding the implementation of the Cooperation Agreement between Saint Lucia and Martinique, much work had been done with the Martinique counterparts in the selection of the products to be exchanged between the countries. The strategy has been reviewed to ensure the opportunity for export is extended to all.

11. Poultry Value Chain Analysis (VCA): The UWI St. Augustine funded this VCA of the Broiler Industry in St. Lucia. This analysis was a major achievement as the report was very useful to address the issues which emanated from the Poultry Stakeholders. The Ministry deemed this VCA in order to assess the true value that could be derived from the domestic poultry industry.

12. Saint Lucia/Taiwan Trade Show, 2015: The Department organised and facilitated the participation of 54 local exhibitors in the Saint Lucia/Taiwan Trade Show, 2015.

13. Buy Local Campaign: The Ministry facilitated consultations among local manufacturers, service providers and Government Procurement Officers to give greater consideration to the procurement of locally produced goods and services. In that regard, a joint committee is being established between the Ministries of Commerce, Agriculture and Tourism to prepare a “Buy Lucian” strategy paper for submission to Cabinet.

Consumer Affairs Department (CAD) This has been the output of the Consumer Affairs Department: 1. Twenty-eight (28) consumer-related

sensitisation lectures were conducted at various primary and secondary schools island-wide.

2. Seventy-eight (78) businesses were engaged at the management level to educate them on their obligations when conducting “lay away” transactions in accordance with the Consumer Credit Act No. 29 of 2006 and the withdrawal of the one cent and two cent coins.

3. Eight hundred and twenty six (826) Price Calculation Sheets were processed and approved at the Department.

4. A total of eighteen (18) special surveys relating to sale of Agricultural Supplies and Cement have been conducted island-wide.

5. A survey was undertaken in relation to impact of the removal of VAT on Pharmaceuticals.

6. There was weekly monitoring and surveillance of approved prices of items offered for sale at supermarkets and retail outlets island-wide.

7. Movement of price changes of diesel, and gas and LPG petroleum was closely monitored.

Invest Saint Lucia (ISL) 1. The Formal Launch, Presentation of

Vision and Rebranding of Invest Saint Lucia in July 2012 was followed by the hosting of the inaugural Saint Lucia Investment Forum in May 2014;

2. Conceptual separation of Strategic and Non-strategic Land Assets and digital mapping of those key land assets was done in order to allow a seamless regularization of non-strategic lands to

#EmmaNation 31

Emma Cares

deserving families in the South of the island while facilitating the leveraging of strategic lands for cogent investments.

3. Facilitation and rekindling interest in a number of stalled investments, which, other than Le Paradis which remains in legal limbo, have all been successfully resuscitated.

4. Signing of a new Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) between Invest Saint Lucia and the Federal Owens Group (FOG), which secured FOG’s agreement to set aside, without penalty, the original Joint Venture Agreement (JVA), which disproportionately favoured FOG and threatened to dispossess ISL, and ultimately the country, of approximately 300- 600 acres of strategic land in Fond D’Or Bay Dennery without any development or investment taking place. The new agreement, which was negotiated by a high level Invest Saint Lucia delegation in New York On February 1st 2013, resulted in the rescue of 600 acres of land that would have been lost in much the same way as the ill-fated Ritz Carlton lands at Black Bay/Canelles, and possible saving of US$5 million in compensation.

5. Online Companies Registration System via the Registry of Companies and Intellectual Property.

6. Continuation of Public Sector Modernisation including the establishment of a new Government of Saint Lucia portal, an Internet Exchange Point (IXP) and online filing and payment of taxes.

7. The upgrade of National Doing Business Forum and Task Force, with the Minister responsible for Investment as chairman.

8. The establishment of a Commercial Court.

9. The development of a National Investment Policy.

10. The institution of a Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP) that has already begun to distinguish itself as one of the most transparent and attractive in the region. The CIP is essentially an investment vehicle that bridges the equity

divide and facilitates the inflow of development related investments from reputable high net worth individuals and companies.

11. Saint Lucia was ranked by FDI Magazine in the top 10 for FDI strategy and Cost Effectiveness of Doing Business in an FDI survey Caribbean Countries of the Future 2015-2017.

12. Site Selection Magazine recognized Saint Lucia as one of the locations of the future. Saint Lucia was identified by location consultants as a country outside the US that Investors will locate to 5 to 10 years from now because of an educated workforce and growing middleclass, among other reasons.

13. As a self-financing institution, ISL used its land assets to generate revenue for the agency and as a result has now completed the Black Bay Gardens Residential Project with an almost 98% uptake. This development was pursued as a joint venture with OB Sadoo Engineering Services Ltd. It provided 52 lots (mixed use and residential) to the people of the south. Many are first time buyers and others want to benefit from the opportunity of developing apartments to capture the growing market of university students. The net profit from that venture amounted thus far to EC$1.4 million of which 50% will accrue to OB Sadoo.

14. ISL coordinated and executed a Domestic Business Forum that brought together local business concerns as well as a number of government agencies such as the Customs and Excise and Inland Revenue Departments; the Development Control Authority (DCA); the Ministry of Commerce; commercial banks and lending agencies to discuss issues relating to doing business with a view to improving same.

15. Advancing of the Medical Research Agenda outlined by the Governor General in the 2015 Throne Speech. The GOSL hosted consultants from the law firm Clifford Chance LLC who were contracted to draft the Clinical Trials Act. Consultations were held with key

#EmmaNation 32

Emma Cares

stakeholders and a draft Clinical Trials Act has been developed and has since been passed in both Houses of Parliament. This is one of the first steps towards developing a true clinical trials and medical research investment proposition for Saint Lucia.

16. Continued regional collaboration on investment promotion and capacity building through the Caribbean Association of Investment Promotion Agencies (CAIPA) training programmes and leveraging ISL’s current position of CAIPA President.

Information Technology In addition to the great achievements of this department (e.g. the launch of the Import License Module and the MSE Website for SEDU), this department has been able to produce the eCommerce Policy and Strategy which was approved by Cabinet.

Trade Export Promotion Agency (TEPA) 1. Restructure/streamline the Trade Export

Promotion Agency (TEPA) and the Small Business Development Centre (SBDC) to provide seamless business support services to prospective and existing enterprises.

2. Stimulate the growth of the local business sector and increase its employment generating capacity by promoting entrepreneurship and decentralization of business support services.

3. Encourage new employment opportunities by creating a structured support programme for businesses during the start-up stage (i.e. for the first two years of existence).

4. Introduce a National Export Advisory Service and Volunteer Technical Assistance Programme to increase the

level of technical expertise available to micro and small enterprises, and to increase technology transfer by industry experts.

5. Introduce a Business Internship Programme and Mentorship Programme for Micro and Small enterprises to augment their human resource capacity, improve productivity and enhance performance.

6. Implement programmes to strengthen the linkages between the tourism and export sectors and strengthen the local value addition of the tourism product by creating opportunities for local producers/suppliers

7. Develop a branding strategy to promote local goods and services in both the domestic and export markets - a Trustmark that depicts, quality, excellence and distinguishes Saint Lucian products and services

8. Develop a framework for the promotion, application and regulation of the national brand geographic indicators and other existing quality marks to enhance the benefits to producer/exporters.

9. Create an online Business Knowledge “Academy” to reduce training costs and increase access to training by potential entrepreneurs and business owners.

10. Support the creation of a National Convention Centre for hosting of business events and expositions, and encourage networking at the national and international level.

11. Create space for small and medium-sized enterprises (SME) to operate by creating business incubators in the north and south of the island.

12. Also encourage the creation and operation of incubator production facilities in strategic locations so that small producers/exporters can meet international quality and standard requirements and overcome technical barriers to trade in this regard and thus compete globally.

13. We will with all relevant stakeholders to implement a strategy to encourage

#EmmaNation 33

Emma Cares

business development and promote exports in targeted sectors of provide greater encouragement to young people to become entrepreneurs, particularly in areas like the creative industries, the ICT and Agriculture sector.

14. We will establish an Innovation Fund to stimulate and facilitate the patenting of inventions in select areas and generate viable new business concepts that create employment.

15. Introduce Anti-dumping Legislation and the corresponding implementation and monitoring capability to safeguard local producer/ exporters from unfair practices by external competitors.

16. Define and operationalize an MSE Development Policy that enhances resilience and competitiveness in the global value chain through government procurement and measures that ensure MSEs participate in international contracts a suppliers of parts and components, sub-contractors and providers of other related services to larger companies, Multinational Corporations or Government linked companies.

St. Lucia Bureau of Standards (SLBS)

Between 2012 and 2016, the SLBS increased coverage of the gas pumps and scale verification schemes as follows:

1. 2012-2013: A total of five hundred and eleven (511) gas pump verifications were conducted, generating $38,325.00. Some 161 scales used in the commercial sector were calibrated at $19,470.00.

2. 2013-2014: A total of five hundred and four (504) gas pump verifications were conducted, generating $37,800.00. Some two hundred and thirty eight (238) scales used in the aviation, tourism, construction, forensics, agriculture, manufacturing and commercial sectors

were verified or calibrated which generated $30,270.00.

3. 2014-2015: A total of two hundred and eighty-five (285) gas pump verifications were conducted as at January 30, 2015 generating $21,375.00.

The electrical safety testing scheme for electrical appliances continued in 2012 with improvements in the programme. Under this scheme, electrical appliances imported into and sold in Saint Lucia are tested against requirements outlined in the 13 national compulsory electrical safety standards. A total of 3,658 appliances were tested generating approximately $57,800.00 in 2012/13, $30,640.00 in 2013/14 and $57,800.00 in 2014/15. Approximately 474 persons were trained in the

Food and Beverage sector during 2012/13, 231

during 2013/14 and 251 during 2014/15 by the

SLBS.

Standards of relevance to various sectors were developed including agriculture, tourism, manufacturing, health, education, construction etc. A total number of seven (7) standards were developed The SLBS hosted the Pan American Standards Commission 2013 AGM. Over 110 delegates from the Americas attended the AGMs.

Saint Lucia Coalition of Services Industries Introduce a grant programme for businesses to

encourage them to provide on-the-job workplace

skills training for students of the Sir Arthur Lewis

Community College

a. Funded the placement of 6 interns (graduates of Sir Arthur Lewis Community College) at Converge Solutions Inc. for a period of 6 months

#EmmaNation 34

Emma Cares

Make capital available to assist local small and medium enterprises to become export-ready and to capitalise on opportunities created by the CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA). a. Coached 17 firms in the preparation of export

market plans

b. Supported 15 firms to Trade Mission – Market

Best Bets

c. At least 25% of exporters in target sectors (ICT,

Creative Industry, Professional Services,

Health and Wellness) have strengthened their

internal operations for export competitiveness

d. Implement Export Development Training

Programme “Services Go Global” – target of 25

firms to be trained, including coaching and

mentoring

e. Small Grant Call Down facility to assist SMEs

and associations participating in the Services

Go Global Programme

Partnered with the Bureau of Standards to step up

its programme of ensuring that products from

Saint Lucia meet the highest quality standards

and can compete in international markets

a. Facilitate the enhancement and increase of the

international competitiveness of the Spa &

Wellness Sector

b. Develop National Code of Practice for Beauty

& Wellness Facilities

c. Certify day spas to the national standards (12

spa operators gained certification from the

Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards under the

Code of Practice for Health and Wellness

Facilities, Levels I and II)

Create greater space for small and medium-sized

enterprises to operate by creating business

incubators in the north and south of the island.

a. Establish a Business Support Unit to serve

associate members

b. 21 service enterprises were strengthened

directly under the CARTFund financed project;

approximately 17 enterprises have

strengthened their operations as a result of

business support services provided through

the strengthened SLCSI secretariat

Provide a window of assistance to SMEs for

training, preparation of business plans, feasibility

studies and marketing.

a. Assist ten (10) member associations in set up,

formulation and implementation of action

plans, secretariat services

b. Funding support to the Association of

Management Consultants resulted in nine (9)

members receiving the CMC designation

c. 23 spa service providers certified at Level III

TVET

d. Eight (8) associations have been assisted in

formation and development and

implementation of work plans

e. Export Market Penetration Training

commenced with 21 organizations, 17 of which

received in -depth coaching. 13 completed

and implemented Market Penetration Plans, 4

others have partially completed plans

Work with the Chamber of Commerce and other

partners to provide greater encouragement to

young people to become entrepreneurs,

particularly in areas like the creative industries

and the ICT Sector

a. Implement an ICT empowerment programme

in technology business innovation and

entrepreneurship skills development for girls

and women in the ICT Sector – Gender in ICT in

collaboration with CARCIP

b. “Gender in ICT” also seeks to facilitate greater

gender equity and increase the opportunities

for women in the ICT Industry

c. Trained 50 female entrepreneurs in social

media

d. The Trade Export Promotion Agency is a

collaborator of SLCSI and offers export

promotion/ marketing support to SLCSI clients

#EmmaNation 35

Emma Cares

Conclusion

Hon Emma Hippolyte has served the

Constituents of Gros Islet and the People of Saint Lucia with unmatched class, dignity and diligence. She has faithfully worked toward achieving her proposed ten-year plan and she will undoubtedly finish the good work she has started. As a Parliamentary Representative and a Minister of Government, she has exemplified the attitude and posture of a true stateswoman. She has served the rich and poor, men and women, children and adults, and supporters of all political parties with honour. Hon Emma Hippolyte embodies Leadership with Service.