# Saint Lucia - United States Department of State

- Assistant Secretary Robinson Travels to Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago Office of the Spokesperson													HomeOffice of the SpokespersonPress Releases&#8230;Assistant Secretary Robinson Travels to Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago				hide		if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}																										Assistant Secretary Robinson Travels to Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago																																		Media Note																														May 6, 2024																																							Assistant Secretary for the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs (INL) Todd D. Robinson will travel to Saint Lucia, Barbados, and Trinidad and Tobago on May 6-10.In Saint Lucia, Assistant Secretary Robinson will underscore U.S. efforts to help our Caribbean partners counter firearms trafficking and announce additional INL assistance to further equip and train frontline customs officers to interdict small arms and light weapons at major Caribbean ports of entry. &nbsp;He will also meet with local officials to discuss opportunities to strengthen Eastern Caribbean regional security cooperation through the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative, including at the U.S.-supported Saint Lucia regional Forensic Center of Excellence.In Barbados, he will visit the Regional Security System and discuss U.S. investments into the Regional Police Training Center, which will serve as the future regional training hub for Caribbean law enforcement partners.In Trinidad and Tobago, the Assistant Secretary will highlight progress made on major deliverables announced by the Vice President last summer, including on the Caribbean Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU), a landmark unit helping to counter the influx of firearms to the Caribbean region.&nbsp; The event will emphasize the importance of collaboration with regional partners such as the Caribbean Community Implementation Agency for Crime and Security (CARICOM IMPACS), law enforcement from across the entire Caribbean, and U.S. interagency partners.&nbsp; The Assistant Secretary also will discuss support of future law enforcement capacity building and criminal justice system modernization with the Minister of National Security and other government officials.For more information, please contact INL-PAPD@state.gov and follow INL on X/Twitter at @StateINL.						Tags																					Barbados																								Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																																														Combating Drugs and Crime																																							Counternarcotics																															Office of the Spokesperson																																Official International Travel																															Saint Lucia																								Trinidad and Tobago
- Saint Lucia HomeReportsBureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices&#8230;Saint Lucia				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Country Reports on Human Rights Practices: Saint Lucia																																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																																																																																							Download Report																																																							Translations																																																																 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															Section 1. Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																																									a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																																											b. Disappearance																																																																											c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																																			Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																																																		d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																																			Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																																																		e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																																			Trial Procedures																																																								Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																																																		f. Transnational Repression																																																																											g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																																											h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																																																	Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																																									a. Freedom of Expression, Including for the Members of the Press and Other Media																																																																			Internet Freedom																																																																																																																		b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																																											c. Freedom of Religion																																																																											d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																																											e. Protection of Refugees																																																																																	Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																																									Elections and Political Participation																																																																																	Section 4. Corruption in Government																															Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																															Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																																									Women																																																																											Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																																											Children																																																																											Antisemitism																																																																											Trafficking in Persons																																																																											Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																																											Persons with Disabilities																																																																																	Section 7. Worker Rights																																																									a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																																											b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																																											c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																																											d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																																											e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																																																																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				There were no significant changes in the human rights situation in Saint Lucia during the year.Significant human rights issues included laws criminalizing consensual sexual conduct between men, but the laws were not enforced.The government took credible steps to identify and punish officials who may have committed human rights abuses.																														Section 1.													 Respect for the Integrity of the Person												    																																																a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings										There were no reports the government or its agents committed arbitrary or unlawful killings, including extrajudicial killings, during the year.																																				b. Disappearance										There were no reports of enforced disappearances by or on behalf of government authorities.																																				c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses										The constitution prohibited such practices, and there were no credible reports that government officials employed them.																Prison and Detention Center Conditions						There were no reports regarding prison or detention center conditions that raised human rights concerns.Administration: Authorities investigated allegations of mistreatment.Independent Monitoring: The government permitted monitoring by independent nongovernmental observers.Improvements: In July media reported the primary prison underwent improvements in infrastructure, including repairing fences and roofs.																										d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention										The constitution prohibited arbitrary arrest and detention and provided for the right of any person to challenge the lawfulness of their arrest or detention in court. The government observed these requirements.																Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees						Authorities were required to apprehend persons openly with warrants issued by a judicial authority. The law required a court hearing within 72 hours of detention. Authorities allowed detainees prompt access to counsel. There was a functioning bail system.																										e. Denial of Fair Public Trial										The constitution provided for an independent judiciary, and the government generally respected judicial independence and impartiality.																Trial Procedures						The law provided for the right to a fair and public trial, and the judiciary generally enforced this right.						Political Prisoners and Detainees						There were no reports of political prisoners or detainees.																										f. Transnational Repression										Not applicable.																																				g. Property Seizure and Restitution										Not applicable.																																				h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence										The constitution prohibited such actions, and there were no reports that the government failed to respect these prohibitions.																																					Section 2.													 Respect for Civil Liberties												    																																																a. Freedom of Expression, Including for the Members of the Press and Other Media										The constitution provided for freedom of expression, including for members of the press and other media, and the government generally respected this right. An independent press, an effective judiciary, and a functioning democratic political system combined to promote freedom of expression, including for media members.																Internet Freedom						The government did not restrict or disrupt access to the internet or censor online content.																										b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association										The constitution provided for the freedoms of peaceful assembly and association, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				c. Freedom of Religion										See the Department of State’s International Religious Freedom Report at  https://www.state.gov/religiousfreedomreport/.																																				d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country										The constitution and law provided for freedom of internal movement, foreign travel, emigration, and repatriation, and the government generally respected these rights.																																				e. Protection of Refugees										The government cooperated with the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and other humanitarian organizations in providing protection and assistance to refugees, returning refugees, or asylum seekers, as well as other persons of concern.Access to Asylum: The law did not specifically provide for the granting of asylum or refugee status, and the government had not established a system for providing protection to refugees.																																					Section 3.													 Freedom to Participate in the Political Process												    																						The constitution provided citizens the ability to choose their government in free and fair periodic elections held by secret ballot and based on universal and equal suffrage.																										Elections and Political Participation										Abuses or Irregularities in Recent Elections: National elections were widely reported to be fair and free of abuses and irregularities.																																					Section 4.													 Corruption in Government												    																						The law provided criminal penalties for corruption by officials, and the government generally implemented these laws. There were isolated reports of government corruption during the year.																											Section 5.													 Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights												    																						Domestic human rights groups generally operated without government restriction to monitor or investigate human rights conditions or cases and publish their findings. Government officials were generally cooperative and responsive to the views of these groups.																											Section 6.													 Discrimination and Societal Abuses												    																																																Women										Rape and Domestic Violence: The law criminalized rape of men and women, including domestic or intimate partner rape and other forms of domestic and sexual violence, as well as so-called corrective rape of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer, or intersex (LGBTQI+) individuals. The law stipulated a sentence of 14 years’ to life imprisonment. The government enforced the law effectively. The law criminalized spousal rape only when a couple was divorced or separated or when there was a protection order from the family court. The law prohibited sexual assault, and authorities enforced the law. Roungement – the practice of parents accepting monetary compensation to settle rape and sexual assault cases out of court – was prohibited by law, and the law was enforced.In June media reports of allegations of sexual misconduct by a senior police officer led several NGO and human rights activists to express concern regarding the lack of an independent probe into the allegations.In August a local NGO facilitated training for police officers and public health officials on the contents and processes of the 2022 domestic violence act. The NGO reported the first indictable case under the act was in the high court with an indictment for maiming, which carried a maximum sentence of 25 years’ imprisonment.The local NGO also reported that although authorities offered newly renovated shelter for survivors and referred domestic violence cases for counseling, the counseling referrals did not always result in the provision of timely service. The NGO addressed the gap by providing such services three days a week. The NGO also reported police facilitated the issuance of court protection orders by interviewing victims and providing copies of police reports to the Family Court. The NGO stated that while the rate of domestic violence likely remained constant, the reporting of incidents had increased due to the perception survivors would benefit from additional protections provided by the 2022 act. The NGO also indicated the government had not reported rape statistics since 2017.Other Forms of Gender-based Violence or Harassment: The law prohibited sexual harassment, but according to some NGOs, sexual harassment was a problem, and government enforcement was not always an effective deterrent. Most cases of sexual harassment were handled in the workplace rather than prosecuted under the law.Discrimination: The law provided the same legal status and rights for women and men, and the law was generally respected. The foreign husband of a Saint Lucian woman did not automatically receive Saint Lucian citizenship, but the foreign wife of a Saint Lucian man did. Married, widowed, or divorced women, as well as women who were naturalized citizens, were required to fill out additional information on passport applications that was not required of men regardless of their marital status or path to citizenship.The law required that men and women receive equal pay for equal work but set different rates of severance pay for men and women. An NGO reported victims of discrimination based on gender and economic status generally could not afford legal fees to seek redress.Reproductive Rights: There were no reports of coerced abortion or involuntary sterilization on the part of government authorities.Contraception for those with a prescription and emergency services including abortion (through 12 weeks) was widely available for those age 18 or older. Children required parental consent to access emergency contraception.Survivors of sexual violence could access services, including emergency contraception and postexposure prophylaxis, from any of the public hospitals and wellness centers.																																				Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination										There were no reports of systemic racial or ethnic violence and discrimination.																																				Children										Child Abuse: The law prohibited all forms of child abuse, and the government generally enforced the law.Child, Early, and Forced Marriage: The legal minimum age for marriage was 18, or 16 with parental consent. The government generally enforced the law.Sexual Exploitation of Children: Laws on sexual offenses covered rape, unlawful sexual contact, and unlawful sexual intercourse with children younger than 16. The law did not specifically include the sale or grooming of children, but if such acts led to a crime, they could be prosecuted under other laws. The age of consent was 16, but a consent defense could be cited if the victim was between 12 and 16. The law prohibited sex trafficking of children younger than 18. No law defined or specifically prohibited child pornography. The government enforced laws on sexual offenses against children, in part through a police team that focused solely on sexual crimes, including sexual crimes involving children.																																				Antisemitism										There was a small organized Jewish community, and there were no reports of antisemitic incidents.																																				Trafficking in Persons										See the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics										Criminalization: The law criminalized consensual same-sex sexual acts of “gross indecency” (defined as sexual acts other than intercourse) as well as consensual intercourse between men and stipulated a maximum penalty of 10 years in prison. Attempted consensual sexual intercourse between men was punishable by five years in prison. The law was not enforced. As of October, there was a pending court challenge to the law.Violence and Harassment: There were no known reports of violence against LGBTQI+ individuals being incited, perpetrated, condoned, or tolerated.Discrimination: The law prohibited discrimination based on sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, or sex characteristics.Availability of Legal Gender Recognition: There was no legal procedure that permitted individuals to update their gender on identity documents.Involuntary or Coercive Medical or Psychological Practices: There were no reports of involuntary or coercive medical or psychological practices specifically targeting LGBTQI+ individuals. There were no reports of medically unnecessary and irreversible “normalization” surgeries performed on children or nonconsenting adult intersex persons.Restrictions of Freedom of Expression, Association, or Peaceful Assembly: There were no restrictions on freedom of expression, association, or peaceful assembly related to LGBTQI+ issues or events.																																				Persons with Disabilities										The law did not prohibit discrimination against persons with physical, sensory, intellectual, and mental disabilities. Government regulations required access for persons with disabilities to all public buildings, but some government buildings lacked access ramps. Persons with disabilities had the right to vote, but in the past election, some polling stations were inaccessible for voters with limited mobility.Children with physical and visual disabilities could be mainstreamed into the wider student population. There were schools available for persons with developmental disabilities and for children who were hard of hearing, deaf, blind, or visually impaired.																																					Section 7.													 Worker Rights												    																																																a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining										The law specified the right of most workers to form and join independent unions, bargain collectively, and conduct legal strikes. The law prohibited antiunion discrimination, and workers fired for union activity had the right to reinstatement. Penalties were not commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination. The government enforced the law effectively.The law restricted the right to strike and bargain collectively by police, corrections service, fire department, health service, and utilities (electricity, water, and telecommunications) on the grounds that these organizations provided essential services. These workers were required to give 30 days’ notice before striking. Once workers gave notice, authorities usually referred the matter to an ad hoc labor tribunal. The government selected tribunal members following rules to assure tripartite representation. The tribunals attempted to resolve disputes primarily through mandatory arbitration.The government generally respected freedom of association, and employers generally respected the right to collective bargaining. Workers exercised the right to strike and bargain collectively.																																				b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor										See the Department of State’s Trafficking in Persons Report at  https://www.state.gov/trafficking-in-persons-report/.																																				c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment										See the Department of Labor’s Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor at  https://www.dol.gov/agencies/ilab/resources/reports/child-labor/findings/ .																																				d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																														e. Acceptable Conditions of Work										Wage and Hour Laws: There was no law to establish a minimum wage. The legislated workweek was 40 hours, with a maximum of eight hours per day.Occupational Safety and Health: The government set occupational safety and health (OSH) standards that were appropriate. The government conducted OSH inspections, but the number of inspectors was not adequate to enforce compliance. Workers could remove themselves from situations that endangered health or safety without jeopardy to their employment, and authorities effectively protected employees in these cases.Wage, Hour, and OSH Enforcement: Labor laws, including overtime rules and OSH standards, applied to all workers, whether in the formal or informal sector. Special legislation covered work hours for shop assistants, agricultural workers, domestic workers, and industrial workers.The government effectively enforced the law in the formal sector. The labor code provided penalties that were not commensurate with those for similar crimes such as fraud. The Ministry of Public Service, Home Affairs, Labour, and Gender Affairs was responsible for monitoring implementation of labor laws. Employers were generally responsive to ministry requests to address labor code violations, and authorities rarely levied fines.Labor inspectors effectively monitored compliance with standards governing pensions, terminations, vacation, sick leave, contracts, and hours of work. Inspectors had the authority to initiate sanctions, institute proceedings before the tribunal, or hold informal inquiries when complaints were brought to their notice.According to an International Labor Organization study, the informal sector made up approximately 27 percent of the workforce. The government did not enforce labor laws in this sector.																																				    							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Respect for the Integrity of the Person																																							a. Arbitrary Deprivation of Life and Other Unlawful or Politically Motivated Killings																																																						b. Disappearance																																																						c. Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman, or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, and Other Related Abuses																																																				Prison and Detention Center Conditions																																																																																				d. Arbitrary Arrest or Detention																																																				Arrest Procedures and Treatment of Detainees																																																																																				e. Denial of Fair Public Trial																																																				Trial Procedures																																												Political Prisoners and Detainees																																																																																				f. Transnational Repression																																																						g. Property Seizure and Restitution																																																						h. Arbitrary or Unlawful Interference with Privacy, Family, Home, or Correspondence																																																			Section 2. Respect for Civil Liberties																																							a. Freedom of Expression, Including for the Members of the Press and Other Media																																																				Internet Freedom																																																																																				b. Freedoms of Peaceful Assembly and Association																																																						c. Freedom of Religion																																																						d. Freedom of Movement and the Right to Leave the Country																																																						e. Protection of Refugees																																																			Section 3. Freedom to Participate in the Political Process																																							Elections and Political Participation																																																			Section 4. Corruption in Government																Section 5. Governmental Posture Towards International and Nongovernmental Monitoring and Investigation of Alleged Abuses of Human Rights																Section 6. Discrimination and Societal Abuses																																							Women																																																						Systemic Racial or Ethnic Violence and Discrimination																																																						Children																																																						Antisemitism																																																						Trafficking in Persons																																																						Acts of Violence, Criminalization, and Other Abuses Based on Sexual Orientation, Gender Identity or Expression, or Sex Characteristics																																																						Persons with Disabilities																																																			Section 7. Worker Rights																																							a. Freedom of Association and the Right to Collective Bargaining																																																						b. Prohibition of Forced or Compulsory Labor																																																						c. Prohibition of Child Labor and Minimum Age for Employment																																																						d. Discrimination (see section 6)																																																						e. Acceptable Conditions of Work																																																									Tags																					Bureau of Democracy, Human Rights, and Labor																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Saint Lucia
- U.S.-Caribbean Engagement to Counter Firearms Trafficking Office of the SpokespersonUnited States Ambassador to the United Nations Linda Thomas-Greenfield led a U.S. delegation to Guyana to participate in the U.S.-Caribbean Community (CARICOM) Dialogue on February 25, 2024.  Her engagement builds on Vice President Kamala Harris’ April 2022 meeting  with Caribbean leaders, the Vice President&#8217;s June 2023 engagement  of Caribbean leaders in The Bahamas, and Secretary of State Antony J. Blinken’s participation in the 50th Anniversary of CARICOM in July 2023 in Trinidad and Tobago. The following are activities stemming from recent US efforts in the region.Countering Firearms TraffickingBipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA): Signed into U.S. law in July 2022, the BSCA dramatically increased criminal penalties for straw purchasers and U.S.-sourced firearms trafficking. Provisions under the “Stop Illegal Trafficking in Firearms Act” assign further penalties for smuggled firearms or ammunition out of the United States, with the intent to promote transnational organized crime.Recent Firearms Cases: On February 1, Haiti’s 400 Mawozo gang leader Joly Germine pleaded guilty  to his role in a gunrunning conspiracy that smuggled firearms to Haiti in violation of U.S. export laws, and the laundering of ransoms paid for U.S. hostages to the gang in 2021. His former girlfriend, Eliande Tunis, pleaded guilty to the same 48-count indictment. Jocelyn Dor, a Haitian citizen also affiliated with 400 Mawozo, was sentenced  to 60 months in prison on February 28 for her role in a firearm smuggling scheme between the United States and Haiti. On February 26, Elieser Sori-Rodriguez was sentenced  to 57 months in prison for smuggling firearms from the United States to the Dominican Republic.Coordinator for Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions: In July 2023, the Department of Justice named a Coordinator for Caribbean Firearms Prosecutions to elevate firearms trafficking and prosecutions and help implement the provisions of the BPSA.  The Coordinator has since attended an Association of Caribbean Chiefs of Police meeting, traveled to Jamaica and met with Jamaica’s Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs, and met with the CARICOM Implementation Agency for Crime and Security Leadership.  He will travel to Trinidad and Tobago this spring to meet with host nation counterparts, Caribbean officials at the CARICOM Crime Gun Intelligence Unit, and U.S. law enforcement partners at Embassy Port of Spain.Operation Hammerhead: Partnering with the CARICOM Crime Gun Intelligence Unit (CGIU) , U.S. Homeland Security Investigations initiated an interagency, multijurisdictional surge operation to target illicit firearms being trafficked from the United States to the Caribbean.  Through collaboration with Caribbean partners, Operation Hammerhead has, to date, resulted in seizures of 339 firearms, 26,495 rounds of ammunition and over 400 magazines.Training on Firearms Investigations: In 2023, the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms, and Explosives (ATF) supported training for 270 Caribbean police officers on firearms investigations, including familiarization training on Privately Made Firearms (Ghost Guns) and 3D-printed firearms.  To advance firearms trafficking prosecutions in the United States, ATF conducted extensive domestic training on applying anti-trafficking provisions in the 2022 Bipartisan Safer Communities Act (BSCA) to disrupt and dismantle international trafficking schemes.Haiti Transnational Criminal Investigative Unit (TCIU): On February 13, 2024, Homeland Security Investigations and the Government of Haiti signed a Memorandum of Cooperation to formally establish the Haiti TCIU, which will facilitate the exchange of information between law enforcement partners in the United States and Haiti, and enhance cross-border investigative capabilities to prosecute those involved in transnational criminal activities. TCIUs are multi-discipline units comprised of vetted foreign law enforcement, prosecutors, and customs, immigration and intelligence officials that share information and operational activities. This complements the work of existing TCIUs in the Caribbean, located in Jamaica and the Dominican Republic.Holiday Cargo Screening: In advance of the 2023 holiday season, U.S. agencies surged resources to screen outbound cargo from the United States to the Caribbean via freight forwarders at the Miami River.  Caribbean partners advised U.S. law enforcement counterparts that firearms traffickers take advantage of the annual surge in U.S.-Caribbean shipping to hide firearms and firearms components in “blue barrel” shipments bound for the Caribbean.Saint Lucia Forensics Lab: The State Department is proud to have partnered with Saint Lucia to make its forensics lab a Regional Center of Excellence, working toward laboratory accreditation under the International Organization for Standardization.  This project is part of a $2.2 million United States investment in strengthening Caribbean forensics capabilities. The Regional Center of Excellence will enable Saint Lucian law enforcement and regional counterparts to collect and analyze crime scene evidence in the region, ensuring that criminals can be arrested, tried, and convicted more quickly, with scientific evidence.
- Saint Lucia National Day Antony J. Blinken, Secretary of StateOn behalf of the United States of America, I extend my congratulations to the people of Saint Lucia on the 45th anniversary of your independence.The United States enjoys a deep and long-lasting partnership with Saint Lucia. Together we work to combat the impact of climate change and improve energy and food security for Saint Lucia and the region through the U.S.-Caribbean Partnership to Address the Climate Crisis 2030 (PACC 2030). We are also helping to address the problems of crime and violence in the region through our joint activities under the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative to provide a safer and more secure environment for our people and families.The United States wishes you joyful and peaceful celebrations as you honor your independence day, and best wishes for a happy and prosperous year ahead.
- Eleventh High-Level Caribbean-U.S. Security Cooperation Dialogue: “Advancing the Safety and Security of Our Citizens” Office of the SpokespersonOn November 16, U.S. and Caribbean officials convened the Eleventh High Level Caribbean-U.S.-Security Cooperation Dialogue.  Saint Lucia hosted the Dialogue, which the United States, CARICOM, the Dominican Republic co-chaired.Under the auspices of the Caribbean Basin Security Initiative (CBSI) and the Caribbean-United States Framework for Security Cooperation, the Caribbean-U.S. Security Cooperation Dialogue convenes annually to advance cooperation on regional security challenges, review progress under CBSI, and set CBSI priorities for the following year.Discussions centered on U.S.-Caribbean cooperation to address firearms trafficking, counter transnational organized crime, strengthen maritime security, and prevent youth crime and violence through CBSI.  The dialogue also included Caribbean regional and national-level efforts to address trafficking in persons, irregular migration, and recommendations for further progress.  The United States, CARICOM, and the Dominican Republic heads of delegation unanimously adopted the dialogue joint statement, which sets out Caribbean and U.S. priorities for security cooperation through CBSI for the next year.  The joint statement also welcomes the authorization, under Chapter VII of the UN Charter, of a Multinational Security Support (MSS) mission in Haiti.Deputy Assistant Secretary for Caribbean Affairs and Haiti Barbara A. Feinstein led the United States delegation, which included representation from the Bureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs; the United States Agency for International Development; the Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons; Customs and Border Protection; Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives; Homeland Security Investigations; and Department of Defense.For further information, please contact whapress@state.gov.
- Saint Lucia HomeReportsBureau of Economic and Business Affairs2023 Investment Climate Statements&#8230;Saint Lucia				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Investment Climate Statements: Saint Lucia																																																																																												 In this section										/																							EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																																													EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																															1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																																									Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																																											Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																																											Business Facilitation																																																																											Outward Investment																																																																																	2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																															3. Legal Regime																																																									Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																																											International Regulatory Considerations																																																																											Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																																											Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																																											Citizenship by Investment																																																																											Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																																											Expropriation and Compensation																																																																											Dispute Settlement																																																																			ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																																								Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																																								International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																																																		Bankruptcy Regulations																																																																																	4. Industrial Policies																																																									Investment Incentives																																																																											Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																																											Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																																																	5. Protection of Property Rights																																																									Real Property																																																																											Intellectual Property Rights																																																																																	6. Financial Sector																																																									Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																																											Money and Banking System																																																																											Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																																			Foreign Exchange																																																								Remittance Policies																																																																																																																		Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																																																	7. State-Owned Enterprises																																																									Privatization Program																																																																																	8. Responsible Business Conduct																																																									Climate Issues																																																																																	9. Corruption																															10. Political and Security Environment																															11. Labor Policies and Practices																															12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																															13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																															14. Contact for More Information																																																					EXECUTIVE SUMMARY				Saint Lucia is a member of the Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) and the Eastern Caribbean Currency Union (ECCU). Saint Lucia had an estimated Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of $1.69 billion in 2021 according to the latest figures obtained from the World Bank. The Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB) did not produce any figures for Saint Lucia in the reporting period. Tourism is Saint Lucia’s main economic sector, while real estate and call centers are other leading sectors. Like most of the Eastern Caribbean, the country continues to grapple with supply-chain delays and surging consumer food and fuel prices exacerbated by Russia’s war on Ukraine. As of May 2023, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) forecast the Saint Lucian economy to grow by 3.0% by the end of 2023.The government remains committed to creating a welcoming and open business climate to attract more foreign investment in all sectors to the country. The government is prioritizing investment in key areas of tourism, real estate development, manufacturing and agro-processing, andglobal business outsourcing.The Government of Saint Lucia provides several incentives to encourage domestic and foreign private investment. For example, foreign investors in Saint Lucia can repatriate all profits, dividends, and import capital.The Saint Lucia legal system is based on the British common law system, but its civil code and property law are greatly influenced by French law. Saint Lucia does not have a bilateral investment treaty with the United States but has bilateral investment treaties with Germany and the UK. Saint Lucia recently became the sixth member of the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) to become a full member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ), making the CCJ its final court of appeal.In 2014, the Government of Saint Lucia signed an Intergovernmental Agreement in observance of the U.S. Foreign Account Tax Compliance Act (FATCA), making it mandatory for banks in Saint Lucia to report the banking information of U.S. citizens.Table 1: Key Metrics and RankingsMeasureYearIndex/RankWebsite AddressTI Corruption Perceptions Index202235 of 180http://www.transparency.org/research/cpi/overview  Global Innovation Index2022N/Ahttps://www.globalinnovationindex.org/analysis-indicator  U.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, historical stock positions)2021$ 254.0Mhttps://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheetWorld Bank GNI per capita2021$9,750http://data.worldbank.org/indicator/NY.GNP.PCAP.CD																																					1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment						    																																																Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment										The Government of Saint Lucia strongly encourages foreign direct investment (FDI). Invest Saint Lucia has introduced several investment incentives for businesses that consider locating in Saint Lucia, encouraging both domestic and foreign private investment. Invest Saint Lucia is managed by a Chief Executive Director and is overseen by a board of directors appointed by the government under the Office of the Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information. The state-run agency Invest Saint Lucia provides “one-stop shop” facilitation services to investors, helping to guide them through the various stages of the investment process. It assesses investment proposals for viability and in accordance with the laws of Saint Lucia and provides investment promotion services. Saint Lucia also has a citizenship by investment program to facilitate certain forms of FDI (see section on laws and regulations on foreign investment for additional details).Applicable government agencies, rather than Invest Saint Lucia, grant investment concessions. Government policies provide liberal tax holidays, a waiver of import duty on imported plant machinery and equipment and imported raw and packaging materials, and export allowance or tax relief on export earnings. Various laws provide fiscal incentives to encourage establishing and expanding foreign and domestic investment. A Tourism Development Bill is currently going through a stakeholder process. The contours of the legislation are not yet public, but the intent is to encourage more local participation in the sector.The Saint Lucian government encourages investment in all sectors, but targeted sectors include tourism, manufacturing and agro-processing, global business outsourcing and real estate development.																																				Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment										Local laws do not place any limits on the amount of foreign ownership or control in the establishment of a business in Saint Lucia. The government allows 100 percent foreign ownership of companies in any sector. Currently, there are few restrictions on foreigners investing in military or security-related businesses or natural resources. Trade licenses and other approvals/licenses may be required before establishment.Invest Saint Lucia evaluates all FDI proposals and provides intelligence, business facilitation, and investment promotion to establish and expand profitable business enterprises in Saint Lucia. Invest Saint Lucia also advises the government on issues that are important to the private sector and potential investors and advocates for an improved business climate, growth in investment opportunities, and improvements in the international competitiveness of the local economy. It focuses on building and promoting Saint Lucia as an ideal location for investors, seeking and generating new investment in strategic sectors, facilitating domestic and foreign direct investment as a one stop shop for investors, and identifying major issues and measures geared towards assisting the government in the development of a National Investment Policy.The Government of Saint Lucia treats foreign and local investors equally with respect to the establishment, acquisition, expansion, management, conduct, operation, and sale or other disposition of investments in its territory.																																				Other Investment Policy Reviews										In May 2023, the World Trade Organization (WTO) conducted a trade policy review of the OECS of which Saint Lucia is a member. The full report is available at  https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp537_e.htm . There have not been any investment policy reviews of Saint Lucia by civil society organizations in the past five years.																																				Business Facilitation										All potential investors applying for government incentives must submit their proposals for review by Invest Saint Lucia to ensure the projects are consistent with the national interest and provide economic benefits to the country.  Invest Saint Lucia offers an online resource that is useful for navigating the laws, rules, procedures, and registration requirements for foreign investors.  It is available at   http://www.investstlucia.com/  .The Registry of Companies and Intellectual Property office maintains an e-filing portal for most of its services, including company registration.  Relevant officials can review applications submitted electronically.  Applicants, however, must pay the registration fee in-person at the Registry Office.  The Registry of Companies and Intellectual Property Office can only accept payment in the form of cash and checks.  Personal checks are not accepted.  It is advisable to consult a local attorney prior to starting the process.  Further information is available at   http://www.rocip.gov.lc  .The general practice for starting a business is to retain an attorney to prepare all incorporation documents.  A business must register with the Registry of Companies and Intellectual Property Office, the Inland Revenue Authority, and the National Insurance Corporation.  The Government of Saint Lucia continues to support the growth of women-led businesses.  The government seeks to support equitable treatment of women in the private sector through non-discriminatory processes for business registration, awarding of fiscal incentives, and assessing investments.The Government of Saint Lucia is committed to the full participation of people with disabilities in the society and the economy.  It actively engages with people with disabilities in society to ensure the equal participation of people with disabilities in formal and informal sectors of the economy.																																				Outward Investment										The Government of Saint Lucia prioritizes investment retention as a key component of its overall economic strategy. While the government is encouraging more domestic savings, it continues to require significant foreign investment to fill the investment gap.Local laws do not place ay restrictions on domestic investors seeking to do business abroad. The government actively encourages local companies in Saint Lucia to take advantage of export opportunities specifically related to the country’s membership in the OECS Economic Union and the Caribbean Community Single Market and Economy (CSME), which enhance the competitiveness of the local and regional private sectors across traditional and emerging high-potential markets.																																												2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties						    																						Saint Lucia does not have a bilateral investment treaty with the United States. It has bilateral investment treaties with Germany, the UK, and the Caribbean Community (CARICOM). Saint Lucia has signed taxation agreements with other CARICOM countries. There is no taxation treaty with the United States, but there is a bilateral Tax Information Agreement.Saint Lucia is also party to the following:Caribbean Community (CARICOM)The Treaty of Chaguaramas established CARICOM in 1973 to promote economic integration among its fifteen member states. Investors operating in Saint Lucia have preferential access to the entire CARICOM market. The Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas further establishes the CSME, which permits the free movement of goods, capital and labor within CARICOM. CARICOM has bilateral agreements with Cuba, Colombia, Costa Rica, the Dominican Republic, and Venezuela.  In 2013, CARICOM entered into a Trade and Investment Framework Agreement with the United States.Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS)The Treaty of Basseterre established the OECS in 1981. The OECS consists of seven full members (Antigua and Barbuda, Dominica, Grenada, Montserrat, Saint Kitts and Nevis, Saint Lucia, and Saint Vincent and the Grenadines), and four associate members (Anguilla, the British Virgin Islands, Guadeloupe, and Martinique). The purpose of the Treaty is to promote harmonization among member states in foreign policy, defense and security, and economic affairs. The seven full members ratified the Revised Treaty of Basseterre establishing the OECS Economic Union, which entered into force in 2011. The Economic Union established a single financial and economic space within which goods, services, and people move without hindrance.Caribbean Basin InitiativeThe Caribbean Basin Initiative facilitates the economic development and export diversification of the Caribbean Basin economies. It encourages private sector initiatives by expanding foreign and domestic investment in non-traditional sectors, diversifying country economies, and expanding their imports, and it permits duty-free entry of eligible products manufactured or assembled in Saint Lucia into the United States.CARIFORUM-EU Economic Partnership AgreementThe Caribbean Forum (CARIFORUM) states and the European Community signed an Economic Partnership Agreement (EPA) in 2008. CARIFORUM consists of the independent Anglophone CARICOM member states, the Dominican Republic and Suriname. The overarching objectives of the EPA are to alleviate poverty, to promote regional integration and economic cooperation, and to foster the gradual integration of the CARIFORUM states into the world economy by improving their trade capacity and creating an investment-conducive environment. The agreement promotes trade-related development in areas such as competition, intellectual property, public procurement, the environment, and protection of personal data.CARIFORUM-UK Economic Partnership AgreementThe UK and CARIFORUM states signed an EPA in 2019, committing to trade continuity after Britain’s departure from the European Union. The CARIFORUM-UK EPA eliminates all tariffs on all goods imported from CARIFORUM states into the UK, while those Caribbean states will continue to gradually cut import tariffs on most of the region’s imports from the UK.Caribbean/Canada Trade AgreementThe Caribbean/Canada Trade Agreement (CARIBCAN) is an economic and trade development assistance program for Commonwealth Caribbean countries. Through CARIBCAN, Canada provides duty free access to its national market for most products originating in Commonwealth Caribbean countries.																																		3. Legal Regime						    																																																Transparency of the Regulatory System										The legal framework in Saint Lucia seeks to foster competition and establish clear rules for foreign and domestic investors in the areas of tax, labor, environment, health, and safety. The Ministry of Tourism, Investment, Creative Industries, Culture and Information, the Office of the Prime Minister and Invest Saint Lucia provide oversight on the transparency of the system as it relates to investment. The government offers a range of incentives for foreign investors. The Invest Saint Lucia Act addresses government policy for attracting investment. The Trade License Act, Aliens Licensing Act, Special Development Areas Act, Income Tax Act, Free Zones Act, Tourism Incentives Act, Investment and Stimulus Act, and Fiscal Incentives Act also impact foreign investment. The government announced plans to update these pieces of legislation to ensure that Saint Lucia remains compliant with international tax and exchange of information requirements.Rulemaking and regulatory authority lie with the bicameral parliament. The parliament consists of a lower house, which has 17 members elected for five-year terms in single-seat constituencies, and a senate with 11 appointed members.Relevant laws govern all regulations relating to foreign investment in Saint Lucia. These laws are developed in the respective ministries and drafted by the Office of the Attorney General. FDI is covered by the enacting legislation for Invest Saint Lucia, the citizenship by investment program, and some sector-specific laws such as the Fiscal Incentives Act or tourism-related laws. Saint Lucia’s laws are available online at  http://www.govt.lc  .Although some draft bills are not subject to public consultation, the government may solicit input from various stakeholder groups and via town hall meetings when formulating legislation. The government also uses public awareness efforts such as television and radio call-in programs to inform and shape public opinion. The government may publish copies of proposed laws and regulations in the Official Gazette before they are presented in the House of Assembly. Saint Lucia’s constitution provides for protection of freedom of expression and freedom to receive ideas and information without interference. In practice, information is not always readily available. The government maintains an information service website on which it posts select information such as directories of officials and a summary of laws and press releases. It may not always be up to date. The government budget address is available on the website, though not the budget or audits. The International Financial Accounting Standards, which stem from the General Accepted Accounting Principles, govern the accounting profession in Saint Lucia. The most recent Caribbean Financial Action Task Force (CFATF) Mutual Evaluation assessment found Saint Lucia’s AML/CFT controls were generally in technical compliance with international standards. The ECCB is the supervisory authority over financial institutions registered under the Banking Act of 2015.The Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner or Ombudsman is a constitutional entity created to guard against abuses of power by government officers in the performance of their duties. The Office of the Parliamentary Commissioner is independent. The Parliamentary Commissioner investigates complaints relating to actions or omissions by any government official or government body where such actions or omissions cause an injustice or harm a member of the public.In developing regulations, respective ministries advise the Office of the Attorney-General regarding necessary elements and parameters of proposed legislation. The Office of the Attorney-General subsequently drafts legislation, ensuring compatibility with the nation’s domestic and international legal commitments. Invest Saint Lucia has the main responsibility for investment supervision, whereas the Ministry of Finance monitors investments to collect information for national statistics and reporting purposes. Saint Lucia’s membership in regional organizations, particularly the OECS and its Economic Union, commits the state to ensure the fulfillment of its various treaty obligations, although there are some minor differences in implementation from country to country. The enforcement mechanisms of these regulations include financial penalties and other sanctions.																																				International Regulatory Considerations										As a member of the OECS and the ECCU, Saint Lucia subscribes to a set of principles and policies outlined in the Revised Treaty of Basseterre. Each participating member state is expected to coordinate and adopt, where possible, common national policies, with the objective of progressive harmonization of relevant policies and systems across the region. Saint Lucia is obligated to implement regionally developed regulations, such as legislation passed under OECS authority, unless it seeks specific concessions.The Saint Lucia Bureau of Standards is a statutory body established under the Standards Act. It establishes, maintains, and promotes standards for improving industrial development and efficiency, promoting the health and safety of consumers, and protecting the environment, food products, quality of life, and the facilitation of trade. It also conducts international standards consultations and training. As a signatory to the WTO Agreement on the Technical Barriers to Trade, Saint Lucia is obligated to harmonize all national standards to international norms to avoid creating technical barriers to trade. Saint Lucia is working to improve customs efficiency, modernize customs operations, and address inefficiencies in the clearance of goods.Saint Lucia ratified the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement (TFA) in December 2015. Ratification of the Agreement is an important signal to investors of the country’s commitment to improving its business environment for trade. The TFA aims to improve the speed and efficiency of border procedures, facilitate reductions in trade costs, and enhance participation in the global value chain. Saint Lucia has already implemented several TFA requirements.As a member of CARICOM, Saint Lucia utilizes the Advanced Cargo Information System, a computer-based system developed by the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD) to harmonize and standardize electronic cargo information in order to improve the capability to track cargo efficiently and to support regional and international trade. The Advanced Cargo Information System forms a critical part of the World Customs Organization SAFE Framework of Standards. Saint Lucia has also fully implemented the Automated System for Customs Data.																																				Legal System and Judicial Independence										Saint Lucia bases its legal system on the British common law system, but its civil code and property law are influenced by French law. The Attorney General, the Chief Justice of the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court, junior judges, and magistrates administer justice. The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court Act establishes the Supreme Court of Judicature, which consists of the High Court and the Eastern Caribbean Court of Appeal. The High Court hears criminal and civil matters and makes determinations on the interpretation of the constitution. Parties may appeal first to the Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court.The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) is the regional judicial tribunal, established in 2001 by the Agreement Establishing the CARICOM Single Market and Economy. The CCJ has original jurisdiction to interpret and apply the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas. In its appellate jurisdiction, the CCJ considers and determines appeals from the CARICOM member states that are parties to the Agreement Establishing the CCJ. In May 2023, Saint Lucia became the sixth member of CARICOM to become a full member of the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ); making the CCJ its final court of appeal.The United States and Saint Lucia are both parties to the WTO. The WTO Dispute Settlement Panel and Appellate Body resolve disputes over WTO agreements, while courts of appropriate jurisdiction in both countries resolve private disputes.																																				Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment										Invest Saint Lucia’s FDI policy is to actively pursue FDI in priority sectors and advise the government on the formation and implementation of policies and programs to attract sustainable investment. Invest Saint Lucia reviews all proposals for investment concessions and incentives to ensure the projects are consistent with the national interest and provide economic benefits to the country.Invest Saint Lucia provides “one-stop shop” facilitation services to investors to guide them through the various stages of the investment process. Invest Saint Lucia offers a website that is useful to navigate the laws, rules, procedures, and registration requirements for foreign investors:  http://www.investstlucia.com/  .																																				Citizenship by Investment										Under Saint Lucia’s citizenship by investment program, foreign individuals may obtain citizenship in accordance with the Citizenship by Investment Act of 2015, which grants the right to citizenship without voting rights to qualified investors. Program applicants are required to submit to a due diligence process before citizenship can be granted. The minimum investment for a single applicant to qualify is a $100,000 (270,225 Eastern Caribbean dollars) contribution to the National Economic Fund. A $150,000 (405,383 Eastern Caribbean dollars) contribution covers a family of four made up of the principal applicant, spouse, and up to two dependents. Alternatively, a real estate purchase valued at $200,000 (540,510 Eastern Caribbean dollars) or more will also qualify. There are also provisions for enterprise investment in approved projects and a government bond option. For enterprise investment the program is open to receiving investment proposals in the following sectors: tourism and hospitality, cruise ports and marinas, agro-processing, pharmaceutical manufacturing, civil infrastructure, research and development and offshore education. More information on the citizenship by investment program is available at  https://www.cipsaintlucia.com  .																																				Competition and Antitrust Laws										Chapter 8 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas outlines the competition policy applicable to CARICOM states.  Member states are required to establish and maintain a national competition authority for implementing the rules of competition.  CARICOM established a Caribbean Competition Commission (CCC) to apply rules of competition regarding anti-competitive cross-border business conduct.  CARICOM competition policy addresses anti-competitive business conduct such as agreements between enterprises, decisions by associations of enterprises, and concerted practices by enterprises that have as their object or effect the prevention, restriction, or distortion of competition within CARICOM, and actions by which an enterprise abuses its dominant position within CARICOM.  Saint Lucia is a member of the CCC.The OECS has agreed to establish a regional authority to regulate competition in the economic union and would be a part of the CCC. To date, the draft OECS Competition Bill remains under review. As such, there is currently no legislation or authority outside of the CARICOM framework that regulates competition in Saint Lucia.																																				Expropriation and Compensation										Under the Land Acquisition Act, the government can acquire land for a public purpose. The government must serve a notice of acquisition to the person from whom the land is acquired. Saint Lucia employs a system of eminent domain to pay compensation in such cases. There were no reports that the government discriminated against U.S. investments, companies, or landholdings. There are no laws forcing local ownership in specified sectors.There is one case of expropriation involving an American citizen-owned property. An American citizen purchased 32 acres of land in Saint Lucia in 1970. The government expropriated the land in 1985 by an act of law. The claimant has been seeking redress and those efforts have been unsuccessful to date. In 2014, the government denied the claimant’s request without explanation. The government has been largely unresponsive to repeated attempts by the claimant to appeal the decision. The government also claims to have lost property records that the claimant says support their ownership claim. The U.S. Embassy in Bridgetown continues to advocate with the government to ensure the claimant is allowed to fully exercise their due process rights.																																				Dispute Settlement																										ICSID Convention and New York Convention						Saint Lucia is a party to the Convention on the Settlement of Investment Disputes between States and Nationals of Other States, but not a member of the Convention on the Recognition and Enforcement of Foreign Arbitral Awards, also known as the New York Arbitration Convention. The Arbitration Act (2001) provides general and specific provisions on arbitration rules and procedures in Saint Lucia.						Investor-State Dispute Settlement						Investors can use national or international arbitration regarding contracts entered with the state. Saint Lucia does not have a bilateral investment treaty or a free trade agreement with an investment chapter with the United States. Embassy Bridgetown is not aware of any current investment disputes in Saint Lucia.						International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts						The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court is the domestic arbitration body. The Eastern Caribbean Supreme Court’s Court of Appeal also provides mediation. The judgements handed down by this court are recognized and enforceable under the local court system in Saint Lucia. Court proceedings are generally transparent and non-discriminatory.																										Bankruptcy Regulations										Saint Lucia has a limited bankruptcy framework that grants certain rights to debtors and creditors. The act was updated in 2020.																																												4. Industrial Policies						    																																																Investment Incentives										The Government of Saint Lucia provides incentives to encourage investment by providing tax and non-tax concessions to businesses that can add value to the country’s economic development. Approval for incentives is granted by the Cabinet upon application, taking into consideration the type, size, scope, and employment potential of the business.Saint Lucia’s Trade License Act, Aliens Licensing Act, International Business Companies Act, Development Incentives Act, Special Development Areas Act, Income Tax Act, Free Zones Act, Fiscal Incentives Act, Tourism Incentives, and Tourism Stimulus and Investments Act together constitute a broad framework of incentives for foreign investors.Except for pork and chicken, there are no requirements for an enterprise to purchase a fixed percentage of goods from local sources. Companies purchasing chicken must purchase a minimum of 28 percent locally produced chicken. Companies purchasing pork must purchase a minimum of 40 percent locally produced pork.The Fiscal Incentives Act of 1974 provides for fiscal incentives to facilitate local and foreign investment in the productive sectors of Saint Lucia’s economy. The law gives export-oriented manufacturing enterprises special consideration. Investors may apply for incentives with the relevant ministry or ministries, providing a copy of the application to Invest Saint Lucia. The criteria for fiscal incentive qualification are that an enterprise must be incorporated and registered in Saint Lucia; contribute to the economic development of Saint Lucia; utilize domestic human and natural resources; form linkages with other economic sectors; contribute to foreign exchange earnings; train local personnel; and introduce plant upgrades via technological transfers.The Fiscal Incentives Act provides a list of incentives, including a tax holiday of up to 15 years for approved projects, a waiver of import duty on imported machinery and plant equipment, a waiver of import duty on imported raw and packaging materials, and an export allowance on export earnings. Under the Fiscal Incentives Act, four types of enterprises qualify for tax holidays. The length of the tax holiday for the first three depends on the amount of value added in Saint Lucia. The fourth type, known as enclave industry, must produce goods exclusively for export outside the CARICOM region. The government amended the Fiscal Incentives Act in early 2020 to expand incentives offered to local businesses as a means of spurring development and investment. The Fiscal Incentives Act now includes four subsectors of the service industry: creative industry, professional services, spa and wellness, and information and communications technology.EnterpriseValue AddedMaximum Tax HolidayGroup I50% or more15 yearsGroup II25% to 50%12 yearsGroup III10% to 25%10 yearsEnclaveEnclave15 yearsThe standard corporate income tax rate is 30 percent. An International Business Company (IBC) may elect either to be exempted from paying income tax or to be liable for income tax on the chargeable income of the company at the rate of 1 percent. An IBC is not subject to stamp duties, withholding tax, or capital gains tax. Amendments to the act passed in 2017 sought to encourage IBCs to establish headquarters in Saint Lucia by offering various incentives, including a waiver of customs duty on materials, articles, or equipment used exclusively by the company’s head office, and exemption from income tax for employees.Various special licensing requirements apply to the acquisition of land, development of buildings, expansion of existing construction, and certain aspects of the tourism industry. Individuals or corporate bodies who are not citizens and seek to acquire land may require a license prior to execution, depending upon the amount of land.The Special Development Areas Act encourages investment in designated areas throughout the country. These areas include Vieux-Fort, Anse la Raye, Soufriere, Canaries, Choc Estate, and Dennery. Special concessions offered under this law include exemption on stamp duty and import duty on inputs for the construction of new buildings and the renovation or refurbishment of existing buildings; land and house tax; stamp duty payable by vendors and purchasers on the initial purchase of property; higher tax allowances; and accelerated depreciation. Types of businesses that may qualify for these concessions are residential complexes, commercial or industrial buildings, facilities directed towards the improvement or expansion of services to the tourism sector, water-based activities, tourism projects highlighting the heritage and natural environment of Saint Lucia, arts and cultural investments, agriculture-based activities, and fisheries-based activities.The Tourism Incentives Act effectively provides for earnings exemption from income tax. This exemption would apply to a tourism project managed by or on behalf of a company entitled to distribute profits to shareholders or debenture holders as capital monies. The project would be free of tax during the two-year period following the end of the tax holiday. The act also allows for customs duty exemptions and permits the duty-free importation of materials and equipment used exclusively in connection with the construction and equipping of the tourism project. The Tourism Stimulus and Investment Act also allows for the waiver of VAT and property tax.Though the Saint Lucia Development Bank, the government offers energy efficiency and renewable energy incentives for residential and commercial buildings. More information can be found at  https://www.sldb.lc/ .																																				Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation										Saint Lucia maintains a Free Zone. It is an enclosed area treated for customs purposes as lying outside the customs territory of the island. Goods of foreign origin may be held pending eventual transshipment, re-exportation and, in some cases, importation into the local market without payment of customs duties. There are various types of companies operating in the Free Zone, including distributors of appliances, furniture, household and office supplies/items; manufacturers; duty-free suppliers of liquor, cigarettes, fragrances, wines, and pharmaceuticals.The Free Zone Act aims to promote export development and foreign investment projects in a “bureaucracy-free, duty-free, and tax-free” environment for prescribed activities. Incentives include exemption from customs duties, taxes, and related charges on all classes of goods entering the Free Zone for commercial or operating purposes. There are no restrictions or taxes on foreign exchange transactions and no taxes on dividends for the first 20 years of operation. There are also no work permit fees for management personnel of Free Zone businesses, and no import or export licenses or price controls. Finally, there is no company income tax for the first five years, and thereafter a reduced corporate income tax.																																				Performance and Data Localization Requirements										The Government of Saint Lucia does not mandate local employment. However, the government expects foreign investors to add value to the local economy, which can be achieved by providing local employment.The 2006 Labor Code provides guidelines for employment, dismissal, and payment of severance and other benefits. It also defines permanent employment, fixed term employment, and contract for service.The government requires all non-CARICOM citizens and companies intending to conduct business in Saint Lucia and who own more than 49 percent of the company’s shares to obtain a trade license. The Ministry of Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs issues trade licenses. Under the Foreign National and Commonwealth Citizens (Employment) Regulation, anyone outside OECS seeking to conduct business or be employed in Saint Lucia must apply for a work permit. Applications are available from the Labor Department of the ministry with responsibility for labor. There are no excessively onerous visa, residency, or work permit requirements.While there are no formal performance requirements, the government encourages investments that create jobs and increase exports and foreign exchange earnings. Local laws do not place any restrictions on foreign investment in Saint Lucia. Foreign investors are entitled to receive the same treatment as nationals of Saint Lucia. Foreign investors seeking to purchase property for residential or commercial purposes must obtain an Alien Landholding License. No sectors are officially closed to private enterprise, although some activities, such as telecommunications, utilities, broadcasting, banking, and insurance require government licenses. There is no restriction on foreign ownership of a local enterprise or participation in a joint venture. There are no requirements for foreign information technology providers to turn over source code and/or provide access to surveillance (e.g. back doors into hardware and software keys for encryption, etc.).																																												5. Protection of Property Rights						    																																																Real Property										Civil law protects physical property and mortgage claims. There are some special license requirements pertaining to acquisition of land, development of buildings, expansion of existing construction, and special standards for various aspects of the tourism industry. Individuals or corporate bodies who are not CARICOM nationals and who seek to acquire land must apply for and obtain an alien landholder’s license as required under the Alien Landholding Act prior to acquisition.																																				Intellectual Property Rights										Saint Lucia has two primary provisions governing the protection of intellectual property rights. They are the copyrights act and the trademarks act. The country is not listed in the U.S. Trade Representative’s 2023 Special 301 Report or in its 2022 Review of Notorious Markets for Counterfeiting and Piracy.Copyright ActThis act protects literary, dramatic, musical, artistic, creative products, and performances in Saint Lucia. To be eligible for copyright protection, the work must be written down, recorded, or otherwise fixed in a material form. Storage of the work in a computer can be regarded as a recording of the work in a material form.Trademarks ActA trademark may be registered for goods, services, or both. Once registered, the owner has the exclusive rights to use the trademark, authorize its use by another person, and obtain relief under the act if the holder’s rights have been violated. A registered trademark is deemed personal property and is enforceable like the rights of personal property.While the legal structures governing intellectual property are generally strong, enforcement is inconsistent. The Attorney General is responsible for administering intellectual property laws. The Registry of Companies and Intellectual Property Office administers the registration of patents, trademarks, and service marks.Saint Lucia is a signatory to the Washington Treaty on Intellectual Property in Respect of Integrated Circuits, the WIPO Performances and Phonograms Treaty, the WIPO Copyright Treaty, the Vienna Agreement Establishing an International Classification of the Figurative Elements of Marks, and the Convention for the Protection of Producers of Phonograms Against Unauthorized Duplication of Their Phonograms. Saint Lucia is also a signatory to the Nice Agreement Concerning the International Classification of Goods and Services for the Purposes of the Registration of Marks, the Patent Cooperation Treaty, the Rome Convention for the Protection of Performers, and Producers of Phonograms and Broadcasting Organization. In addition, Saint Lucia has signed the Paris Convention for the Protection of Industrial Property, the Berne Convention for the Protection of Literary and Artistic Works, and the Convention Establishing the World Intellectual Property Organization.Article 66 of the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas (2001) establishing the CSME commits all 15 members to implement stronger intellectual property protection and enforcement. The CARIFORUM-EU EPA contains the most detailed obligations with respect to intellectual property in any trade agreement to which Saint Lucia is a party. The EPA gives recognition to the protection and enforcement of intellectual property. Article 139 of the EPA requires parties to “ensure an adequate and effective implementation of the international treaties dealing with intellectual property to which they are parties and of the Agreement on Trade Related Aspects of Intellectual Property (TRIPS).” As a member of the WTO, Saint Lucia recognizes the WTO TRIPS Agreement.The Comptroller of Customs spearheads the preventative and enforcement aspects of intellectual property rights protection, which includes the detention, seizure, and forfeiture of counterfeit goods. The Customs and Excise Department conducts investigations of customs offenses and administers fines and penalties.For additional information about treaty obligations and points of contact at local intellectual property offices, please see WIPO’s country profiles at  http://www.wipo.int/directory/en  .																																												6. Financial Sector						    																																																Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment										Saint Lucia is a member of the ECCU. As such, it is a member of the Eastern Caribbean Securities Exchange (ECSE) and the Regional Government Securities Market. The ECSE is a regional securities market established by the ECCB and licensed under the Securities Act of 2001, a uniform regional body of legislation governing the buying and selling of financial products for the eight member territories. It is regulated by the Eastern Caribbean Regulatory Commission.The ECSE and its subsidiaries, the Eastern Caribbean Central Securities Depository and the Eastern Caribbean Central Securities Registry, facilitate activities on the ECSE. The main activities are the primary issuance and secondary trading of corporate and sovereign securities, the clearance and settlement of issues and trades, maintaining securities holders’ records, and providing custodial, registration, transfer agency, and paying agency services while respecting listed and non-listed securities. As of March 2022, there were 164 securities listed on the ECSE, comprising 135 sovereign debt instruments, 13 equities, and 16 corporate debt securities. Market capitalization stood at $703 million (1.9 billion Eastern Caribbean dollars. Saint Lucia is open to portfolio investment.Saint Lucia has accepted the obligations of Article VIII of the International Monetary Fund Agreement, Sections 2, 3, and 4, and maintains an exchange system free of restrictions on making payments and transfers for current international transactions. Foreign tax credit is allowed for the lesser of the tax payable in the foreign country or the tax charged under Saint Lucia tax law. The private sector has access to credit on the local market through loans, purchases of non-equity securities, and trade credits and other accounts receivable that establish a claim for repayment.																																				Money and Banking System										The eight participating governments of the ECCU have passed the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank Agreement Act. The act provides for the establishment of the ECCB, its management and administration, its currency, relations with financial institutions, relations with the participating governments, foreign exchange operations, external reserves, and other related matters. Saint Lucia is a signatory to this agreement and the ECCB controls Saint Lucia’s currency and regulates its domestic banks.The Banking Act (2015) is a harmonized piece of legislation across the ECCU. The Minister of Finance usually acts in consultation with, and on the recommendation of, the ECCB with respect to those areas of responsibility within the Minister of Finance’s portfolio.Domestic and foreign banks can establish operations in Saint Lucia. The Banking Act requires all commercial banks and other institutions to be licensed in order to conduct any banking business. The ECCB regulates financial institutions. As part of ongoing supervision, licensed financial institutions are required to submit monthly, quarterly, and annual performance reports to the ECCB.In its latest annual report, the ECCB listed the commercial banking sector in Saint Lucia as stable. Assets of commercial banks totaled $2.8 billion (6.4 billion Eastern Caribbean dollars) at the last reporting period of 2019. In its latest annual report, the ECCB listed the commercial banking sector in Saint Lucia as stable. Saint Lucia is well-served by resident bank and non-bank financial institutions.The Caribbean region has witnessed a withdrawal of correspondent banking services by the U.S. and European banks. CARICOM remains committed to engaging with key stakeholders on the issue and appointed a Committee of Ministers of Finance on Correspondent Banking to monitor the issue.Bitt, a wholly U.S. owned company founded in Barbados, developed digital currency DCash in partnership with the ECCB. The first successful DCash retail central bank digital currency (CDBC) consumer-to-merchant transaction took place in Grenada in February 2021 following a multi-year development process. The ECCB and BITT signed a memorandum of understanding in March 2018 and launched their fintech pilot project and regulatory sandbox in four member countries: Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St. Kitts and Nevis and Saint Lucia a year later. In March 2021, DCash was officially rolled out in Saint Lucia. After some challenges in early 2022, the DCash online platform remained online and available for transactions during the reporting period.In December 2022, the government enacted the Virtual Assets Business Bill to regulate virtual currencies with the expectation that they will become increasingly prevalent. The bill is intended to facilitate the ease of doing business in a cashless society, and to combat theft, fraud, money laundering, Ponzi schemes, and terrorist financing. All businesses in this sector must register under this Act. This bill was drafted by the ECCB.																																				Foreign Exchange and Remittances																										Foreign Exchange						Saint Lucia is a member of the ECCU and the ECCB. The currency of exchange is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD). Saint Lucia has a fully liberalized foreign exchange system. The Eastern Caribbean dollar has been pegged to the United States dollar at a rate of XCD 2.70 to $1.00 since 1976. As a result, the Eastern Caribbean dollar does not fluctuate, creating a stable currency environment for trade and investment in Saint Lucia.There are no restrictions or limitations placed on foreign investors in converting, transferring, or repatriating funds associated with an investment. Funds can also be freely converted into any major world currency.						Remittance Policies						Companies registered in Saint Lucia have the right to repatriate all capital, royalties, dividends, and profits. There are no restrictions on the repatriation of dividends for totally foreign-owned firms.As a member of the OECS, there are no exchange controls in Saint Lucia, and parties can invoice foreign trade transactions in any currency. Importers are not required to make prior deposits in local funds and are not required to surrender export proceeds to government authorities or to authorized banks. There are no controls on transfers of funds. Saint Lucia is a member of the CFATF.																										Sovereign Wealth Funds										Neither the Government of Saint Lucia, nor the ECCB (of which Saint Lucia is a member) maintains a sovereign wealth fund.																																												7. State-Owned Enterprises						    																						State-owned enterprises (SOEs) in Saint Lucia work in partnership with ministries or under their remit, carrying out specific ministerial responsibilities. There are 39 SOEs in Saint Lucia operating in areas such as tourism, investment services, broadcasting and media, solid waste management, and agriculture.SOEs are wholly owned government entities and are headed by boards of directors to which senior management reports. A list of SOEs in Saint Lucia is available at  http://www.govt.lc/statutory-bodies  .																										Privatization Program										Saint Lucia currently does not have a targeted privatization program.																																												8. Responsible Business Conduct						    																						Saint Lucia’s government and citizens are known to engage in responsible business conduct. The private sector typically engages in projects that benefit society, and support environmental, social, and cultural causes.Additional ResourcesDepartment of State Country Reports on Human Rights Practices; Trafficking in Persons Report; Guidance on Implementing the &#8220;UN Guiding Principles&#8221; for Transactions Linked to Foreign Government End-Users for Products or Services with Surveillance Capabilities; U.S. National Contact Point for the OECD Guidelines for Multinational Enterprises; and; Xinjiang Supply Chain Business Advisory Department of the Treasury OFAC Recent Actions Department of Labor Findings on the Worst Forms of Child Labor Report ; List of Goods Produced by Child Labor or Forced Labor ; Sweat &amp; Toil: Child Labor, Forced Labor, and Human Trafficking Around the World  and; Comply Chain .																										Climate Issues										Saint Lucia remains susceptible to natural disasters and other effects due to climate change. Saint Lucia has developed a multi-stakeholder policy framework on the environment that focuses on climate resilience and adaptation, disaster risk reduction, protection of biodiversity, effective natural resources, and environmental management through the enforcement of policies, legislation and regulations. The National Environmental Policy was amended in 2019 to lay out a coherent strategy to adopt and implement policies and regulations as it relates to hazard mitigation, climate change adaption, and developing planning processes and procedures. Saint Lucia is party to the Paris Agreement. In 2021, the government updated its Nationally Determined Contribution to the United Nations to signal its commitment to limiting the global average temperature increase and the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.																																												9. Corruption						    																						Saint Lucia has laws, regulations, and penalties to combat corruption, notably the Integrity in Public Life Act of 2004. Government agencies involved in enforcement of anti-corruption laws include the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, the Director of Public Prosecutions, the Integrity Commission, and the Financial Intelligence Unit.The government recently announced that it intends to appoint a special prosecutor to investigate acts of alleged public corruption. Parliament passed a special prosecutor act, which gives legal authority to a special prosecutor to institute both civil and criminal proceedings against any public official who might have engaged in acts of malfeasance or is suspected of misappropriating state resources and assets for personal gain. The act has yet to be implemented.The country is a party to the Inter-American Convention against Corruption and acceded to the United Nations Convention against Corruption in 2011.Vacant (previous Chairman resigned in September 2021 and his successor is yet to be named)ChairmanIntegrity Commission2nd Floor, Graham Louisy Administrative Building, Waterfront Castries, Saint Lucia(758) 468-2187icstlucia@gmail.comPaul ThompsonDirectorFinancial Intelligence AuthorityGablewoods North P.O., Castries LC02 501, Saint Lucia(758) 451-7126slufia@candw.lc																																		10. Political and Security Environment						    																						Saint Lucia is considered politically stable and does not have a recent history of political violence. Elections are peaceful and considered generally free and transparent. The next election is constitutionally due in 2026.																																		11. Labor Policies and Practices						    																						The law provides for a minimum wage for some sectors, including office clerks, shop assistants, and messengers. Most categories of workers received wages higher than minimum wage, based on prevailing market conditions. The legislated workweek is 40 hours, with a maximum of eight hours per day.The law specifies the right of most workers to form and join independent unions, bargain collectively, and conduct legal strikes. The law prohibits antiunion discrimination, and workers fired for union activity have the right to reinstatement. Penalties were not commensurate with those for other laws involving denials of civil rights, such as discrimination.The law restricts the right to strike and bargain collectively by police, corrections service, fire department, health service, and utilities (electricity, water, and telecommunications) on the grounds these organizations provide essential services. These workers must give 30 days’ notice before striking. Once workers give notice, authorities usually refer the matter to an ad hoc labor tribunal set up under the Essential Services Act. The government selects tribunal members following rules to assure tripartite representation. These ad hoc tribunals attempt to resolve disputes primarily through mandatory arbitration.The government generally respected freedom of association, and employers generally respected the right to collective bargaining. Workers exercised the right to strike and bargain collectively.The law prohibits forced labor and provides for protection from slavery and forced labor; however, forced labor is not criminally prohibited unless it results from human trafficking.The law prohibits discrimination based on race, skin color, sex, religion, national extraction, social origin, ethnic origin, political opinion or affiliation, age, disability, serious family responsibility, pregnancy, marital status, and HIV or AIDS status. The law requires that men and women receive equal pay for equal work but sets different rates of severance pay for men and women. The law prohibits employers from terminating employees on the grounds of sexual orientation.The government set occupational safety and health (OSH) standards that were current and appropriate. The government conducted OSH inspections, but the number of inspectors was not adequate to enforce compliance. Penalties for violations of OSH laws were not commensurate with those for analogous crimes, such as negligence. Workers could remove themselves from situations that endangered health or safety without jeopardy to their employment, and authorities effectively protected employees in these cases.Labor laws, including overtime rules and OSH standards, apply to all workers, whether in the formal or informal sector. Special legislation covers work hours for shop assistants, agricultural workers, domestic workers, and industrial workers.The labor code provides penalties that were not commensurate with those for similar crimes such as fraud, but the government effectively enforced the law. The Ministry of Public Service, Home Affairs, Labour, and Gender Affairs was responsible for monitoring implementation of labor laws. Employers were generally responsive to ministry requests to address labor code violations, and authorities rarely levied fines.Labor inspectors effectively monitored compliance with standards governing pensions, terminations, vacation, sick leave, contracts, and hours of work. Inspectors have the authority to initiate sanctions, institute proceedings before the tribunal, or hold informal inquiries when complaints are brought to their notice or are found during inspections.The informal sector was mainly composed of micro and small businesses and accounted for a large share of employment. According to International Labor Organization statistics for 2022, the sector made up approximately 31.2 percent of the work force and key sectors. According to the same study, the informal economy included a wide cross section of sectors, such as agriculture, manufacturing, construction, wholesale, retail, transportation, accommodation, and other service activities. The government does not legally define or collect statistics on the informal economy, whose workers do not benefit from employment-related social protections.																																		12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs						    																						Saint Lucia is classified as an upper-middle income country under the World Bank’s definition. The DFC may consider investments in certain projects in upper-middle-income countries that address key U.S. government priorities.																																		13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics						    																						Table 2: Key Macroeconomic Data, U.S. FDI in Host Country/EconomyHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or International Source of Data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherEconomic DataYearAmountYearAmountHost Country Gross Domestic Product (GDP) ($M USD)N/AN/A2021$2,070www.worldbank.org/en/countryForeign Direct InvestmentHost Country Statistical source*USG or international statistical sourceUSG or international Source of data:  BEA; IMF; Eurostat; UNCTAD, OtherU.S. FDI in partner country ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/A2021$254.0BEA data available at https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/Host country’s FDI in the United States ($M USD, stock positions)N/AN/A2021$7.0BEA data available at https://apps.bea.gov/international/factsheet/Total inbound stock of FDI as % host GDPN/AN/A202194%UNCTAD data available at https://unctad.org/topic/investment/world-investment-report* Source for Host Country Data: Eastern Caribbean Central Bank  https://www.eccb-centralbank.org/statistics/dashboard-datas/  .  However no current figures of GDP for Saint Lucia were available.Table 3: Sources and Destination of FDIData not available.																																		14. Contact for More Information						    																						Political/Economic SectionU.S. Embassy to Barbados, the Eastern Caribbean, and the Organization of Eastern Caribbean StatesTel: 1-246-227-4000Email: BridgetownPolEcon@state.gov																										    							View report by:																				Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											The Bahamas											Azerbaijan											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Chile											China											Colombia											Costa Rica											Côte d’Ivoire											Croatia											Cyprus											Czechia											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France and Monaco											The Gambia											Gabon											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guyana											Haiti											Honduras											Hong Kong											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iraq											Ireland											Israel											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kosovo											Kyrgyz Republic											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Macau											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nepal											Netherlands											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Philippines											Peru											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Somalia											South Africa											South Korea											South Sudan											Spain											Sri Lanka											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											Timor-Leste											Togo											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Türkiye											United Arab Emirates											Uganda											Ukraine											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vietnam											West Bank and Gaza											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										EXECUTIVE SUMMARY																1. Openness To, and Restrictions Upon, Foreign Investment																																							Policies Towards Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Limits on Foreign Control and Right to Private Ownership and Establishment																																																						Other Investment Policy Reviews																																																						Business Facilitation																																																						Outward Investment																																																			2. Bilateral Investment and Taxation Treaties																3. Legal Regime																																							Transparency of the Regulatory System																																																						International Regulatory Considerations																																																						Legal System and Judicial Independence																																																						Laws and Regulations on Foreign Direct Investment																																																						Citizenship by Investment																																																						Competition and Antitrust Laws																																																						Expropriation and Compensation																																																						Dispute Settlement																																																				ICSID Convention and New York Convention																																												Investor-State Dispute Settlement																																												International Commercial Arbitration and Foreign Courts																																																																																				Bankruptcy Regulations																																																			4. Industrial Policies																																							Investment Incentives																																																						Foreign Trade Zones/Free Ports/Trade Facilitation																																																						Performance and Data Localization Requirements																																																			5. Protection of Property Rights																																							Real Property																																																						Intellectual Property Rights																																																			6. Financial Sector																																							Capital Markets and Portfolio Investment																																																						Money and Banking System																																																						Foreign Exchange and Remittances																																																				Foreign Exchange																																												Remittance Policies																																																																																				Sovereign Wealth Funds																																																			7. State-Owned Enterprises																																							Privatization Program																																																			8. Responsible Business Conduct																																							Climate Issues																																																			9. Corruption																10. Political and Security Environment																11. Labor Policies and Practices																12. U.S. International Development Finance Corporation (DFC), and Other Investment Insurance or Development Finance Programs																13. Foreign Direct Investment Statistics																14. Contact for More Information																						Tags																					Bureau of Economic and Business Affairs																								Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Saint Lucia
- Press briefing with Todd D. Robinson, Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Todd D.  Robinson, Assistant SecretaryBureau of International Narcotics and Law Enforcement AffairsMODERATOR:  Greetings to everyone from the U.S. Department of State’s Media Hub of the Americas in Miami, Florida.  I would like to welcome our participants who have dialed in from the United States and across the region.  This is an on-the-record press briefing with the Assistant Secretary of State for International Narcotics and Law Enforcement Affairs Todd D. Robinson. Assistant Secretary Robinson will discuss outcomes from Friday’s virtual ministerial to launch a Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats as well as next steps for the global coalition.  This coalition seeks to unite countries worldwide in a concerted effort to prevent the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs, identify emerging drug trends, and respond effectively to their public health impacts. As a reminder, today’s briefing is on the record.  And with that, I will turn it over to Assistant Secretary Robinson. ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you for joining this call today and for the opportunity to discuss the collective efforts we have undertaken to confront the important issue of synthetic drugs. Last Friday, as you know, Secretary Blinken hosted a virtual ministerial to launch a Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats.  Nearly 100 countries and international organizations participated in the launch, underscoring the shared concern about this public health and national security threat.  The coalition aims to unite countries worldwide in a concerted effort to combat the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs.  Together, we hope to strengthen efforts to prevent the production and trafficking of illicit synthetic drugs, identify emerging synthetic drug trends and use patterns, and promote efforts to respond effectively to the public health impacts they impose. Participants at the ministerial underscored the importance of sharing data and increasing efforts to mitigate the health impact of synthetic drug use.  As you all already know, synthetic drugs such as fentanyl and methamphetamine pose a grave risk to the health and security of our citizens here in the United States.  The consequences of these drugs are devastating as evidenced by the alarming statistics. In 2022, the CDC estimated that nearly 110,000 Americans lost their lives to drug overdoses.  Recognizing the gravity of this situation, the Biden administration is fully committed to preventing drug use and minimizing its negative impact.  We understand the importance of connecting individuals to treatment and supporting the more than 20 million Americans in recovery.  President Biden’s National Drug Control Strategy has allocated a substantial $24 billion dollars in this fiscal year to strengthen drug-related public health interventions.  These measures not only safeguard the health of our citizens, but also exemplify our dedication at home as we look to other nations to also take action. It is vital to note that these dangers are not limited to the United States.  More countries than ever are facing an increasing threat from synthetic drugs like tramadol, Captagon, MDMA, and Ketamine.  Criminals are constantly innovating to create new synthetic drugs, adjusting formulas to avoid international controls and domestic regulations, and creating new demand.   One staggering number to note:  Over the past decade, more than 1,100 new synthetic drugs were detected and reported by the United Nations.  Through the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, we are harnessing international cooperation and shared knowledge to tackle this crisis head on.  By working together, we can more effectively disrupt the illicit synthetic drug supply chains, enhance our ability to identify and respond to emerging threats, and protect the lives and well-being of our own citizens and of people around the world. The United States has already been working with partners like Mexico, Canada, and other countries to drive urgent global action to disrupt the synthetic drug trade from beginning to end.  We are engaging with countries such as India to strengthen our partnerships on securing pharmaceutical and chemical supply chains to prevent criminal diversion of dual-use precursor chemicals, and we remain committed to engaging with the PRC to address the threat illicit synthetic drugs pose to our countries.  The Department of State also works within the UN, the Organization of American States, the G7, G20, and other organizations to improve the abilities of our countries to detect and disrupt the illicit manufacturing, diversion, and trafficking of precursor chemicals and finished drugs.   We have more important work to do, so in closing, let me express my gratitude to our international partners who have already joined us in this crucial endeavor.  The fight against synthetic drugs requires a global response, and we are confident that our collective efforts will yield significant results.  Together, we can create a safer and healthier future for our citizens and generations to come.   Thank you, and I look forward to your questions.   MODERATOR:  Thank you so much, Assistant Secretary.  We will now begin the question-and-answer portion of today’s briefing.  For those on the English line asking questions, please limit yourself to one question related to the topic of today’s briefing.  If you submitted your question in advance, I have incorporated the question into the queue.  Our first question today we received from Daniel – from Jim Carson of La Jornada in Mexico:  “What specific will be new out of this declaration?  Are you setting up a FinCEN-type structure to share information, do evaluations, and a secretariat, or is it simply a reiteration of past commitments without any specific additional actions?”   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Great question.  The first thing I would say is we are – we are building on what we have done in the past and what has been done by other countries in the past.  The coalition is intended to be an inclusive forum for sharing best practices and identifying areas for collaboration to improve the global response to public health and security threats posed by synthetic drugs.  We ask that countries commit to working collaboratively with other coalition member countries at both political and technical levels to develop a joint framework for addressing synthetic drugs and develop actions in line with that framework.  Thanks.   MODERATOR:  Thank you.  We received a question from journalist Fernando Morales from Red Salvadoreña de Medios in El Salvador: “El Salvador is a corridor for the transit of synthetic drugs like fentanyl.  How is work being done to prevent the trafficking of these narcotics?”   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  I’m sorry.  Could you say that again?  MODERATOR:  Absolutely, Assistant Secretary.  “El Salvador is a corridor for the transit of synthetic drugs like fentanyl.  How is work being done to prevent the trafficking of these narcotics?&#8221; ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Great question.  As our correspondent will note, the United States Government on several different levels is working with members of the civilian security forces in El Salvador and throughout the region – El Salvador, Guatemala, and Honduras – on things like investigations, going after the trafficking networks.  We have experts on the ground from DEA and the Department of Justice.   We also work on training.  As the correspondent will note, there is an International Law Enforcement Academy hosted by the Government of El Salvador where we can do training for police and prosecutors in the region on different techniques and modernized techniques for going after these networks.  So those are ways that we are – those are ways that we are trying to get after these – shut down these corridors.   MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  The next question will go to Jesús Esquivel from Proceso Magazine in Mexico.  Jesús, please unmute yourself.   QUESTION:  Hello.  Can you hear me?   MODERATOR:  Yes.  Please ask your question.  &#8212;    QUESTION:  Okay.  Yes.  Under Secretary, there has always been the accusations that the Mexican cartels are responsible for all the synthetic drugs in the United States, but as you probably know, the domestic cartels in the U.S. are also responsible for the distributions and sale of these drugs.   My question to you is:  What exactly or when exactly the U.S. Government for the first time is going to be exposing the domestic cartels in this problem and in the United States?  And also, if you think the accusations as – members of the U.S. Congress made to Mexico and threats that they probably going to invade Mexico to stop the drug trafficking, it will help in this global coalition in the case of – specifically of Mexico to cooperate with the U.S. Government?   ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you, Jesús.  Both good questions.  Look, first of all, I would – I would not exactly support the premise of your question.  We have never said that all of the fentanyl or synthetic opioids that are coming to the United States are coming from Mexico.  We know that this is a global – a global effort by cartels from different regions around the world, including criminals in the United States.  I don’t think the FBI or the Department of Justice or our local law enforcement authorities have been shy about exposing the criminal networks in the United States that are trafficking in these drugs.  I think they will continue to publicly expose them when available.  So that’s thing number one. Thing number two, we have – the United States has an excellent relationship with our counterparts in Mexico.  We are both working very close to go after the networks in Mexico, to increase our cooperation on both sides of our southwest border, your northern border.  And we are working together internationally to share our experiences with working together with other countries around the world.  I’m very proud of our relationship with our Mexican counterparts, and we’re going to continue to call on them as they call on us to work together to do more to stop – to stop this global trafficking of synthetic drugs. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary Robison.  The next question will go to Adyr Corral from El Sol de Mexico.  Adyr, please unmute yourself.  Go ahead.  Adyr, can you hear us?   Okay, unfortunately we’re going to have to move on.  I see we have a submitted question in our Q&amp;A from Brendan O’Boyle from Reuters in Mexico City: “Thank you, Ambassador.  Within the coalition, where is there concern about fentanyl’s short-term spread geographically?  In Mexico, some experts have sounded alarm about fentanyl spreading in drug supply domestically, though data is scarce.  Have coalition partners in Mexico recognized domestic spread?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  I’m sorry, can you repeat that question again? MODERATOR:  Sure, sir.  “Thank you, Ambassador.  Within the coalition, where is there concern about fentanyl’s short-term spread geographically?  In Mexico, some experts have sounded the alarm about fentanyl spreading in the drug supply domestically, though data is scarce.  Have coalition partners in Mexico recognized domestic spread?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  The short answer is I believe the Government of Mexico has recognized the short-term spread of synthetic opioids.  We are – and – but there’s a very good relationship between our Office of National Drug Control Policy and the secretary for Health in Mexico.  They are working very closely together on campaigns to raise awareness about synthetic opioids and what can be done to avoid falling into – into that addiction.  So we feel like we have a burgeoning story to tell, a better story to tell as we go forward on our cooperation on the messaging against the domestic – in Mexico, the domestic spread of the – and growth of the use of synthetic opioids. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  I’m told we’ve resolved the microphone issues with Adyr Corral, so we’ll go back to Adyr Corral from El Sol de Mexico.  Please unmute yourself. QUESTION:  Hi.  You can hear me? ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Yes. MODERATOR:  We can hear you. QUESTION:  Ah, thank you very much.  Sorry for the problems.  I would like to ask the assistant secretary for a comment on the initiative to designate the fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction in Congress.  How about that, Assistant Secretary? ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you, great question.  We have currently – the Department of Justice, DEA, FBI, Department of State – we feel like we have the authorities necessary to go after the networks that are trafficking in these drugs.  At the moment, we don’t see that classifying fentanyl as a weapon of mass destruction will give us any more authority than we already have to try to stop its trafficking.  So we feel pretty comfortable that we’re in a good place in terms of having the tools necessary to go after the drug and to go after the networks that are trafficking the drugs.  QUESTION:  Thank you very much.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  The next question was submitted in advance from Juan Silva from W Radio in Colombia:  “How do you assess the current situation in Colombia in terms of the fight against drugs?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, as the correspondent, as Juan will know, we have a very long, very strong, very deep relationship with Colombia and Colombia’s security forces that has developed over a number of years.  We feel like we are – we have developed into great partners.  Colombia has become a net exporter of security globally, and that is in large part due to the very strong relationship that has developed with the United States.   Today we continue in that effort.  There are areas where we are hoping to start working – new areas where we are starting to – we want to begin working with the Petro government, and we are in constant conversation with Petro and his team to figure out how we can best help them bring greater security and safety to communities in Colombia, and by doing so, help shut down the networks that are trafficking drugs north to the United States.  Thanks.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.   Our next question we received from Eduard Ribas from EFE:  “What responsibility does China have on the trafficking of fentanyl precursors?  How can this coalition be successful without Chinese participation?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, I would say the – we know good things happen when China is involved in conversations like this.  You will recall in 2019 the Chinese Government scheduled fentanyl and made it much harder to get out of the country directly and be shipped directly to other countries.  And when they did that, the trafficking of fentanyl itself in the United States from China went to almost zero.  So we think that there’s a lot more that can be done by the PRC in terms of greater monitoring and labeling and information-sharing on the precursor chemicals that are leaving the PRC, and they – we invited them to join the coalition.  We expect at some point that they will take us up on our invitation because they want to be responsible, a responsible country in this effort.  And we all know that they play – that there are companies in China that play an important role in the distribution of the precursor chemicals that go into making these drugs.  Over.  MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We have time for about two more questions.  One was submitted in advance from a journalist in Guyana regarding CARICOM, Denis Chabrol from Demarara Waves Online News:  “How badly are Caribbean Community (CARICOM) nations affected by synthetic drugs?”  ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thank you.  Again, this is a – that’s a great question.  I would say although we haven’t seen significant production in the Caribbean, it’s important to note that criminal chemists can easily synthesize fentanyl almost anywhere.  The Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats will provide a foundation for developing and implementing effective, practical solutions to prevent the illicit manufacture and trafficking of synthetic drugs.  It will help detect emerging drug threats, and we hope it will help respond to the – to their public health impacts.  Over. MODERATOR:  Thank you.  I see in the chat the journalist had added:  “What do we expect from CARICOM and what assistance the U.S. can provide?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, actually, I would turn it around.  The question should be:  What more can CARICOM countries do?  And I think, again, when we talk about things like exchanging information, when we talk about things like making sure that they are getting access, making sure their communities are getting access to the antidotes for overdoses, making sure that they are reporting to the international organizations that are collecting information that everybody else can use – those are the things that that we would hope we could get from countries that are involved in the global coalition.  And the United States and the international community will continue to help with training and equipping those police forces and prosecutors that are working on this issue.  Over. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We had a question from Martin Villena from Andina News Agency in Peru:  “Concerning the Global Coalition to Address Synthetic Drug Threats, does its launch also mean strengthening even more relations with countries such as Peru and Colombia, which face the issue and the related problems concerning cocaine productions in their territories?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, we’re always working to strengthening – strengthening the relationship with our good friends in Peru and Colombia.  But in fact, again, we will – what the establishment of this coalition is looking to do is to have our friends from Peru and Colombia share their experiences with other countries around the world and help other countries who don’t have the expertise that our countries do, help them address the issues in their countries.  We have great relationships with our partners in Peru and Colombia; I don’t expect that will change.  But we will – in the establishment of this coalition, we will be asking them to do more to help on a global level.  Over.   MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  We received a question from Carrie Kahn with NPR:  “How do proposals from some Republicans in the United States urging military intervention to stop fentanyl trafficking in Mexico affect your plans to enlist global partners?” ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Well, I would say we’re going to let Congress – the Senate and the House – develop and debate their own ideas.  We are going to – I am focused on working with our civilian security partners globally, making sure that they have the training, the equipment, the strategies; making sure they have access to the expertise necessary to focus on what is our responsibility, which is providing civilian security to our communities, both in the United States and around and world. MODERATOR:  Thank you, Assistant Secretary.  I believe we’ve gone through all the questions that we had today, so that will conclude today’s briefing.  I wanted to thank you for joining us today, as well as all of the journalists on the line for their questions.  If you have any follow-up questions about today’s briefing, you may contact the Miami Media Hub at MiamiHub@state.gov.  An English recording and transcript will be available for this briefing, as well as transcripts in Spanish and Brazilian Portuguese.  Thank you so much and have a good day. ASSISTANT SECRETARY ROBINSON:  Thanks.  Thanks, everybody. 
- Saint Lucia HomeReportsOffice to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons2023 Trafficking in Persons Report&#8230;Saint Lucia				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2023 Trafficking in Persons Report: Saint Lucia																																					Office to Monitor and Combat Trafficking in Persons																																																																																																				 In this section										/																							SAINT LUCIA (Tier 2)																																													SAINT LUCIA (Tier 2)																															PRIORITIZED RECOMMENDATIONS:																																																																																		PROSECUTION																																																																																		PROTECTION																																																																																		PREVENTION																																																																																		TRAFFICKING PROFILE:																																																																																																								SAINT LUCIA (Tier 2)				The Government of Saint Lucia does not fully meet the minimum standards for the elimination of trafficking but is making significant efforts to do so. The government demonstrated overall increasing efforts compared with the previous reporting period, considering the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic, if any, on its anti-trafficking capacity; therefore Saint Lucia was upgraded to Tier 2. These efforts included initiating a prosecution for the first time since 2015, increasing investigations, designating one trafficking-specific prosecutor with the ability to fast track cases, and cooperating with neighboring countries on two cases. The government also identified four victims for the first time since 2020 and provided them services, drafted and began implementing a new NAP, enabled witnesses in trafficking cases to testify remotely, screened at-risk Cuban medical workers for trafficking indicators and reviewed their contracts, and restarted an anti-trafficking hotline. However, the government did not meet the minimum standards in several key areas. The government has never convicted a trafficker. Penalties under the Counter Trafficking Act, as amended, were not commensurate with those for other serious crimes. Resources and personnel for trafficking remained inadequate and the government did not effectively enforce its laws prohibiting forced or compulsory labor.																																					PRIORITIZED RECOMMENDATIONS:						    																																															Continue to increase efforts to identify vulnerable individuals, especially children, migrants, and foreign workers; screen them for trafficking indicators and refer identified victims to services.Continue to increase efforts to investigate, prosecute, convict, and punish traffickers under the Counter-Trafficking (Amendment) Act.Amend trafficking provisions in the 2021 Counter-Trafficking (Amendment) Act to prescribe penalties for sex trafficking that are commensurate with penalties prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape.Provide sufficient resources for anti-trafficking efforts.Continue to reduce court backlog and pretrial detention delays affecting trafficking cases.Develop and implement labor recruitment policies, hire and train more inspectors for labor trafficking inspections, update labor migration legislation as necessary, and improve interagency coordination on labor issues.Continue to consistently use SOPs on a victim-centered approach with training for police, immigration, labor, child protection, judicial, and social welfare officials on victim identification and referral.Continue to train law enforcement officials to gather evidence of trafficking cases appropriate for prosecution.																																												PROSECUTION						    																																															The government increased law enforcement efforts. The government enacted amendments to the Counter-Trafficking Act during the previous reporting period. The Counter-Trafficking Act, as amended, criminalized sex trafficking and labor trafficking and prescribed penalties of up to five years’ imprisonment. These penalties were sufficiently stringent but, with respect to sex trafficking, not commensurate with penalties prescribed for other serious crimes, such as rape.The government conducted four sex trafficking investigations, compared with one trafficking investigation in 2021, none in 2020, and three in 2019. The government initiated one sex trafficking prosecution under the anti-trafficking law, the first prosecution since 2015. The Magistrate held a hearing on the case in February 2023 and the matter was advanced to the High Court; the suspect was on bail awaiting trial at the end of the reporting period. The government has never convicted a trafficker. The government did not report any investigations, prosecutions, or convictions of government employees complicit in human trafficking crimes.The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) Major Crimes Unit investigated human trafficking and presented cases to the Director of Public Prosecutions. The RSLPF had three officers in the Major Crimes Unit dedicated to trafficking investigations and its Vulnerable Persons Unit could also investigate potential trafficking cases involving children. The Magistrate Court heard initial trafficking cases prior to their advancement to the High Court. Observers reported the pandemic continued to exacerbate significant court backlogs and pretrial detention of defendants for all serious crimes, which could last as long as six years. There was no separate budget for trafficking cases and court resources remained limited. During the reporting period, the Director of Public Prosecutions assigned one Crown Counsel to assist with trafficking investigations and charge traffickers; the official also could fast track trafficking cases. The government implemented a hybrid system allowing select witnesses, such as medical professionals or witnesses residing out of the jurisdiction, to testify remotely, including for trafficking cases. The government cooperated with two neighboring countries on the new prosecution. The government cooperated with French authorities on an ongoing investigation involving two potential child victims. In January 2023, Canadian police charged three Saint Lucian men in a trafficking investigation in Canada for recruiting a 15-year-old girl for sex trafficking; the government did not report if it provided any assistance to the Canadian government in the case.																																												PROTECTION						    																																															The government increased protection efforts. The government identified four Jamaican adult victims exploited in sex trafficking, compared with not identifying any victims for the last two years. The government provided medical care and shelter for three of the identified victims who subsequently left the country and repatriated the other victim. The government could provide legal aid for victims, but did not do so during the reporting period. The government reported NGOs provided the victims food and hygiene products. Authorities used victim identification and referral SOPs to identify the victims; the SOPs included an international organization’s victim screening form. The government had a cooperation agreement with the Government of Cuba for Cuban workers in the country; the government reported it screened Cuban workers for trafficking indicators and the workers remained in possession of their passports and received their wages. Specially trained police officers interviewed potential trafficking victims and reported generally screening for trafficking indicators when detaining or arresting individuals involved in commercial sex, migrants, and those in other vulnerable groups. The government did not detain or arrest any individuals involved in commercial sex. Observers reported police and other government employees, including those involved in health and welfare, generally lacked sensitization on child sex tourism and familial trafficking.The government did not have a specific funding allocation for victim care but the Minister of Home Affairs could request the Prime Minister provide financial support for victims as needed. The government reported using such special funding in the amount of 12,500 Eastern Caribbean Dollars ($4,630) to support trafficking victims during the reporting period; the government reported in general funding was sufficient for immediate victim needs but not for longer term care. The government worked with NGOs and encouraged them to report cases. The government did not maintain a dedicated shelter for trafficking victims but arranged and paid for trusted private sector accommodations when the need arose. Foreign and domestic adult victims could choose whether to stay in the accommodations or leave them at will. The government did not allow foreign victims to receive formal residency status because it considered them wards of the state. The government offered victims who were material witnesses in a criminal case to remain and work in the country. The anti-trafficking law mandated special provisions for child victims that could include ensuring understanding of their rights, respect for privacy, housing, care, reunification with family in the country or abroad if safe and possible, specialized mental and physical care, and education. The Division of Human Services could place child victims in one of two children’s homes, but did not report doing so during the reporting period.The anti-trafficking law contained victim protection provisions, such as privacy measures, the ability to testify via video link, and witness protection, to encourage victim participation in the investigation and prosecution of traffickers. The government reported four victims cooperated in the prosecution of a suspected trafficker with statements provided to qualified social workers; the government reported it provided regular patrols and CCTV coverage at their accommodations. Children could also testify via video and have a guardian or social worker present during testimony and court proceedings. The anti-trafficking law provided judges could, upon conviction of a trafficker, order them to pay restitution and the government reported it could facilitate the payment of civil compensation to a victim. The government did not report using these provisions during the reporting period. Foreign victims had the same access to care as domestic victims. The government reported alerting a neighboring island to the impending arrival of three of the identified trafficking victims en route to the island. The Ministry of Home Affairs reported it supported training of task force members; forensic laboratory employees; police, immigration, health, labor, youth development, and family court personnel; and NGOs on victim identification; the police reported including victim-centric language in trafficking case intake practices for the first time as a result of the training.																																												PREVENTION						    																																															The government increased efforts to prevent trafficking. With the support of the Prime Minister, the Ministries of Home Affairs and National Security led the task force consisting of relevant agencies and NGOs. The task force resumed in-person meetings in September 2022 and facilitated oversight and support for the four identified victims. The government reported the task force met weekly when there was an active case and quarterly otherwise. The government drafted and began to implement a new NAP for 2023-2026; the government consulted survivors on policies. The government reported spending 40,500 EC ($15,000) on prevention efforts and that it consulted with a subject matter expert on these programs. The task force continued a media campaign by issuing trafficking-related press releases, public service announcements, and social media posts promoting trafficking awareness and the anti-trafficking hotline. The hotline resumed operations in 2022, following its previous suspension due to the pandemic. The government trained additional police officers to respond to trafficking-related calls made to the general crime toll-free 24-hour hotline; the general hotline could receive calls in English and Saint Lucian Creole French. The government did not report any trafficking-related referrals from the hotlines during the reporting period. The government assessed its anti-trafficking training efforts. The government’s comprehensive study to provide recommendations for economic development plans to reduce the vulnerability of economically disadvantaged populations to trafficking and other crimes, initiated in 2020, remained ongoing at the end of the reporting period.The government did not report any changes to its regulations and oversight of labor recruitment. The task force completed a review of Cuban medical workers’ contracts. Foreign nationals coming to work in the country had to complete a work permit application process that included a certificate of character obtained from the Police Records Unit. While labor laws prohibited most forms of forced or compulsory labor, in the past the government did not enforce them effectively. Observers noted there were not enough trained labor inspectors to monitor all sectors for labor trafficking and inspectors usually visited suspect areas only after receiving a complaint. In addition, coordination between ministries and departments dealing with labor issues was poor, hindering enforcement efforts. A revised draft of the Labor Act, which specified the Labor Department’s authorities and was first prepared in 2020, remained with the Attorney General for review at the end of the reporting period. Authorities reported all inspections examined for child labor, but they did not conduct child labor-specific inspections; inspectors did not receive child labor-specific training. The government did not make efforts to reduce the demand for commercial sex. The government did not provide anti-trafficking training to its diplomatic personnel.																																												TRAFFICKING PROFILE:						    																																															As reported over the past five years, human traffickers exploit domestic and foreign victims in Saint Lucia, and traffickers exploit victims from Saint Lucia abroad. Government officials, civil society, and educators reported Saint Lucian children, often from economically disadvantaged families, are at risk of child sex trafficking, often encouraged or forced by parents and caretakers in exchange for goods or services. The pandemic increased vulnerability for those – including children – negatively impacted economically. Foreign women in strip clubs and commercial sex, and documented and undocumented migrants from the Caribbean, are vulnerable to trafficking, including from People’s Republic of China (PRC) nationals. The government reported 80 Cuban medical workers assisted in the pandemic response during the reporting period. Cuban medical professionals working in Saint Lucia may have been forced to work by the Cuban government.																																				    							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- Saint Lucia HomeReportsOffice of International Religious Freedom2022 Report on International Religious Freedom&#8230;Saint Lucia				hide	document.addEventListener("DOMContentLoaded", function(event) {	if(window.jQuery) {		jQuery( document ).ready(function() {			if (jQuery(".bc_middle").hasClass("collapse")) {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});				jQuery(".bc_hide").click(function(){					jQuery(".bc_hide").toggleClass("visible");					jQuery(".bc_middle").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_ellipse").toggle();					jQuery(".bc_content").toggleClass("noflex");					jQuery(".block_breadcrumbs_content").toggleClass("noflex");				});			} else {				jQuery(".bc_ellipse").hide();			}		});	}});																							2022 Report on International Religious Freedom: Saint Lucia																																					Office of International Religious Freedom																																																																																							Download Report																																																																																	 In this section										/																							Executive Summary																																													Executive Summary																															Section I. Religious Demography																																																																																		Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom																																																									Legal Framework																																																																											Government Practices																																																																																	Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom																																																																																		Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement																																																																																																								Executive Summary				The constitution provides for freedom of religion and individuals’ right to change, manifest, and propagate the religion of their choosing. It grants religious groups the right to establish and maintain schools and provide religious instruction. The law requires religious groups with more than 250 members to register with the government.The Religious Affairs Council, an official entity consisting of representatives of registered Christian groups and one non-Christian representative, all elected by their respective communities, and a nonvoting government official, continued to meet during the year. According to government-published COVID-19 protocols, registered and unregistered faith groups were able to hold in-person religious services during the year. The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment required religious groups to submit an application and a COVID-19 response plan to resume in-person assembly.The Christian Council continued to hold interdenominational meetings. Two faith-based organizations (FBOs) provided monthly religious counseling and psychosocial care to youth at the Boys Training Center, which the government created to provide care, protection, and rehabilitation of vulnerable young boys.U.S. embassy officials raised with government interlocutors the importance of religious freedom and interfaith relations in promoting respect for religious diversity in the country. They also discussed the value of faith-based groups in providing public services. The embassy’s public messaging on social media reinforced respect for religious freedom and diversity.																														Section I.													 Religious Demography												    																																															The U.S. government estimates the total population at 167,000 (midyear 2022).  According to the 2010 Population and Housing Census, the latest available, Catholics are 61.4 percent of the population; Seventh-day Adventists, 10.4 percent; Pentecostals, 8.8 percent; evangelical Christians, 2.2 percent; Baptists, 2.1 percent; and Rastafarians, 2 percent.  Other groups together constituting less than 2 percent of the population include Anglicans, members of the Church of God, Jehovah’s Witnesses, Methodists, Muslims, Hindus, and Baha’is.  Nearly 6 percent of the population claims no religious affiliation.  The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints has approximately 250 members in the country.  Unofficial estimates of the Muslim population, which is mainly Sunni, range from 150 to 400 individuals.  According to representatives of the Jewish community, there are approximately 200 Jewish residents, most of whom are noncitizens.																																					Section II.													 Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom												    																																																Legal Framework										The constitution states “a person shall not be hindered in the enjoyment of” freedom of conscience, including of thought and religion, and in the manifestation and propagation of religion or belief through practice, worship, teaching, and observance. It protects individuals’ rights to change their religion and prohibits religious instruction without consent in schools, prisons, and military service. A blasphemy law exists but is not enforced.The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment is responsible for religious affairs and implements the government’s FBO policy. FBOs may apply to register if they meet the required threshold of at least 250 members. To register, groups must provide contact information, their establishment date and history, declaration of belief, number of members, location of meeting place, and income sources. FBOs are encouraged to seek incorporation as a bona fide nonprofit organization under the Companies Act. Registered groups are eligible to receive associated benefits. Unregistered groups may or may not have recognition status with the government. An unregistered group that submits a “notification of existence,” which includes identifying the group’s leadership, will receive correspondence acknowledging the group’s existence. After receiving the notification of existence, a group is then able to incorporate under the Companies Act. After incorporation, the entity becomes a legal person for taxation purposes including for land registration and deeds of sale. Registration costs 500 Eastern Caribbean dollars ($190). After registration with the ministry and incorporation as a legal entity, a religious group may apply for concessions, including duty-free concessions on certain imported goods, departure tax and ticket tax waivers from the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority, and exemption from work permits. Formal government registration also allows registered religious groups legally to register births, marriages, and deaths officiated by religious leaders.Ministry of Education regulations require the vaccination of all schoolchildren, before they enter public or private school; however, the ministry grants exemptions based on religion. The public-school curriculum includes religious studies; the Ministry of Education does not require students to participate in these classes. The classes familiarize students with the core beliefs of world religions rather than promoting any particular faith. The constitution grants religious groups the right to establish and maintain what are known as “assisted” schools, such as those sponsored by the Catholic, Seventh-day Adventist, and Anglican Churches. The government provides approximately 50 percent of the funding for assisted schools but does not cover expenses for classes on religion. All students may attend assisted schools regardless of belief or nonbelief.The government’s registration policy defines the process of obtaining work and labor permits for missionaries. Immigration authorities grant work permits for individuals entering the country to conduct missionary work in exchange for the payment of a weekly fee of 200 Eastern Caribbean dollars ($74). Providing that they abide by the law, foreign missionaries face no other restrictions or obligations.The country is a party to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights.																																				Government Practices										The Religious Affairs Council, an official entity consisting of representatives of registered Christian groups and one non-Christian representative elected by their respective religious groups and a nonvoting government official, continued to meet during the year. Although competitive elections were scheduled to occur every three years among the Islamic Association as well as the Jewish, Baha’i, Rastafarian, and Buddhist communities to select the non-Christian seat on the council, the last election and accompanying government consultations with FBOs occurred in 2018, with the selection of a Rastafarian. According to government officials, COVID-19 health protocols prompted the cancelation of the 2021 consultations and election. The country’s budget preparation cycle for fiscal year 2023-2024 began in October, and in the same month, the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment proposed to hold the next consultations on budgetary allocations in September 2023. If approved, elections are scheduled to be held in 2023 to determine the new composition of the Religious Affairs Council.According to government-published COVID-19 protocols, registered and unregistered faith groups were able to hold in-person religious services during the year. The Ministry of Equity, Social Justice and Empowerment required religious groups to submit an application and a COVID-19 response plan to resume in-person assembly.The government met regularly with FBOs, who have representation on the National Emergency Management Advisory Committee chaired by the Prime Minister, to discuss assistance to vulnerable populations and other social issues. For example, in March, the government and FBOs held a one-day consultation on the impact of COVID-19 on FBOs and their members. The government also participated with the Saint Lucian Christian Council to discuss the country’s cannabis policy; in 2021, the government decriminalized the use of up to 30 grams (approximately one ounce) for personal use. During the year, FBOs contributed to the planning and execution of the annual National Independence Day Ecumenical Service.Rastafarian elders met with Joachim Henry, the Minister of Equality Social Justice, and Empowerment, who is responsible for ecclesiastical affairs, on several occasions to discuss the appointment of a new position, religious status officer, to officiate at birth registrations, marriages, and funerals for members of the Rastafarian community. At year’s end, no successful candidate had run for the position and the government was unable to fill it. The Rastafarian community also discussed with government officials the decriminalization of cannabis, which Rastafarians use during their religious ceremonies. In September, the Ministry of Education responded to public conversations regarding school regulations pertaining to acceptable hairstyles and consulted with those concerned regarding these policies, including the Rastafarian community.																																					Section III.													 Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom												    																																															The Christian Council continued to hold interdenominational meetings.  Two FBOs, Saint Lucia Mission of the Seventh-day Adventist Church and Divine Encounter Glory House Ministry, provided monthly religious counseling and psychosocial care to youth at the Boys Training Center, which the government established to provide care, protection, and rehabilitation of vulnerable young boys.  Because of limited government resources, the Catholic Church provided temporary shelter to victims of human trafficking, regardless of their religious beliefs.																																					Section IV.													 U.S. Government Policy and Engagement												    																																															Embassy officials raised with officials of the Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, and Empowerment and the Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation, and Diaspora Affairs the importance of religious freedom and interfaith relations in promoting respect for religious and other diversity in the country.  They also discussed the contributions of faith-based groups in providing public services to the community.  The embassy’s public messaging on social media reinforced these principles and values, including a message in recognition of Religious Freedom Day stating, “Everyone should feel safe attending a religious service, school, a community center event, or while walking down the street wearing the symbols of their faith.  We can only fully realize the freedom we wish for ourselves by helping to ensure liberty for all.  On Religious Freedom Day, let us rededicate ourselves to these fundamental principles.”																																				    							View report by:																				Afghanistan											Albania											Algeria											Andorra											Angola											Antigua and Barbuda											Argentina											Armenia											Australia											Austria											Azerbaijan											Bahamas, The											Bahrain											Bangladesh											Barbados											Belarus											Belgium											Belize											Benin											Bhutan											Bolivia											Bosnia and Herzegovina											Botswana											Brazil											Brunei											Bulgaria											Burkina Faso											Burma											Burundi											Cabo Verde											Cambodia											Cameroon											Canada											Central African Republic											Chad											Chile											China (Includes Hong Kong, Macau, Tibet, and Xinjiang)											Colombia											Comoros											Costa Rica											Cote d’Ivoire											Croatia											Cuba											Cyprus											Czech Republic											Democratic Republic of the Congo											Denmark											Djibouti											Dominica											Dominican Republic											Ecuador											Egypt											El Salvador											Equatorial Guinea											Eritrea											Estonia											Eswatini											Ethiopia											Fiji											Finland											France											Gabon											Gambia, The											Georgia											Germany											Ghana											Greece											Grenada											Guatemala											Guinea											Guyana											Guinea-Bissau											Haiti											Honduras											Hungary											Iceland											India											Indonesia											Iran											Iraq											Ireland											Israel, West Bank and Gaza											Italy											Jamaica											Japan											Jordan											Kazakhstan											Kenya											Kiribati											Kosovo											Kuwait											Kyrgyzstan											Laos											Latvia											Lebanon											Lesotho											Liberia											Libya											Liechtenstein											Lithuania											Luxembourg											Madagascar											Malawi											Malaysia											Maldives											Mali											Malta											Marshall Islands											Mauritania											Mauritius											Mexico											Micronesia											Moldova											Monaco											Mongolia											Montenegro											Morocco											Mozambique											Namibia											Nauru											Nepal											Netherlands											New Zealand											Nicaragua											Niger											Nigeria											North Korea											North Macedonia											Norway											Oman											Pakistan											Palau											Panama											Papua New Guinea											Paraguay											Peru											Philippines											Poland											Portugal											Qatar											Republic of the Congo											Romania											Russia											Rwanda											Saint Kitts and Nevis											Saint Lucia											Saint Vincent and the Grenadines											Samoa											San Marino											Sao Tome and Principe											Saudi Arabia											Senegal											Serbia											Seychelles											Sierra Leone											Singapore											Slovakia											Slovenia											Solomon Islands											Somalia											South Africa											South Sudan											South Korea											Spain											Sri Lanka											Sudan											Suriname											Sweden											Switzerland											Syria											Taiwan											Tajikistan											Tanzania											Thailand											Timor-Leste											Togo											Tonga											Trinidad and Tobago											Tunisia											Turkey (Türkiye)											Turkmenistan											Tuvalu											Uganda											Ukraine											United Arab Emirates											United Kingdom											Uruguay											Uzbekistan											Vanuatu											Venezuela											Vietnam											Vietnam											Yemen											Zambia											Zimbabwe															Build A Custom Report																						On This Page				search													>																										Executive Summary																Section I. Religious Demography																																																	Section II. Status of Government Respect for Religious Freedom																																							Legal Framework																																																						Government Practices																																																			Section III. Status of Societal Respect for Religious Freedom																																																	Section IV. U.S. Government Policy and Engagement																																																							Tags																					Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs																								Office of International Religious Freedom																																Religious Freedom																															Saint Lucia
- Narrowing the Gender Digital Divide: Empowering Girls Around the Globe to Build Digital Skills for a Lifetime  Office of Global Women&#8217;s IssuesEleanor GreenbaumOn April 27, the U.S. Department of State recognizes International Girls in ICT Day to celebrate girls excelling in Information and Communications Technology (ICT).  This aligns with the values and work of the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues (S/GWI) to advance gender equality and elevate the voices of women and girls in all their diversity in Science, Technology, Engineering and Math (STEM) fields.  Consistent with several U.S. strategies on the empowerment of women and girls, the Department is proud to promote this year&#8217;s theme, “Digital Skills for Life,” through the development of digital skills for girls and young women around the world.  Youth empowerment, particularly the empowerment of girls and young women, is a top priority of the U.S. government.  When girls have equal opportunities and access to a quality and inclusive education, their risk of experiencing some forms of gender-based violence (GBV)  often decreases, their chances of completing school is higher and their ability to share their voices in their community can grow, which further promotes their empowerment in society.  In 2016, the U.S. Department of State launched its first-ever Global Strategy To Empower Adolescent Girls.  Since then, this strategy has shaped S/GWI policy regarding the empowerment of adolescent girls – why it is important, how the Department can best advance this priority, and more.  The priorities of this strategy, aimed at dismantling barriers that keep adolescent girls from achieving their full potential, are echoed in other U.S. strategies which seek to advance gender equity and equality and promote the agency and leadership of girls, including the National Strategy on Gender Equity and Equality, the 2022 update to the U.S. Strategy to Prevent and Respond to Gender-Based Violence, the U.S. Global Strategy on Global Women’s Economic Security, and others  It emphasizes the importance of adolescent girls’ empowerment to  increase their economic and civic participation in their communities. “Simply prioritizing digital literacy for girls is not enough. This is why I’m so inspired to see the Department of State empowering girls and young women through hands-on trainings to learn new digital skills, which not only improves their career opportunities but reduces their risk of gender-based violence and creates a brighter future for all.”  — U.S. Special Envoy for Global Youth Issues, Abby Finkenauer The Gender Digital Divide refers to women and girls’ lack of access to, use, and development of ICTs.  Every person should have equal access to inclusive education that promotes understanding and use of innovative and accessible digital technologies.  However, with 250 million fewer women online globally than men, and over 1.7 billion women not owning a mobile phone, the gender digital divide poses a threat to economic, social, and political progress. Digital literacy, or the development of skills related to understanding technology and the ever-digitalizing world, is a notable priority related to empowering women and girls in ICT.  The U.S. Strategy on Global Women’s Economic Security is an example of governmental action promoting digital literacy.  The strategy encourages the use of digital technologies as a vital tool for women&#8217;s and girls’ empowerment and inclusion.  When women and girls are equipped with strong digital literacy skills, they are able to engage more safely online and have more opportunities to thrive, learn, innovate, and contribute to the economy.  In addition to improving digital literacy, one effective approach to empowering girls and young women to engage on ICT issues is ensuring they have access to quality STEM education.  Presenting girls with opportunities in STEM provides the foundation, skills, and confidence for more girls to enter non-traditional fields of study and enable them to overcome negative stereotypes, while providing the essential means to thrive and serve as role models for other girls and young women.  The Support Her Empowerment – Girls’ Resilience, Enterprise, and Technology Initiative (SHE’s GREAT!), funded by S/GWI and implemented by IREX, works to do just that.  Active in Benin, the Kyrgyz Republic, Indonesia, Ethiopia, Jordan, Georgia, St. Lucia, Ukraine, and Guatemala, SHE’s GREAT! supports youth ages 14-18 and schools, families, and communities to address harmful gender norms while developing technical skills in STEM fields, such as coding.  In addition to providing  increased access to technical skills and leadership training, the program links girls to networks of mentors and partners to support their STEM projects, education, and career pursuits.  Further, it builds girls’ confidence as leaders and breaks down barriers and gender stereotypes that may have previously limited their community involvement.   A participant presents during the Saint Lucia Coding Session. &nbsp;SHE’s GREAT! has made an impact in places like the Kyrgyz Republic, where a STEM camp included workshops and educational activities led by women leaders in STEM fields.  These workshops promoted a greater understanding of STEM as well as some of the stereotypes that impact women in coding.  Participants also visited universities and U.S. Embassy programs to enhance their understanding of government affairs and civil society engagement, provide them with a place to learn, and expand their career opportunities. Students participate in the Kyrgyz Republic STEM Camp &nbsp;Improving girls’ digital skills and participation in ICT – and STEM fields more broadly – also plays a critical role in reducing risks of GBV, including that which is facilitated by technology and occurs in the form of online harassment and abuse and can lead to girls falling victim to sex trafficking.  Because they experience multiple, intersecting forms of discrimination, LBTQI+ girls, girls with disabilities, and girls from marginalized racial, religious, and ethnic groups, among others, often face increased risks of GBV, both online and offline, and additional barriers to their participation in ICT fields.  An estimated 85% of women and girls globally have witnessed or experienced some form of online harassment and abuse, and, in the United States, one in three women under the age of 35 – and over half of LGBTQI+ individuals – report experiences of sexual harassment and stalking online.  This actively undermines and discourages the participation of individuals in the public sphere, including in ICT-related fields.   As Jennifer Klein, Assistant to the President and Executive Director of the White House Gender Policy Council, said:  “We cannot afford to lose a diversity of viewpoints, voices, and leaders, particularly at a time when democracy cannot be taken for granted.”  That is why the Global Partnership for Action on Gender-Based Online Harassment and Abuse works to amplify the voices of women and girls in addressing technology-facilitated violence and other barriers to their full and equal participation in all facets of society.  We know that, when individuals who are historically excluded from or underrepresented in decision-making spaces are able to overcome barriers and have their voices are heard, they produce more creative and effective solutions to the political, economic, and technological challenges we collectively face.  The U.S. assumed the Chairship of the Freedom Online Coalition (FOC) this year and is focusing on digital inclusion as a policy priority, which includes bridging the gender digital divide.  Past work of the FOC has highlighted important gender issues such as the recently published Guiding Principles on Government Use of Surveillance Technologies, which asks governments to not use surveillance technologies that perpetrate technology-facilitated gender-based violence or discrimination online and offline.  Additionally, the FOC issued a Joint Statement on Digital Inclusion which calls on governments to address multiple digital divides, including ones that exclude women and girls, reflect and reinforce existing social and economic inequalities, and enable gender-based violence online.  The United States will continue to work on digital inclusion through this multistakeholder approach, especially through the FOC’s Task Force on Digital Equality where our goals overlap. FOC’s Task Force on Digital Equality where our goals overlap.  On this International Girls in ICT Day and always, the Department is committed to raising the voices of women and girls in all their diversity and supporting them in developing digital skills for life to narrow the gender digital divide and to help them reach their full potential. About the Author:  Eleanor Greenbaum is a Virtual Student Federal Service Intern in the Secretary’s Office of Global Women’s Issues and attends George Washington University.