The recent official opening of the Soufriere Innovation & Career Development Centre now gives residents from Soufriere/Fond St. Jacques easier access to information and communication technology (ICT) and digital connectivity.
The Centre, which was officially launched on Friday, May 30, 2025, is a modern computer lab and co-working space equipped with 25 desktop computers, 10 laptops, 2 smart monitors, and one 3D printer. It also boasts a wide range of services, including high-speed internet access, with digiGov services.
The desktop computers and laptops can be used for education or work-related purpose, while the smart monitors – which have touch-screened enabled features — can be used for real-time interactive teaching and business meetings. There is also a 3-D printer to provide opportunities for hands-on learning in design, engineering and innovation, by creating tangible models from users’ own 3-D digital files.
Dubbed a hub of digital excellence and innovation, the Centre forms part of the “Application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Digital Capacity Project”, which aims to empower individuals and businesses in the community through cutting-edge ICT resources and training opportunities.
The Soufriere Innovation & Career Development Centre forms part of the “Application of Information and Communication Technology (ICT) in Digital Capacity Project”, which aims to empower individuals and businesses in the community through cutting-edge ICT resources and training opportunities.
Executing agencies for the project are the Ministry of Public Service, Home Affairs, Labour and Gender Affairs; Ministry of Education, Sustainable Development, Innovation, Science, Technology and Vocational Training; Department of Housing and Local Government; and the Taiwan Technical Mission (TTM) in Saint Lucia. The project aims to harness Taiwan’s expertise in ICT and education application to establish a state-of-the-art digital facility in Soufriere/Fond St. Jacques.
Speaking at the official opening ceremony, H.E. Nicole Su, Taiwan’s Ambassador to Saint Lucia, said the Centres aim to empower communities, bridge the digital divide, and to bring Saint Lucians one step closer to digital equity.
“As you can see, with this equipment, we’re not planning for this Centre to be just another computer room,” she said. “We envision it to be a dynamic hub for empowering the youth, as well as an incubation centre to assist entrepreneurs for start-up business. However, while we are enjoying the benefits of digital connectivity, there is an important issue that I’d like to bring to your attention — the issue of cyber-security challenges.”
Ambassador Su said cyber-attacks were becoming increasingly common, including phishing emails that attempt to steal people’s identity, or ransom-ware attacks targeting critical services. The threats are real, she added, and are happening more often than we think.
“We hope this Centre will become a space where people of all ages can come and understand the issue of cyber-security risks, and also learn about how to protect ourselves online, so that we can build a safer digital Saint Lucia,” Ambassador Su stated.
Ambassador Su expressed appreciation for the collaboration among the teams from the Ministry of Public Service, especially the Division of Public Sector Modernization, Ministry of Education, and the Taiwan Technical Mission, for making the Centre a reality. She also acknowledged the visionary policy of the Government of Saint Lucia, and the leadership of Hon. Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte, Hon. Emma Hippolyte, and Hon. Shawn Edward, for their hard work in putting people first.
Hon. Emma Hippolyte, Minister for Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs, said the newly-refurbished space is not just a name change and cosmetic upgrade, but also a launch pad for human development, a space that nurtures soft skills, enhances career readiness, and fosters entrepreneurial thinking alongside digital fluency.
“It represents a redefinition of purpose, a clear signal of the Government’s intention to do more, to go further, and to adequately prepare our people to meet the rigorous demands of today’s dynamic world and tomorrow’s boundless opportunities,” Hon. Hippolyte, who is also the Parliamentary Representative for Soufriere/Fond St. Jacques, said.
The original Soufriere ICT Centre was temporarily closed in September 2024 due to critical structural deterioration. Over the past few months, the Centre underwent a complete transformation, thereby making it more conducive for advanced learning in total comfort.
Hon. Hippolyte said that while the original ICT Centre had served its purpose since its establishment about a decade ago, open dialogue with community members and private sector partners concluded that the employment landscape had changed and the needs of the labour market had evolved, creating a mismatch of available qualified professionals and the skills required by the current labour market.
“During our frequent engagements with employers, they often speak of the difficulty in finding talent that is not just technically equipped, but professionally prepared, individuals who can collaborate, communicate, adapt and lead. Through our ongoing efforts, this is a gap we have now set out to bridge,” Hon. Hippolyte explained.
Hon. Dr. Virginia Albert-Poyotte, Minister for the Public Service, Labour and Gender Affairs, thanked the Government of the Republic of China (Taiwan) for funding the Soufriere Innovation & Career Development Centre, adding that the project was central to the Government of Saint Lucia’s national digital transformation agenda.
“It is a practical embodiment of commitments made under our Party’s social contract with the people, particularly the ‘One Laptop per Child Programme’, ‘One University Graduate per Household’, and the introduction of coding in primary and secondary schools,” she stated. “These commitments are being realized through infrastructure that is accessible, inclusive, and strategically placed where it is needed most.”
Hon. Dr. Albert-Poyotte said the Centre provides young adults who have left school and working age residents seeking new opportunities access to certified vocational ICT training, technical courses, and digital upskilling pathways that can create new avenues for personal and professional development.
“Public officers serving the Soufriere district – from educators to healthcare and administrative professionals – you all will benefit from the structured ICT training, including modules in data management, cyber-security, and digital service delivery through the digGov platform. These training programmes are strategically designed to improve service delivery, strengthen data integrity, and enhance citizen engagement,” she explained.
Meanwhile, Mr. Kendall Khodra, Acting Permanent Secretary in the Department of Education, Innovation and Vocational Training, encouraged residents from Soufriere/Fond St. Jacques to take full advantage of the resources now available to them, noting that the Centre stands ready to serve as a platform for empowerment, innovation, and meaningful progress.
“The reopening of this Centre is a key part of the Ministry of Education’s broader strategic vision to promote education equity, bridge the digital divide, and support lifelong learning and workforce development,” Mr. Khodra said. “It reflects our unwavering belief in the power of technology-enabled community-based education to uplift individuals and transform communities.”
SOURCE: Embassy of the Republic of China (Taiwan) in Saint Lucia