IN THIS ISSUE in Retrospect DFPS. Giving Back. Investment Outlook New Projects

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1 Invest Saint Lucia s Quarterly Newsletter Issue 4 December, A YEAR OF ACHIEVEMENTS AND CHALLENGES IN THIS ISSUE 2016 in Retrospect DFPS Giving Back Investment Outlook 2017 New Projects Invest Saint Lucia held a half day staff productivity seminar on December 16 th aimed at sharing information and motivating staff to strive for excellence in the coming year. During the session, staff were provided with a progress report of the Agency s performance during 2016, as well as the areas of focus for the upcoming year. Presentations were made by the CEO, the Human Resource Department as well as the Information Systems Department and included the investment outlook for 2017 as well as the importance of an HR Strategy and Culture to Organisation Success. Staff were also furnished with information on how the use of information technology could actually make their daily duties that more efficient and productive.

2 Members of staff were engaged in various team building exercises that were aimed at building on each individual s core strengths and skills and identifying positive behaviours for the benefit of the organisation. According to Nicole DuBoulay, Senior Manager Human Resources, We anticipate that this employee engagement exercise will serve as a catalyst for greater understanding of the investment promotion and facilitation process which is at the core of ISL; this will also contribute to positive changes and improvements in the achievement of ISL s Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) in the coming year. Inset: Staff of Invest Saint Lucia at the productivity seminar

3 NEW TOURISM PROJECTS TO OPEN IN 2017 Saint Lucia s tourism product is expected to receive an additional boost this year with a number of hotels and other tourism ancillary facilities either opening or starting construction. With the official opening of the Royalton Saint Lucia Resort and Spa set for the first quarter of 2017, the island is poised to witness the opening of at least two other resorts before the end of At least one other hotel, the Harbour Club, which is also located in the north of the island, is gearing up for a 2017 opening. Construction on the Royal Saint Lucia Racecourse - the first phase of the Pearl of the Caribbean Project - is expected to break ground pending the results of an Environmental Impact Assessment. Close to 200 acres of land in the Beausejour, Vieux-Fort area has been allocated for this purpose. More ground breaking projects, including the Sunset Bay Resort earmarked for Choiseul, are expected to come on stream in 2017 Royalton Saint Lucia Resort & Spa Royalton Saint Lucia Resort and Spa located at Smugglers Cove, Gros Islet, boasts over 455 bedrooms and will employ 900 full time staff once it becomes fully operational. It is anticipated that other tourism related projects, some contingent on receiving CIP approval, will generate employment and bring about much needed economic activity to the island. INVESTMENT PROJECTS MOVING FORWARD As we reported some months ago, ISL is currently facilitating a number of investment projects that have seen some notable progress towards implementation. As an agency of the Government charged with promoting and facilitating investments, ISL is working alongside the Office of the Prime Minister to formulate and implement a comprehensive public relations plan which will seek to clarify issues relating to the planned Pearl of the Caribbean project which has been earmarked for Beausejour, Vieux-Fort. This is in response to the many misconceptions being bandied about by members of the public on both mainstream and social media. The PR Campaign is expected to kick off in the new year and will target community groups, residents, the business community and the press. auspices of Prince Henry of Wales during his tour of the Caribbean. GP Group, developers for the Sunset Bay project earmarked for Choiseul, is currently working to complete the technical requirements for project implementation. The developers have also held a series of community engagements as part of their community outreach. ISL expects the project to be launched in the coming months. Antillia Brewery has launched its Beer Garden/Lounge at Duty Free Pointe Seraphine. Its brewery operations in the Odsan Industrial Estate have also got off the ground. The Pearl of the Caribbean Project is currently working with ISL to obtain full approvals from the Development Control Authority to begin construction on the Royal Saint Lucia Racecourse which is the first phase of this US $2.6 billiondollar project, and for which a sod turning ceremony was held in November under the

4 INVEST SAINT LUCIA SPREADS CHRISTMAS CHEER TO THE DISADVANTAGED As part of its Community Outreach activities, Invest Saint Lucia made financial contributions to a number of local charities in December. Among the beneficiaries of ISL s benevolence, was the Feed the Poor Ministry, the LucianAid Foundation and the Salvation Army. For the third consecutive year, these non-profit organisations each received a financial contribution of $1000 and expressed their sincere gratitude to ISL, citing that this will help augment their expenses as they prepare to spread some Christmas cheer to the less fortunate in society. This year, the Corporation went a step further by having its staff volunteer during the annual Christmas lunches of at least two of the charities. Two ISL teams headed to Mon Repos to assist the LucianAid Foundation with the distribution of packed lunches to the elderly in the communities of Praslin, Magretoute, Lombard and

5 Invest Saint Lucia s Newsletter Issue 3 September 2016 La Pointe. Most of the residents were sick and shut-in. They expressed great appreciation to ISL and the Foundation for the kind gesture, one ISL intends to make an annual affair. ISL Staff also came out in numbers to assist the Feed the Poor Ministry with its annual luncheon held at the Castries City Council. Scores of disadvantaged and displaced persons throughout the city and its immediate environs, turned out for a hot meal, a slice of black cake and other goodies donated by various businesses and private citizens. The annual donations form part of ISL s community outreach activities which also includes support for disadvantaged students through the National Community Foundation (NCF).