St. Lucia PM Urges Businesses And Nationals To Work Towards Digital Economy

CASTRIES, St. Lucia, May 5, 2020 (CMC) – St. Lucian Prime Minister, Allen Chastanet, urged businesses and individuals to make the transition towards a digital future.

“The digital economy gives us the opportunity to spur economic growth, enhance national security, improve international competitiveness and create resilient and long term jobs,” Prime Minister Chastanet claimed.

He revealed that his administration is working towards building economic resilience, and the diversification of the economy, as part of the strategic efforts, is the development of the digital economy, which “is comprised of economic activity, driven by digital technologies, used by individuals and businesses, via the Internet, mobile technology and the Internet of Things (IoT)”.

Chastanet opined that as the island begins to adapt to life with the coronavirus (COVID-19, “we must accept that physical distancing will become the new normal and, increasingly, we will have to rely on digital transactions, as part of everyday life.

“I am therefore, encouraging individuals and local businesses to commence making the transition towards a digital future. Businesses should begin to adopt the use of the Internet and mobile devices to facilitate transactions.”

He said that citizens must begin to retool themselves, by learning new skills, which will make it easier for them to become digital entrepreneurs and digital employees.

The Prime Minister said, over the past four months, his administration has been working with the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, here, for the establishment of a Digital Academy.

“This will take some time to become fully operational however, in the meantime, I want to encourage all St. Lucians to begin familiarizing yourselves with these opportunities, by taking online courses, many of which are free, or extremely affordable,” he urged.

He listed a number of courses, ranging from graphics design to programming and coding, as well as crypto currency, blockchain, automation, artificial intelligence and robotics.

Chastanet has promised to share “a lot more information and advice, whilst consulting with various stakeholders to receive input, for the required legislation and incentives to create an environment to facilitate our thrust into the digital economy”.