PM seeks greater ties between St Lucia and EU

Ambassadors from the European Union pledged their countries’ willingness to assist and collaborate with Saint Lucia in several areas during a meeting with Allen Chastanet.

The get-together of the prime minister and senior European officials is part of ongoing dialogue between the Caribbean island and the EU on a variety of areas of cooperation

These include justice and security, health, infrastructure and climate change.

Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, minister for external affairs, Hermangild Francis, minister for national security, and Director of Public Prosecutions Daasrean Green were among the government representatives in attendance.

Daniela Tramacere, ambassador of the EU to Barbados, the eastern Caribbean, OECS, and the Caribbean Community, was also at the meeting which she described as “routine dialogue”.

“We will be working with St Lucia on a wide spectrum and our dialogue has been always very strong and of course we have been supporting St Lucia a lot in the agricultural sector, in infrastructure, rehabilitating after hurricanes and disasters,” she said.

“We want to further strengthen our relationship with deep dialogue at the political level. So we are here because we are good partners.”

Justice and climate change

On the European side, Belgium, Denmark, Germany, France, The Netherlands and the UK were represented.

During the meeting, Prime Minister Allen Chastanet gave an overview of the direction St Lucia is heading in to strengthen the economy, create employment and improving better society.

The justice system and climate change were identified as areas in which St Lucia urgently needs assistance.

But he emphasised that despite collaboration, work must be done locally and nationally to ensure the country is on the right path.

“The need for us to make some tough decisions and to make sure that we get our economy straightened out is critical,” Chastanet said.

“Our government is committed to making those decisions and making St Lucia as viable as possible and less dependent on foreign aid.”