The first day of the Workshop on Competition Law Enforcement in Castries, Saint Lucia commenced on 17
June 2024. The event marked a significant milestone in the country’s journey toward establishing a robust
regulatory framework to promote fair competition and economic growth.

The Hon. Emma Hippolyte, Minister of the Ministry of Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development,
Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs, opened the session with a compelling address on the importance of
competition for the Saint Lucian economy. She highlighted the critical role of competition in driving
innovation and increasing consumer welfare. Minister Hippolyte also expressed concerns about the
growing number of monopolies in the country and the urgent need for a regulatory framework to prevent
anticompetitive business conduct.

Following the Minister’s opening remarks, Commissioner Nestor Alfred from the CARICOM Competition
Commission took the stage. He emphasised the importance of the Community Competition Policy within
the Revised Treaty of Chaguaramas, which established the Caribbean Community (CARICOM) and aims to
foster economic cooperation among Member States. Commissioner Alfred highlighted the CARICOM
Single Market and Economy (CSME) and the Commission’s role in ensuring fair competition that benefits
consumers and the economy. He stressed that CSME Member States must enact national competition
laws and establish national competition authorities, collaborating with the Commission to maintain
consistent regional competition policy enforcement.

Commissioner Alfred noted that the workshop holds particular significance for Saint Lucia. Although the
country has yet to meet its Treaty obligations to enact a national competition law and establish a national
competition authority, this event is a crucial step forward. Saint Lucia is committed to these goals and is
exploring leveraging its existing national consumer protection authority as a foundation for its future
competition law enforcement framework.