18/01/2024

UVM study closes

By GIS

Saint Lucia and the University of Vermont proudly recognized two decades of a mutually-beneficial partnership that has significantly impacted various sectors within the island nation, during a Projects Presentation and Closing Ceremony held on Jan 12.

The ceremony was attended by key officials, stakeholders, students and other representatives from both Saint Lucia and the University of Vermont (UVM).

The Deputy Permanent Secretary within the Ministry of Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives, and Consumer Affairs, Mrs. Charmaine Louis-Justin, highlighted the substantial advantages that Saint Lucia has gained from this enduring collaboration.

“I am acutely aware of the impact that this relationship with the University of Vermont has had and continues to have not only on the skillsets of our department but also on the wider community. From the commissioning of computer labs and school gardening to the undertaking of useful data-driven impact surveys, our staff members have received valuable training in areas relevant to the department’s function including consumer law, research techniques and methods, and report writing.”

One of the key achievements mentioned by Mrs. Louis-Justin was the marked improvement in the quality of work among the ministry's staff who received specialized training through the partnership. She listed the 2024 projects, emphasizing their timeliness and relevance.

“This year we collaborate with the UVM team to facilitate key projects in areas such as quantitative and qualitative surveys to assess the impact of inflation on local consumers, the establishment of a school garden at the Camille Henry Memorial School, an interactive mapping project with the Saint Lucia National Trust, and a Network Analysis examining possible linkages among Saint Lucia’s Non Profit Organizations.”
UVM Professor Thomas DeSisto underscored the resilience of the partnership, especially in the face of global challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic. Professor DeSisto expressed his admiration for Saint Lucia's commitment to preserving the programs established through the collaboration, even through the difficult post-pandemic period.

“The University of Vermont and the Department of Community Development and Applied Economics prior to the pandemic had programs in Saint Lucia but also in Belize, Honduras, Peru, Kenya, Dominica, Brazil and several other places. After 2020, this is the only one that still exists. Hopefully in the coming years, we will be able to reignite several of these programs but I think it just speaks to the resilience and strength of this relationship—knowing that we have partners here that we can work with, knowing that there are people here who we can learn and grow with.”

The University of Vermont has been a steadfast ally in Saint Lucia's pursuit of development, and both parties expressed optimism for future relations.