By Caribbean News Global 
ST LUCIA / SWITZERLAND – The government of Saint Lucia, ministry of external affairs international trade, civil aviation and diaspora affairs, in collaboration with IOM, will present the Draft National Gender-Sensitive Migration Policy to the media and the general public on Monday, May 18, 2026, at 10 am: the presentation will be followed by a Panel Discussion on Migration Management and Socioeconomic Development in Saint Lucia.
This briefing will bring together representatives from key stakeholder ministries and agencies, development partners, civil society, and members of the media to facilitate dialogue, strengthen public awareness, and support national ownership of the policy’s implementation.
In a press release April 28, the ministry advised that over the past two years, undertook a series of consultations, stakeholder engagements, and technical workshops with key ministries, agencies, civil society partners, and development stakeholders; these activities have brought the “Strengthening Migration Regulatory and Legal Frameworks in Saint Lucia Project” to its final stages.
“The proposed policy seeks to ensure that migration in Saint Lucia is adequately measured, monitored, and managed through a gender-sensitive, rights-based, and development-oriented framework. It aims to promote inclusion, protect vulnerable groups, support labour mobility, strengthen diaspora engagement, and harness migration as a driver of national resilience and sustainable economic growth.”
The ministry added: “At the international level, the policy aligns with several of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), including Targets 1, 3, 4, 5, 8, 10, 11, 13, 16, and 17, all of which carry direct migration linkages. These commitments reinforce global efforts to reduce inequality, promote decent work, strengthen institutions, improve climate resilience, and support inclusive development.”
“Saint Lucia’s draft migration policy framework was also guided by the CARICOM Regional Approach to a Migration Policy (RAMP), which emphasises policy harmonisation, regional cooperation, labour mobility, and stronger diaspora relations across member states. Through active consultations with civil society and technical partners, Saint Lucia continues to play an important role in advancing these regional priorities.”
The ministry’s press release advised that “The pursuit of this policy is a testament to Saint Lucia’s commitment to building a modern, inclusive, and sustainable migration governance framework, that protects its people, strengthens institutional capacity, and positions migration as a catalyst for national development and regional cooperation.”