St. Lucia celebrates 45 years of political independence

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – St. Lucia is celebrating 45 years of political independence from Britain on Thursday.

To mark the occasion, the government invited the President of Guyana, Dr. Irfaan Ali, who, during a speech on Wednesday, proposed closer trading ties between Guyana and fellow Caribbean Community (CARIOM) member states, with the possibility of Guyana exporting prefab houses to St Lucia to address the housing deficit on the island.

In an address to the Parliament here, Ali told legislators that in the last ten years, Guyana has exported approximately US$71M in products to St Lucia, while St Lucia exported close to US$79 million in commodities to Guyana.

He said the two countries can advance trade relations by capitalizing on several sectors, including the Housing Industry.

“If you look at your existing Housing Market, and let us say conservatively you have a deficit in the Housing Market of 2,500 homes in the next three to five years, that’s the immediate need, the medium-term need, and you use the conservative figure of US$30,000 for a low-income home, prefab homes, you are looking at an export potential of US$75M in the immediate and medium term, from Guyana to St Lucia,” Ali said.

The Guyanese president said several “real opportunities” can lead to the expansion of trade between Guyana and St. Lucia.

He also noted that the relationship between St. Lucia and Guyana transcends the boundaries of trade and economics and is deeply rooted in history, culture, friendship, and, importantly, family.
According to President Ali, the two CARICOM states share an unbreakable bond.

“That is why, for us, it is not strange that St Lucia continues to support Guyana’s sovereignty and territorial integrity and that St Lucia stands strongly with Guyana in defense of our territorial integrity and sovereignty,” Ali said.

St Lucia is celebrating its 45th Independence Anniversary under Douvan Ansanm – Building a Nation through Unity, Resilience, and Creativity.

The day, recognized as a public holiday, features the National Independence Rally and a Military Parade in the rural community of Soufriere.