TOURISM MATTERS
Saint Lucia's
National Meals Programme
On Sunday April 12th 2020, the SLHTA was actively involved in a massive islandwide undertaking to prepare and deliver over 3000 meals to the less fortunate across Saint Lucia.

Resorts, Restaurants and Allied Members from Gros Islet, Marigot Bay, Soufriere, Vieux Fort and Dennery were “ALL IN” preparing these meals. This initiative required not only determination, generosity and organizational skills but above all, it would not have been possible without the volunteers who stood ready to "DO THIS TOGETHER".

NEMO (The National Emergency Management Organization)
Office of the Prime Minister (OPM)
Ministry of Equity, Social Justice, Empowerment, Youth Development, Sports and Local Government,
Ministry of Tourism Information, Broadcasting, Culture & Creative Industries
St. Lucia Marketing Board
St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture
St. Lucia Cadet Cooperation
Events Company of St. Lucia Inc. (ECSL)
National Volunteers Association
Saint Lucian farmers
Windward Islands Packaging Company Ltd (WINERA)

Special thanks to the Hotel kitchens, Restaurants, caterers and Allied Members who sponsored this worthy cause:
  • Bay Gardens Resorts
  • Jacques Waterfront Dinning in Rodney Bay
  • Sandals Grande St. Lucian Beach Resort & Spa
  • Serenity Vacation & Tours
  • Coco Palm St. Lucia
  • The Landings St. Lucia Resort & Spa
  • Windjammer Landing Villa Beach Resort
  • June's Catering Services
  • Pink Papaya Restaurant
  • Rendezvous St. Lucia
  • Marigot Bay Resort & Marina
  • Ministry of Youth Development & Sports - Dennery South
  • Ladera Resort
  • Jade Mountain/Anse Chastanet
  • Independent Processors Association
  • Fond Doux Estate
  • Coconut Bay Beach Resort & Spa

The SLHTA extends our gratitude to other Private Sector Associations such as the Chamber of Commerce, Manufacturers Association and the Independent Processors Association who have been equal architects in contributing to the creation, administration and anticipated continuity of our National Meals Program (NMP).
CDC on Homemade Cloth Face Coverings

CDC recommends  wearing cloth face coverings in public settings where other social distancing measures are difficult to maintain (e.g., grocery stores and pharmacies), especially in areas of significant community-based transmission.

CDC also advises the use of simple cloth face coverings to slow the spread of the virus and help people who may have the virus and do not know it from transmitting it to others. Cloth face coverings fashioned from household items or made at home from common materials at low cost can be used as an additional, voluntary public health measure.
FREE Food Handlers Online Training

Free online training opportunity brought to you by the CHTAEF and the American Hotel & Lodging Education Institute: To keep supporting your restaurant, food service, hospitality students and workers on the front line, AHLEI and ServSafe are making its standard, ANSI accredited, Online ServSafe Food Handler training program (available in English and Spanish) available FREE of charge to you through April 30, 2020.

Upon successfully passing the exam, employees or students will receive the ServSafe Food Handler Certificate, the leading standard training and certification for Food Handlers in the US. To take advantage of this complementary course, go to:

Each employee will get access to one free Food Handler course by going through this link.

To learn more about this program and the trainings we also recently released around the COVID-19 restaurant take-out and delivery precautions initiative, please review the ServSafe Free Course & Resources page at link:

As you open up activities back into the world of travelers to the Caribbean it will be paramount to have restaurants, hotels, airports, etc. counting with the most complete cleanliness, hygiene and sanitation.

As the industry faces ongoing challenges with COVID-19, the AHLEI & the National Restaurant Association remain dedicated to helping everyone stay safe. Food safety training and education are more critical now than ever before.

ServSafe Food Handler covers 5 critical areas of responsibility for Food Safety:
  • Basic Food Safety
  • Personal Hygiene
  • Cross-Contamination and Allergens
  • Time and Temperature
  • Cleaning and Sanitizing
Government Compensates Banana Farmers

"As part of our COVID-19 Social Stabilization Programme, the Government of Saint Lucia through the Ministry of Agriculture provided timely support to banana farmers amidst the current vulnerable environment. An initial cheque of $1 Million dollars was officially handed over to the National Fair Trade Organisation (NFTO) with another $1 Million to follow.

This move became necessary as a response to a breach on the part of WINFRESH to provide payments to farmers through the NFTO. Agriculture officials will continue to work to address concerns by farming and agriculture constituents in keeping their livelihoods buoyant, and in securing local food sources.

In the coming weeks, Hon. Ezechiel Joseph will commence a review of WINFRESH to improve it's service to farmers especially now that the industry faces additional unique challenges posed by COVID- 19." - Allen Chastanet Facebook
On Sunday 12th April 2020, the global community stood together with Saint Lucia to offer unwavering support to frontline workers across the island, who continue to serve the nation tirelessly.  

The spirit of giving hit the airwaves during the ‘National COVID-19 Response Telethon’ on Sunday from 2:00p.m. -6:00 p.m. live on the National Television Network (NTN) and supporting media houses island wide.

The four-hour virtual telethon was geared at raising funds which will be used to provide the necessary personal protective equipment (PPE) required in the lines of duty for our service men and women who are working tirelessly in the fight against COVID-19, as well as provide food supplies to the deserving across Saint Lucia.

The Prime Minister Allen Chastanet expressed his gratitude to all who donated " On behalf of all our COVID-19 Front-line Soldiers and the vulnerable in our society who will benefit from the National Meals Programme, I say a sincere THANK YOU to each and every individual, business, group, investor and friends of Saint Lucia, who contributed to the success of today's COVID-19 Response Telethon. So far, your assistance has helped raise EC$2.5 Million and counting (The calls & donations keep coming in)."