Hilaire Slams Public Sector Delays: ‘Time Is Money’ as Tourism Businesses Pay the Price

Tourism Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire has sharply criticized inefficiencies within the public sector, warning that delayed decision-making is costing businesses valuable time and money while threatening the competitiveness of Saint Lucia’s tourism industry.

Speaking at the 19th quarterly meeting of the Tourism Advisory Committee (TAC) on Thursday at the Stolen Time Resort, Hilaire expressed frustration after revealing that committee meetings had been postponed twice because there was no quorum.

“I cannot accept that a meeting has been postponed twice because a committee doesn’t have a quorum and now work cannot happen,” Hilaire said. “Everybody wants to be on the committee but when you call meetings, they’re not available and the whole business has to slow down.”

The minister argued that while delays may be tolerated within the public service, they come at a real cost to the private sector.

“Time is money for them,” Hilaire said, urging public servants to become more agile and responsive to the needs of businesses and investors.

Hilaire also outlined several initiatives aimed at strengthening Saint Lucia’s tourism product, including the development of new underwater sculpture parks, upgrades to the Anse Ferre lookout as part of the island’s green tourism offering, and continued reforms to tourism legislation and policy.

The committee also addressed crime and its impact on the country’s tourism brand, discussing ongoing collaboration between tourism stakeholders, the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force and community organizations to improve safety, particularly in the Soufrière area. Connectivity across the region and the island’s latest tourism performance were also among the issues discussed.

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