Saint Lucia Concludes Two-Day Migration Data Workshop to Shape Evidence-Based Policy

Castries, Saint Lucia - 23 July 2025 - The Government of Saint Lucia took a major step last week, as it moves to develop a comprehensive evidence-based migration policy to serve the country’s development agenda in the coming years. The "Essentials of Migration Data" (EMD) workshop was held from 16-17 July 2025 with the aim of strengthening the Government’s ability to produce, disseminate and use data and statistics on migration. Participants in the workshop came to understand how data management is a crucial aspect of developing, monitoring and evaluating a national migration policy that addresses real issues and is sensitive to the needs and aspirations of all Saint Lucians.

The EMD workshop was held at the Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs, as a follow-up to the "Essentials of Migration Management for Policy Making" workshop conducted in April 2025. This workshop however, specifically targeted individuals involved in producing and disseminating migration data within the government system. Through their work, participants will play a vital role in the development, implementation, monitoring, evaluation, and review of Saint Lucia’s migration policy.

Sergeant Ken Charlery is attached to the Immigration Department at the Hewanorra International Airport. He shared that the training had given him new insight into the significance of his work “As an Immigration Officer, I have been involved in the data without realizing the entire process and the training help me realize what an important role that I play with my team in data collection and processing”. Participants in the workshop received tools and techniques to collect, analyze, and interpret migration data, putting them in a position to ensure that the policy is grounded in accurate and reliable information.

During the closing session, IOM Project Coordinator - Vynliz Dailey explained how the training was a critical step toward the development of the policy. “Migration touches every part of society – from education and health to labour, security and development,” she said. “That’s why the work you’ve done here matters. High quality, timely, and reliable data are not just about numbers – it is about ensuring that policies are rooted in reality; that migrants are visible in decision-making, and that national planning reflects the true movement and needs of people.”

The EMD workshop is part of the Government of Saint Lucia’s strategy to ensure a migration policy that is responsive to the needs of the population and aligned with national development goals, also within the framework of the OECS and CARICOM regional movements, and the Global Compact for Safe and Orderly Migration (GCM)The training was organized by the Ministry of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs with the support of the International Organization for Migration (IOM). Funding is provided by the IOM Development Fund.