In the headlines: Major infrastructure work continues in Gros Islet, and the New Beginnings Transit Home celebrates its 15th anniversary.

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

Senior leadership within the Ministry of Education, Youth Development, Sports and Digital Transformation has begun a critical two-day strategic exercise aimed at sharpening direction, strengthening coordination, and repositioning education in Saint Lucia for the demands of a rapidly changing world.

The Heads of Department Strategic Planning Meetings, which opened this morning, brings together technical leaders across the Ministry to align priorities and set the tone for the year ahead.

World Leprosy Day is observed annually on the last Sunday of January and will be marked this year on January 25, as Saint Lucia joins the global community in raising awareness about leprosy. The observance provides an opportunity to reflect on the significant progress made in combating the disease while acknowledging the challenges that remain. Under the theme “Leprosy is Curable; the Real Challenge is Stigma,” World Leprosy Day 2026 aims to highlight the importance of early diagnosis and treatment, address discrimination faced by those affected, and encourage collective action toward the elimination of leprosy.

Community focal persons which include representatives from Red Cross, National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) and community disasters groups recently participated in a training workshop on Event-Based Surveillance (EBS) system. This training was hosted by the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Nutrition and the Pan American Health Organisation (PAHO) and aims to familiarize the participants on the system so they are better able to conduct surveillance of emerging health threats and to facilitate quicker and more effective responses in their respective communities. 311 call centre personnel will also benefit from the training. The EBS training is being funded by the Pandemic Fund Project.

In the headlines: The last of Saint Lucia's Second World War veterans has passed, and; the agriculture organizations highlight the importance of small-scale farming in addressing food security.

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

The La Fargue Wellness Centre recently hosted an Open Day and Health Fair to mark the official reopening of the facility following refurbishment and upgrade works. The event highlighted the Ministry of Health's commitment to improving access to quality primary health care services, with residents from La Fargue and surrounding communities benefitting from free services including cervical cancer screenings and breast examinations. The Health Fair also featured several Ministry units providing health education, with emphasis placed on early detection, prevention and improved health-seeking behaviours.

Education officials took to the streets to launch a harmonised curriculum that will impact primary education in schools in Saint Lucia and the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS).