There has been an increase in banana production although tropical storm Bret destroyed 75% of banana crops on 22 June, but black Sigatoka disease still poses a threat

After years of delays and controversy, St Jude Hospital has been handed over to the Government after reconstruction; though the facility is not yet ready to accept patients, the ceremony marked the first step towards full operational readiness

A National Maritime Authority will be established to separate regulatory oversight from port operations and modernise Saint Lucia’s maritime governance framework

All government pharmacies will be closed on 17 October to facilitate the staff’s attendance at a departmental training; the ministry asks the public to ensure their medication refills are arranged ahead of the closure to avoid inconvenience

A health delegation from Saint Lucia participated in a regional meeting for early disease detection and health surveillance in cruise tourism; digital platform CARPHA Caribbean Vessel Surveillance System will monitor travel-related illnesses in real time