Key stakeholders in Saint Lucia have completed a three-day workshop on the Essentials of Migration Management for Policy Making, paving the way for a comprehensive national migration policy. Coordinated by the International Organisation for Migration (IOM) under the leadership of the Ministry of External Affairs and its Diaspora Unit, the activity represents a crucial milestone toward harnessing migration for national development in Saint Lucia.
The Essentials of Migration Management workshop brought together key government stakeholders and technical experts in migration management. Speaking at the Opening Ceremony on Monday, Mr Esli Lafeuillee, Deputy Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of External Affairs, noted that the initiative to develop a migration policy is very high on the agenda of the Ministry. He highlighted challenges including reduced birth rate, mass migration, the Citizenship by Investment programme, increased border controls internationally, and the need to balance human rights and development goals for sustainable outcomes.
On behalf of IOM – UN Migration, Project Coordinator Vynliz Dailey expressed pleasure in providing support to the Government of Saint Lucia in its endeavour to develop a comprehensive migration policy. The workshop reflects a “shared belief that effective migration management must be grounded in national priorities”. It provides “an opportunity to build national expertise and foster a coordinated, inclusive, and evidence-based approach to migration management”.
Coordinator for IOM Caribbean Office, Patrice Quesada envisions that the workshop will also be a milestone in the regional policy-making process. “As part of the development of the Saint Lucia migration policy, we can develop a sort of learning model that then can be turned into a toolkit for migration policy development that is adapted to the reality of small island developing states.” CARICOM is currently in the process of developing a regional approach to migration policy, with the support of IOM and the UN Network for Migration.
This workshop was offered for the first time in Saint Lucia. Participants in the workshop engaged in discussions and interactive sessions to identify and remove misperceptions about the definition of migration, and to explore the principles of well-managed migration. The importance of data and evidence in shaping migration policies to effectively harness the benefits of migration for development was emphasised. The IOM remains committed to supporting Saint Lucia in its efforts to develop and implement effective migration policies.
Coordinator of IOM Caribbean, Patrice Quesada, noted the pleasure of the organisation and noted that Saint Lucia is among the pioneers of this work in the Caribbean. “We are really happy to see this happening in Saint Lucia as one of the first countries to work towards the development of a national migration policy. This initiative reflects our shared belief that effective migration management must be grounded in national priorities, informed by reliable data, and guided by international best practices. Together, we can work towards migration systems that are orderly, safe, and beneficial for all.”