Category: Press/Articles

(Castries, Saint Lucia – Monday, December 23^rd 2024)- The Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association’s (SLHTA) Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) is making a difference for hundreds of citizens this holiday season. Through its Annual Christmas Drive, the TEF has disbursed EC $100,000 in food vouchers to provide much-needed support to families across the island. The vouchers were given to key community groups, who will manage distribution to those most in need.

This year’s recipients include:

• Community Outreach Grooming Project
• Dunnottar School
• Lions Club of Gros Islet
• Ministry of Tourism
• Millet Development Committee
• Miss L’s Charity Inc
• NewLeaf Wellness Center
• Rise St. Lucia/Safe Spaces
• Rotary Club of Saint Lucia
• Royal Saint Lucia Police Force
• Lucia Dove Club
• Special Educational School
• Women Empowerment Group Crown On
• Willing Hands Charitable Foundation

The significant donation was made possible through the generous support of visitors and TEF participating companies Bay Gardens Resorts, Calabash Cove, Cap Maison, Hotel Chocolat, Ladera Resort, Nick Troubetzkoy’s Anse Chastanet and Jade Mountain, Sandals Resorts, Sea Spray Cruises, SunSwept Resorts, Sugar Beach A Viceroy Resort, The Landings Resort and Spa, Villa Beach Cottages and Windjammer Landing.

Chairman of the SLHTA’s TEF, Winston Anderson, said: “The TEF takes great pride in continuing our Annual Christmas Drive and spreading holiday cheer. This year’s record-setting $100,000 investment marks the highest contribution in the initiative’s 11-year history. 2024 was another successful year for the Fund as we continued to support impactful programs aimed at the youth, environmental sustainability, and human resource development. The Christmas Drive always serves as a fitting culmination to these efforts to positively impact lives. On behalf of the TEF Trustees, I thank our participating companies and valued visitors for partnering with us to help create a better Saint Lucia!”

SLHTA CEO Noorani Azeez, said, “The SLHTA is celebrating the holiday season with a series of activities focused on sharing joy and goodwill. These efforts have included partnering with the Ministry of Tourism and the Florida-Caribbean Cruise Association to provide gifts to 200 children, donating toys to students enrolled in the Association’s after-school programs at Roseau Combined and Millet Primary, and of course, the food voucher drive. We extend our heartfelt appreciation to all our stakeholders for their continued support and collaboration throughout the year, and wish everyone a joyful and prosperous holiday season.”

(Castries, Saint Lucia – August 20^th 2024)- Ten deserving students have received a valuable head start on their secondary school journey through the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association (SLHTA) Tourism Enhancement Fund’s (TEF) latest scholarship awards.

Established on October 11th 2021, the Eileen Paul Scholarship Fund provides financial support to secondary school students, whose parents are employed in the tourism industry. The scholarship is named in honour of Eileen Paul, who was the heart and soul of the SLHTA, having served the organisation for over forty years.

Scholarship holders receive a grant of EC$2000.00 annually for 5 years, once they maintain a grade point average of 70%.

This year’s recipients were honoured during a ceremony on Friday, August 16th, 2024, at the Sandals Grande St. Lucian.

They are:

• Sariah O’Neil: Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School
• Donte Charles: Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School
• Caleb James: Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School
• Kyree Clovis: Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School
• Silvie-Marie Salvador: St Joseph’s Convent
• Viniah Louis: Soufriere Comprehensive Secondary School
• Arabella Charles: St Joseph’s Convent
• Izzabella Frederick: Entrepot Secondary School
• Javaun William: Leon Hess Comprehensive Secondary School and
• Tina Brown: St Joseph’s Convent

Programme Manager of the SLHTA’s TEF Donette Ismael, is always excited for this time of year. Ismael said, “Eileen Paul always wanted to create a scholarship programme for line team members; heart of house team members, who would not otherwise be able to get these opportunities. For a child to be able to get one of our scholarships, they have to have a 70 average and above. And what we do Ms. Amos, our Project Officer because she loves working with people, always follows up with all of our recipients. We follow up with them, we meet with the parents, we meet with the students. And even when a child may not be able to maintain the average, we always inquire and work with the families to find out the reason why, and how as an SLHTA we may be able to assist and be able to retain the students on our programme.”

TEF Chairman Winston Anderson encouraged the students to do their best, pointing to the limitless opportunities in the growing hospitality sector. He stated, “Most importantly for us is focusing on our youth, and ensuring that we continue to support their development in a number of programmes that we do, whether it be the after-school, scholarships, mental well-being, and the list goes on. We do a lot of work in the communities to ensure that our youngsters are well taken care of. And as I said earlier on in my speech, you are in fact our future and every time that we do something in the communities, at the schools or with you, we walk away being more inspired, being more eager and being more excited to continue helping and supporting your future.”

Guardian Garieus Jn. Baptiste lauded SLHTA and TEF for the timely initiative. He said, “I would like to take this opportunity to say a special thank you to the SLHTA on behalf of the students, their parents and guardians, and by extension the communities that they are from. I am certain that this contribution will go a long way in assisting them. As he [TEF Chairman] said, the children are the future and today it has shown that the SLHTA has a special interest in our children. I’m hoping that this gesture continues!”

An emotional Sariah O’Neil said that she is excited to begin secondary school and promised to put her best foot forward. “I just wanted to say thank you to all those who sponsored the scholarship. Thank you for believing in our potential, and investing in all of our futures!”

To date over 40 students have received an Eileen Paul Scholarship, with a total of over EC $165,000 disbursed.

The SLHTA’s TEF thanks all contributing companies and visitors for investing in Saint Lucia’s youth!

On December 22, 2023, the Northern Division Community Relations Branch of the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (RSLPF) hosted its annual Christmas Voucher giveaway for eligible community members in the Northern Division Police Districts. The initiative was sponsored by the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association (SLHTA), a long-standing partner of the Gros Islet Police Station and by extension the RSLPF. Mr. David Moise, the Social Transformation Officer for the Gros Islet district who has consistently worked closely with the Gros Islet Police Station, ensuring a strong community partnership, also played a pivotal role in ensuring these gifts of vouchers reached the community members.

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(CASTRIES, Saint Lucia – Friday ^21st December 2023)– The Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association’s (SLHTA) Tourism Enhancement Fund (TEF) kicked off its Annual Christmas Food Drive on Wednesday, December 20, 2023. For nearly a decade the TEF has embarked on this initiative to spread seasonal cheers and goodwill to families in need.

This year $93,000 in food vouchers will be provided to the less fortunate. The vouchers will be disbursed island-wide through partnerships with a number of community groups, including: the Lions Club of Gros Islet, Rotary Club of Saint Lucia, Dunnattar School, Alexander Family Foundation, Royal Saint Lucia Police Force (Gros Islet, Babonneau, Richfond, Dennery, Soufriere and Vieux Fort stations), Saint Lucia Dove Club, Millet Development Committee, Community Outreach Grooming Service Project, religious organisations and Musicians/Entertainers.

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