Saint Lucia is gearing up to celebrate 46 years of independence under the theme Douvan Ansanm—Health and Well-Being for a Prosperous Nation, with Sly’s hit song, Damn Proud Lucian declared the official anthem for this year’s festivities.
At a media launch on Tuesday, stakeholders announced a series of activities leading up to Independence Day, February 22.
The celebrations will kick off with the Independence Baton Relay, a symbolic event passing through all 18 constituencies. The relay begins in Babonneau on January 29 and concludes in Castries Central on February 18.
The event will be hosted by the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force, the Department of Housing and Local Government, the Saint Lucia Fire Service, and the National Independence Committee.
Chair of the National Independence Baton Relay, Yasmine Steele, explained the event’s significance: “The National Independence Baton Relay speaks to the strengths of our various councils and speaks to the strengths of local government. So, we ask all to join the various councils around the island who are the ones that will be instrumental in planning the baton relay.”
After leaving Babonneau, the baton will move to Gros Islet, Castries North, Castries East, Castries South-East, Dennery North, Dennery South, Micoud North, Micould South, Vieux Fort North, Vieux Fort South, Laborie, Choiseul, Soufrière, Canaries, Anse La Raye, Castries South and Castries Central.
Export Saint Lucia will host the Business Expo on February 15 in Vieux Fort, following the success of the event in Castries in the last two years. Over 75 entrepreneurs from across Saint Lucia showcased their products in 2023, and participation almost doubled last year with 140 exhibitors featured.
CEO of Export Saint Lucia, Sunita Daniel said thousands of patrons attended those expos, hundreds of business leads were generated, and new markets and partnerships were created.
She said this year’s expo is expected to highlight several new products and entrepreneurs.
“These include innovative and tech-driven solutions with sustainable business models, young entrepreneurs from our Youth Economy Agency and a special emphasis on agro-processing and the green economy,” Daniel explained.
The Ministry of Youth Development and Sports will also host a range of activities to commemorate Saint Lucia’s independence, with the Youth Parliament set for February 4 and 5.
“This dynamic platform empowers young people islandwide to voice their opinions, deliberate on pressing issues, and engage in the democratic process,” said Permanent Secretary of the Ministry of Youth Development and Sports, Rohan Lubon.
He noted that the ministry has expanded its alternative sports activities, with a calendar running from October 2024 to March 2025. These activities aim to encourage broader participation in non-traditional sports.
Lubon said the lineup includes: ‘Guns Down, Wheels Up’ at the Soufrière Bus Terminal; the Independence Darts Competition at multiple locations to be announced; ‘Drive, Impact E-Sports’ at the Gros Islet Human Resource Centre; and the Auto-Cross Drift Expo at the Castries Waterfront and Daren Sammy Cricket Ground.
Other activities planned for the coming weeks include Paintball Wars at the Sab Vigie Playing Field, ‘Super Motor’ at the Castries Waterfront, Island Beats Sound Clash at the Beausejour Promenade, the National Schools Chess Competition at the Gros Islet Human Resource Centre, an Independence Day Shootout in Dennery, and the National Independence Draft Tournament at Castries City Hall.
Additionally, the ministry will collaborate with stakeholders to facilitate other events, including the Shark Tank Three-on-Three Basketball Competition, the Independence Games featuring track and field events, and Independence Day Cycling.
Lubon encouraged individual communities to organise traditional sports activities, noting that the ministry is willing to provide support where possible.
Independence Celebrations Calendar Highlights:
- January 29: Kick-off of the Independence Baton Relay, Dame Pearlette Louisy Primary School
- January 30: National Awards of Excellence, National Cultural Centre
- February 4 & 5: National Youth Parliament session
- February 8: Legacy Calypso Show, Pavilion on Rodney Bay
- February 10–28: Proud Lucian Series, Live on NTN
- February 14: Praise & Worship Ecumenical Service, Our Lady of the Assumption, Vieux Fort
- February 15: Business Expo, Vieux Fort
- February 15: 43rd National Sports Awards, Pavilion on Rodney Bay
- February 17–21: District Schools Rally, various districts islandwide
- February 20: Independence Lecture, Finance Administrative Centre
- February 21: National Colours Day and Raising of the Flag & Fireworks Display, Heroes Park, Castries
- February 22: Military Parade & Independence Rally, Mindoo Philip Park; Seafood Festival, Castries Fisheries; Super Motor, Castries Waterfront
- March 8: Independence Gospel Concert, National Cultural Centre
- March 16: National Investiture Ceremony, Live on NTN
For more details, the public is encouraged to follow @758Independence on social media platforms.
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