The Chamber continues to operate a very effective Standing Committee system. The Standing Committees are generally unseen as is their work, but in reality, they provide invaluable support not only to the Board of Directors but also the small Chamber Secretariat Team.
One event that brough their work to the fore was the recently hosted “Commerce & Cocktails” mixer on Wednesday, April 2nd, 2025, at the Peter and Company Auto Showroom in Vide Bouteille.
The event is a crucial component of the Chamber's deliberate plan to grow Chamber Membership and member retention. The Executive Director has identified Membership Growth and Retention as the ""One Thing" that if the Chamber does well will make everything easier and many things unnecessary."
Started with a five-point strategic action plan, the Membership Development Officer is working assiduously to execute the strategy that should lead to an increase in membership by at least 20% in the first year. Some very encouraging signs have emerged with some 10 new members having been welcomed into the fold in the first quarter of the 2024/2025 financial year (September to December) and another 10 in the second quarter January to march, 2025. Members will also recall that some 10 new firms joined the Chamber during the 2023/2024 Chamber year.
The hard work and enthusiastic support of two Standing Committees have been critical to the success enjoyed thus far and portends well for the Chamber. The members of the Membership and Services Committee and the Marketing and PR Committee played pivotal roles in the planning, execution, and energy of the evening. They generously gave of their time, expertise, and resources to ensure the event effectively communicated the message regarding the value of Chamber membership.
The Membership and Services Committee is chaired by Louise Victor (Heineken), with Cheryl Renwick (Renwick 7 Company), Eldris Mauricette (Tropical Shipping), Leathon Khan (Agostini Insurance), Rankin Morgan (123 Digital), Analicia Edmunds (BOSL), Sherlon Leon (SAGICOR Life), and Kenton Augustin (Royalty Pools), the members who worked tirelessly to create a space where the Chamber’s strategic offerings could be meaningfully shared with attendees. Their hands-on involvement reflected a strong commitment to the Chamber’s mission focus of improving membership growth and value through quality services and member engagement and brand value promotion.
Equally instrumental has been the Marketing and PR Committee, under the leadership of Chairman Omari Frederick (LUCELEC), with the support of Eldris Mauricette (Tropivcal Shipping), Leathon Khan (Agostini Insurance), Gidden Augustin (IslandTek), Sarah McLennon (the Wave), and Deputy Chair Kelly Mitchell (Massy Stores). This team ensured that the event's messaging, ambience, and branding resonated with attendees and aligned with the Chamber’s professional image and standards.
St. Lucia alongside the rest of the regions private sector is grateful for the "USTR Determination" on the 'China-Built vessels' released on April 17th, 2025. This Determination, in effect, exempts Caribbean Shipping from the high port fees on China-built vessels, originally proposed by the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
As originally proposed by the USTR, these high port fees, in excess of US $1,000,00000 for each US Port call , would have increased the cost of shipping between the Caribbean and the United States, with crippling consequences for inflation, shortages, delays and other ‘supply-chain’ disruptions for the people and the economies of CARICOM and the Caribbean.
The ‘USTR Determination’ is significantly beneficial and came about as part and parcel of leadership and collaboration among several key private sector stakeholders and the governments of the CARICOM states. The Caribbean Private Sector Organization played a critical role in galvanizing urgent attention to this matter. The sterling leadership and urgent engagement allowed the St. Lucia Chamber to be well informed and thus able to raise this matter in numerous fora and on the national media, particularly with the Government of St. Lucia.
Priority attention given to this issue by the Heads of CARICOM Government, evidenced by their fervent advocacy at the meeting with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio and their communication to President Donald Trump under the pen of Prime Minister Mottley, has been a significant driver of this positive outcome.
The technical leadership, determination and purposeful commitment of the CPSO, led by Dr Patrick Antoine and his team, and their submissions and oral testimony was also a major determinant of the positive USTR outcome.
St. Lucia therefore can now pay some more attention to its local Seaport issues and the IMO Levy that continues to hang like the "Sword of Damocles" over our trading future.
Medical Associates, trading under the name Tapion Hospital is celebrating the extraordinary achievements of Dr. Aylwin Benjamin and posthumously Dr. Martin Didier, two trailblazing figures in Internal Medicine, who were honored at this year’s prestigious American College of Physicians (ACP) Internal Medicine Meeting.
At this year's American College of Physicians (ACP) Internal Medicine meeting held in New Orleans, Dr. Aylwin Benjamin was awarded the prestigious title of Fellow of the American College of Physicians (FACP).
This distinguished honor is granted to physicians who have demonstrated exceptional competence, integrity, and a commitment to advancing the field of medicine through leadership, teaching, clinical practice, and research. Being inducted as a Fellow is a recognition of a physician's exemplary contributions to Internal Medicine and their dedication to improving patient care.
Dr. Martin Didier was also recognized, for his outstanding work in Internal Medicine. The American College of Physicians (ACP) posthumously awarded Dr. Didier the esteemed Laureate/Chapter Award. This award honors distinguished members of the community, senior physicians, MACPs or FACPs of the College who have demonstrated by their example and conduct an abiding commitment to excellence in medical care, education or research and in service to their local community, their chapter and the ACP. His wife, Dr. Grandison- Didier, and their daughters were present to receive the award on his behalf.
Congratulations to Tapion Hospital and these outstanding sone of the soil for the legacy work they have done.
ELEVATE: Costing and Pricing
The Chamber has delivered the first component of its recently revamped and rebranded ELEVATE Program that seeks to provide a portfolio of essential business support programs of a high quality to interested Small Businesses on the island. The Chamber will be working closely with partners in the small business support ecosystem to reach and impact the target beneficiaries.
A distinct feature of Elevate will see the hosting of two events, one, a Business Showcase with Master classes and a B2B event that will bring suppliers and buyers together to help establish business relationships between the two groups.
The first module, “Costing and Pricing” was conducted on evenings (5-7 p.m.) so as not to interfere too much with the workday of attendees (April 23rd–24th and April 28th–30th, 20240. The program saw an extremely interested group of participants who operate businesses and interested in sharpening the business skills and knowledge.
Facilitated by Ms. Sonia Polius, the session included many, practical case studies and group work alongside demonstrations and discussion of real-life applications as part of the knowledge sharing methodology utilized.
The Chamber is pleased that several players in the small business support ecosystem such as the St. Lucia Development Bank, Unicomer (Fast Cash and Courts Business Solutions), the Youth Economy Agency and Bank of St. Lucia are supporting the program. The involvement of these partners will hopefully assist in sharing and promoting the program among their clients.
Chamber Representatives at national tripartite consultation of ILO Conventions No. 138 on minimum age and safety No. 187 on occupational health and safety.
Mr. Ulric Joseph of Heineken Saint Lucia
Mrs. Orister Raymond of Innovative Business Solutions (IBS)
Ms. Kamille Huggins of the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce Industry & Agriculture
June 2nd -5th 2025
St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce to Hosts the Business Continuity Planning Workshop un the Elevate Program
The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce is pleased to announce its upcoming four-day Business Continuity Planning Workshop hosted under the “Elevate Program”, set to take place on June 2nd to 5th, 2025, from 4:00PM to 7:00PM at the Chamber's Conference Room, Orange Park Commercial Center, Bois D’Orange.
This vital workshop is designed to help small businesses strengthen their ability to withstand a wide range of disruptions, ensuring they can recover quickly and continue operating effectively. Given that small businesses often operate with limited financial resources, it's especially important for them to be well-organized and proactive in managing the many risks that exist.
The workshop examines BCP as part of resilience strategy as business resilience extends beyond merely preparing for hurricanes or natural disasters. The workshop will encourage firm's to properly the various risks and disruptions their particular operation is exposed to, including cyber risks, civil unrest, cashflow, inventory, primary talent exposure, biological threats, and pandemics. The workshop will delve into how companies can conduct thorough risk assessments, and develop comprehensive Business Continuity Plans (BCP), and implement effective risk reduction strategies.
The workshop will be facilitated by Mr. Andrew George, an ISO Certified Risk Management Trainer, who brings extensive expertise in disaster risk diagnosis and business continuity planning. Mr. George has a proven track record of helping organizations identify vulnerabilities and develop robust plans to mitigate a wide range of risks. His hands-on approach will guide participants through the process of conducting risk analysis, thinking through mitigation measures, and building a BCP tailored to their firm's specific needs.
Registration fees are $300 for Chamber members and $500 for non-members. Due to the interactive nature of the workshop, spaces are limited. Interested participants are encouraged to register by May 15th, 2025.
For more information, please contact the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce at info@stluciachamber.org or call 452-3165.
The St. Lucia Chamber has invited requests for proposals (RFPs) for the production of the St. Lucia Business Awards. One RFP is for PR, Video and Audio Services while the other is for Event Production Services.
Many would recall that in 2008 under the Presidency of the deceased Christian Husbands the Chamber put out a similar request for proposals for the production of a "revised format" for the Awards which had formerly been done as part of the President's Dinner and Awards.
This bold move ushered in the ten years of a most highly rated St. Lucia Business Awards. The Chamber has not hosted the event for some five years now (due to the COVID-19 Pandemic) sees this as an opportunity to breathe fresh and new ideas into the event, once again, by inviting proposals from a number of firms.
Members, who for a number of years have wished to have an opportunity to submit proposals for the execution of the event are happy and anxious to submit their proposals.
Members are asked to pay close attention as the next month will see a flurry of active as we put plans into high gear.
Be sure to stay tuned for the highly anticipated upcoming Chess Championship!- Registration Opens soon !
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Explore Alternative Suppliers at Agroalimentaria 2025
The St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce invites its members to take advantage of a unique opportunity to explore new suppliers and expand their business connections at Agroalimentaria 2025—the premier trade show for the Food, Beverage, and Tobacco industries in the Caribbean.
Set to take place from May 28th to 31st, 2025 at the Dominican Fiesta Hotel & Convention Center in Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic, Agroalimentaria offers a dynamic platform to discover high-quality products, ranging from fresh and processed fruits and vegetables to exotic beverages and world-renowned Dominican cigars.
This 9th edition of Agroalimentaria is expected to bring together exporters, buyers, and investors from over 170 countries. With more than 3,800 product lines on display, it’s the ideal space for businesses looking to diversify their sourcing, reduce supply chain risks, and engage with regional partners.
Participants will benefit from scheduled B2B meetings, informative sessions, and networking opportunities with some of the most innovative producers in the region. Whether you're in retail, distribution, food service, or hospitality, this trade show could open doors to new markets and alternative suppliers that align with your business goals.
We encourage all members interested in sourcing quality goods or exploring trade opportunities in the region to mark their calendars and consider attending.
For more information, visit www.agroalimentaria.com.do, or contact the Chamber directly.
Click Link to View Magazine: Agroalimentaria 2025-link.pdf
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Elevate: Small Business Support Program
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Chamber's Website Placement
Renewals & New Applicants
New Applicants:
We are excited to offer you an exclusive opportunity to showcase your company’s logo, social media handles, and contact details prominently on the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce website and in our widely circulated Annual Report. This is a unique chance to amplify your brand visibility while aligning with the credibility and outreach of the Chamber.
Renewals:
The current arrangement for your company’s logo placement on the Chamber’s website, along with links to your email, telephone number, and social media assets, have expired as of February 1, 2025.
For your convenience, we encourage you to visit our website at www.stluciachamber.org and review your company’s listing. This is an excellent opportunity to confirm or update your existing information.
Kindly Note: The placement for 2025 will remain valid until December 31, 2025, ensuring extended value for your investment.
Thank you once again for your continued support and partnership. Should you have any questions or require further clarification, please do not hesitate to contact us.
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