标签： Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is poised to launch its highly anticipated 2026 National Independence Baton Relay on January 28, commencing in Castries East and culminating on February 17 in Castries Central. This nationwide journey will traverse all 17 constituencies between 9:00 a.m. and 3:00 p.m. on scheduled dates, serving as a powerful symbol of unity, heritage, and national pride.

During a soft launch event on January 23, Minister for Housing, Local Government and Urban Renewal, Hon. Richard Frederick, revealed the remarkable evolution of what began as a modest initiative. The baton relay has transformed into a major national phenomenon that now captures international attention, resonating far beyond the island’s shores.

Minister Frederick declared the event unparalleled in its capacity to unite Saint Lucians, stating it ‘stands at number one’ for fostering national togetherness. The relay has become a dynamic platform for reconnecting communities, preserving local history, and strengthening bonds between domestic and diaspora populations.

The minister emphasized the event’s significant appeal among overseas Saint Lucians, who eagerly anticipate the annual opportunity to reconnect with their cultural roots. Beyond its emotional significance, the relay functions as a living archive of national heritage, with communities sharing unique historical narratives from their constituencies.

International interest has surged remarkably, with foreign territories and countries expressing strong desire to participate in the initiative. Minister Frederick acknowledged the unexpected global expansion of what was initially conceived as a local event, noting that the relay now enjoys worldwide recognition.

While physical baton carrying remains limited, officials stress that inclusivity defines the event’s core philosophy. Participation encompasses broader community engagement, cultural expression, and collective celebration beyond the actual relay.

Authorities are implementing traffic management strategies to ensure public safety during the festivities. The Safety and Traffic Management Department advises motorists to utilize road networks outside event hours where possible, while encouraging carpooling to reduce congestion and facilitate smoother traffic flow throughout relay activities.

On the hallowed grounds of the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, citizens of Saint Lucia gathered for an annual ritual of national significance. Public and private sector representatives ascended Morne Fortune on January 23rd to participate in the wreath-laying ceremony at the graves of the nation’s two Nobel Laureates—Sir William Arthur Lewis and Sir Derek Walcott.

The date holds particular importance as it marks the shared birthday of both distinguished figures. Sir Arthur Lewis, who revolutionized development economics and became the first and only Black recipient of the Nobel Memorial Prize in Economic Sciences in 1979, rests alongside Sir Derek Walcott, the poetic visionary who claimed the Nobel Prize in Literature in 1992.

The ceremony struck a balance between solemn reflection and celebratory recognition, honoring not just their academic and literary achievements but their enduring global impact. The legacy of these intellectual giants continues to resonate internationally, with Barbados Prime Minister Mia Mottley recently quoting Walcott’s work during an interview with Trevor Noah.

Dr. Anthea Octave, Director of Studies at Jamaica’s Edna Manley College of the Visual and Performing Arts, delivered the keynote address. The Saint Lucian-born educator issued a powerful challenge to her compatriots, urging them to move beyond symbolic pride toward substantive emulation. She cautioned against the temptation to treat these achievements as mere national boasting points, instead advocating for their legacies to serve as inspirational standards for future generations.

The 2026 Nobel Laureate Festival, she noted, should represent not just commemoration but a call to action—encouraging Saint Lucians to transform admiration into achievement and legacy into living inspiration.

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) has significantly bolstered its operational capabilities with the acquisition of K-9 Roni, a specially trained police dog generously donated by the French government. The canine specialist arrived on the island earlier this week accompanied by his handler, with formal training sessions scheduled to commence imminently with local K-9 unit officers.

Police Public Relations Officer Zane Romulus confirmed that Roni’s integration into the force will substantially enhance the unit’s effectiveness in security operations. Concurrently, the RSLPF is developing comprehensive management protocols for its K-9 division, featuring ambitious infrastructure plans including state-of-the-art kennel facilities, specialized transportation systems for canine safety, and meticulously structured veterinary care programs.

An official handover ceremony is being organized for the coming weeks to formally recognize this international security collaboration. This development follows high-level discussions between RSLPF delegates and French security counterparts during a January 19th visit to Martinique, where meetings were conducted with both the Gendarmerie and French Navy authorities.

These diplomatic engagements, stemming from the ninth Franco-Saint Lucia Joint Security Meeting held in October 2025, have additionally paved the way for expanded training opportunities across multiple RSLPF units. The forthcoming programs will emphasize capacity building and strengthened cross-border cooperation mechanisms to effectively address regional security challenges.

In a pioneering initiative blending education with agriculture, Ciceron R.C. Combined School has emerged victorious in Saint Lucia’s inaugural Schools Backyard Garden Competition. The event, organized as a cornerstone of the Consumer Affairs Department’s Food Security Campaign during Business Month activities, saw Millet Primary School and Anse La Raye Primary School claiming second and third places respectively.

Seven educational institutions from District Four participated in this innovative program, receiving vital seed contributions from the Taiwan Technical Mission. Students were tasked with establishing functional gardens while meticulously documenting their agricultural journey through video submissions. Additional participating schools included La Croix Maingot Combined School, Roseau R.C. Combined School, L’Abayee SDA Primary School, and Odsan Primary School.

Educators observed remarkable student engagement throughout the project. Omica Common, Special Education teacher at the winning institution, noted how students incorporated traditional gardening techniques from their grandparents. The initiative sparked such enthusiasm at Anse La Raye Primary that Science teacher Lillian Stephens reported increased demand for farming club membership, leading to expanded projects including organic pesticide production and handmade flower pots.

The Taiwan Technical Mission provided comprehensive support under Project Lead Maria Jaganath, who helped transform outdoor spaces into practical learning environments. The mission awarded monetary prizes to top-performing schools alongside recognition for all participants. This collaborative effort received additional backing from Saint Lucia’s Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Equity.

At the January 15, 2026 awards ceremony held at the Archbishop Kelvin Felix Pastoral Centre, Dr. Charmaine Hippolyte-Emmanuel, Permanent Secretary for the Ministry of Equity, praised the project’s alignment with national youth development and food security objectives. She emphasized how the initiative demonstrated successful implementation of policy through effective partnerships, creating tangible community outcomes while acknowledging the crucial support from school administrators and staff.