🚨 Episode 35 of the #OECSNewslink is LIVE ✨

In the headlines this week:

☑ Eastern Caribbean Heads of Government collaborate to improve the region’s Citizenship By Investment Programme.

☑ A joint meeting in Guadeloupe on ocean governance and biodiversity conservation commences with a tour of the island’s waste management facilities.

☑ Saint Vincent and the Grenadines tackles its Sargassum problem with an innovative new project.

The month of October is observed globally as a period to promote breast health and raise the platform of breast cancer prevention. This annual campaign aims at raising awareness and encouraging the adoption of healthy habits. In observance of Breast Cancer Awareness Month 2025, the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs is embarking on the following activities to raise awareness and show their support.

In the headlines: Thousands to benefit as public assistance and disability grant reviews commence and; ECTEL launches scholarship fund.

For details on these stories and more, visit www.govt.lc

The Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs in collaboration with EU-CaN and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) hosted a two-day nutrition workshop with the focus on discussing and developing solutions for implementing policies to create sustainable, healthy school food environments. The discussion was undertaken with key stakeholders and implementers such as the Ministry of Education, Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Agriculture Organisation of the United Nations (FAO), UNICEF, school principals, public health professionals and nutrition officers.

Some of the initiatives which have not reached full implementation and require collaboration and discussion includes the development of national guidelines for school meals, bans on sugar-sweetened beverages (SSBs), and the drafting of key policies related to school nutrition and feeding.

In the headlines: Saint Lucia has officially launched its first national strategy for the development of statistics and; Honorable Alva Baptiste made a compelling argument for reparations at the 2025 UN General Assembly.

For details on these stories and more, visit www.govt.lc

The seventh round of the Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey (MICS 7) is now fully underway across Saint Lucia, reaching households from Micoud to Anse La Raye, Bocage, and beyond. Designed to capture critical data on the well-being of men, women, and children, the survey is one of the most comprehensive tools available to inform national policy and track progress towards the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs).

The MICS was developed by UNICEF to provide governments with timely, reliable data to shape social policies. The household-based survey collects indicators on children, women and men's health, nutrition, education, protection, and broader living conditions, ensuring no one is left behind.

In the headlines: Saint Lucia Police caused massive breakthrough with illegal firearm seizure, and; Saint Lucia to benefit from Eco Youth Ventures Project.

For details on these stories and more, visit www.govt.lc

Thousands of Saint Lucian families and children living with disabilities will now have their indispensable support system safeguarded through the upcoming biannual review of the Public Assistance Programme (PAP) and the Child Disability Grant, scheduled from September 29 to November 3, 2025.

The review process plays a vital role in safeguarding the welfare of households across the island by keeping beneficiary records accurate and up to date. Failure to participate in the review could result in the suspension of funds and the invalidation of client cards, directly impacting the livelihood of vulnerable families.