Division of Gender Affairs - Government of Saint Lucia

Daphne Murray: The Reluctant Warrior 🏡➡️🏛️

Not all heroes set out to be politicians. Mrs. Daphne Murray, widow of SLP stalwart George Blaize Murray, was a homemaker with no political aspirations. Yet, in a twist of fate, she contested the Castries South seat for the SLP—even in her absence!
Though she lost the election, her political journey was just beginning. From 1982 to 1985, she was elected as the first female Treasurer of the Saint Lucia Labour Party, proving that leadership can come from unexpected places and that dedication to a party’s future is a form of service in itself.
Source: Running in Heels - Yasmin Solitahe Odlum and Barbara Jacobs-Small

Sister Frances Michel: The Militant Voice of the People ✊🏽🌹

Sister Frances Dorothy Michel was Saint Lucia’s first socialist female politician—and arguably its most militant. Known and loved at the grassroots level as "Sister Frances," her political fire was ignited in the trade union movement of the 1970s.

A Life of Reinvention and Service:
🗳️ 1979: Became the first female candidate for the SLP, contesting the Dennery North seat.
⚒️ Co-founded the Progressive Labour Party (PLP) alongside George Odlum.
📚 Ever the learner, she later earned a Paralegal Certificate from Sir Arthur Lewis Community College.
🌎 2000: Appointed Consul General for Cuba under the SLP administration, bridging international solidarity.
Her career proves that political impact isn't just about winning seats; it's about moving the people.
Source: Running in Heels - Yasmin Solitahe Odlum and Barbara Jacobs-Small

Ives Heraldine Rock: "Ma Rock," The First Lady of Cabinet 🇱🇨👑
Affectionately known as "Ma Rock," Ives Heraldine Rock was a force of nature long before she entered parliament. Her leadership journey began in the Jaycees and the influential Saint Lucia Banana Growers Association (SLBGA), a key platform that gave her the political visibility she needed to make history.

Her Legacy of Firsts:
🏛️ 1964: Made history as the first woman to defeat a male candidate in a general election.
📈 Became the first female Vice President of the United Workers Party (UWP).

🏛️ 1974: Shattered the glass ceiling again by becoming the first woman to serve in the Saint Lucian Cabinet, appointed by Premier Sir John Compton as Minister for Housing, Community Development, Local Government and Social Affairs.
Ma Rock didn't just enter the room; she built it.
Source: Running in Heels - Yasmin Solitahe Odlum and Barbara Jacobs-Small



________________________________________

REMOTE TAX FILING ASSISTANCE
March 23 - 27 & March 30-31, 2026

Taxpayers take advantage of this opportunity to beat the line!

Additionally, you can always file online, register @ efiling.govt.lc

PRESS RELEASE

For Immediate Release: Castries, St. Lucia, March 16, 2026
Voting Now Open for The 2025 Saint Lucia Business Awards, People’s Choice Award
The Saint Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture announces that voting for the People’s Choice Award is now open.
The People’s Choice Award is a pivotal category within the Saint Lucia Business Awards, as it represents the voice of the public and recognizes businesses that have earned the trust and admiration of the Saint Lucian community.
The People’s Choice Award honours a business that excels in service, provides great value, resolves issues fairly, and is widely recognized by the public as a standout organization within Saint Lucia’s business community.
Nominees for the People’s Choice Award are:
• Abby’s Exotic Blends
• Optimum Cooling
• Lucian Excursions
• Tropical Shipping

The People’s Choice Award was removed from the list of the Chamber Business Awards presented on December 15th, 2025, due to irregularities encountered on the voting platform. The security of the platform has now been strengthened, and the Chamber has full confidence in its integrity.
According to Mr. Brian Louisy, the Executive Vice President of the Chamber “The Chamber has always placed significant value on this award and to ensure that the business which truly earned the recognition of the public is properly acknowledged”.

Voting will be open from Wednesday March 18, 2026, till Thursday April 2nd, 2026 and the public can access the voting platform at:
https://awards.stluciachamber.org/
The public is encouraged to visit the platform and vote to ensure that the winner is truly reflective of the People’s Choice.
For more information contact: Mr. Brian Louisy, Executive Director

---ENDS---

Caribbean women-led businesses, this opportunity is for you ✨

The first edition of the SheTrades Caribbean Business Catalogue will showcase selected companies to buyers, investors and trade partners across regional and international markets 🌎

If your business is women-owned or women-led, registered with the SheTrades Caribbean Hub hosted by the Caribbean Development Bank, and offering products or services with growth and export potential, you are invited to apply.

Submit your application here: https://tr.ee/5RhkLt 🔗

ITC SheTrades International Trade Centre BELTRAIDE Development Bank of Jamaica Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States Export Barbados - BIDC Cayman Islands Centre for Business Development - CICBD Export Saint Lucia

Join UN Women Caribbean and COLEAD.link for 𝗦𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗶𝗼𝗻 𝟴 𝗼𝗳 𝘁𝗵𝗲 𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵-𝗦𝗼𝘂𝘁𝗵 𝗦𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗲𝘀: 𝗘𝗺𝗽𝗼𝘄𝗲𝗿𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗚𝗿𝗼𝘄𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗪𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻-𝗹𝗲𝗱 𝗕𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗲𝘀𝘀𝗲𝘀, where we will explore how 𝗮𝗿𝘁𝗶𝗳𝗶𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗶𝗻𝘁𝗲𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗴𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲 𝗰𝗮𝗻 𝘀𝘂𝗽𝗽𝗼𝗿𝘁 𝘄𝗼𝗺𝗲𝗻 𝗲𝗻𝘁𝗿𝗲𝗽𝗿𝗲𝗻𝗲𝘂𝗿𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝘀𝗰𝗮𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝗶𝗿 𝘃𝗲𝗻𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲𝘀, 𝗶𝗺𝗽𝗿𝗼𝘃𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗱𝘂𝗰𝘁𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗻𝗮𝘃𝗶𝗴𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗱𝗶𝗴𝗶𝘁𝗮𝗹 𝗺𝗮𝗿𝗸𝗲𝘁𝘀.

📅 𝟭𝟱 𝗔𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗹 𝟮𝟬𝟮𝟲
🕙 𝟭𝟬:𝟬𝟬 – 𝟭𝟭:𝟰𝟱 𝗔𝗠 (𝗖𝗮𝗿𝗶𝗯𝗯𝗲𝗮𝗻 𝗧𝗶𝗺𝗲 / 𝗔𝗦𝗧)
💻 𝗢𝗻𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗲 | 𝗭𝗼𝗼𝗺

This session is part of the Project capacity building initiatives, and is the second of three sessions planned for 2026 to support women-led businesses across regions through knowledge exchange and South-South collaboration.

Through this conversation, participants will gain insights into how emerging technologies can become practical tools for 𝗶𝗻𝗻𝗼𝘃𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻, 𝗿𝗲𝘀𝗶𝗹𝗶𝗲𝗻𝗰𝗲, 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗶𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗲 𝗲𝗰𝗼𝗻𝗼𝗺𝗶𝗰 𝗴𝗿𝗼𝘄𝘁𝗵.

🔗 𝗥𝗲𝗴𝗶𝘀𝘁𝗲𝗿 𝘂𝘀𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝘁𝗵𝗶𝘀 𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗸 ➡️ https://unwomen.zoom.us/webinar/register/WN_Q4vyUApSSJSwLXyQ2RumbA