The future running towards us: Giving young Saint Lucians something to look forward to

By Ajani Lebourne

I submit this opinion piece as an optimist, increasingly preoccupied with the question of whether the best steps are being taken to build a future Saint Lucia for young Saint Lucians to look forward to.

I recall this one interview with a veteran journalist (then representing the National Youth Council) who exclaimed, to paraphrase, “You young people come in with so much optimism, but over time you’ll see how much of a mess we are in.” I still wish for us young people to remain optimistic in the face of any critique of national development or any effort to correct the perceived “mess”.

Where do we stand in the grand scheme of things? 

Presently, the Saint Lucia public awaits the 2026/2027 Budget Policy  Statement – one that Prime Minister Pierre suggests is laden with new initiatives that seek to build on the foundation laid over the last term in office, amid current global uncertainties. The mere fact that this year’s budget totals EC$ 2.189 billion, a 6.4% increase over the approved estimates for 2025/2026, raises expectations of meaningful impact. In the presentation of the Estimates, PM Pierre explained that the 2026/2027 budget will prioritise strengthening resilience, boosting productivity and improving government service delivery.

Considering the latest indications of economic performance evidenced by primary indicators such as GDP growth rate, the public debt to GDP ratio and labour force participation, coupled with the impact of social issues, the evolving 4th industrial revolution and heightened global north insularity, citizens have everything to gain by questioning national efforts to lead a young generation into this new world of challenges and opportunities. Regarding the country’s economic growth, data and

analysis made available by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank are notably modest about growth projections. Over the last decade (2016-2025), Saint Lucia has experienced compound GDP growth of 1.7%, well below the benchmark of 5%.  Public debt in 2025 climbed to 78% of GDP and is not on course to meet the  ECCU’s target of 60% by 2035.

Delivering economic gains that young people will feel 

Meaningful economic growth should be reflected in expanded opportunities for income-earning, asset accumulation, and, ultimately, social mobility for young people. The latest employment figures (12.6% as of 2025) suggest that youth unemployment is at a record low. This, I believe, fundamentally contradicts the 2024 Social and Economic review, which highlighted a 3.6% reduction in the labour force participation rate (roughly 4,000 people who opted out of the labour force). Additionally,  unemployment rates remain significantly high in the south of the island. Apart from Coconut Bay Resort & Spa, itelBPO and SLASPA, mass employers are concentrated in the West (Soufriere) and North of the island. Economic planners, the private sector, and training institutes must consider a labour market that is now characterised by young people who want to earn money doing what they love, many of whom are unwilling to settle for what’s available. Diversifying employment/career paths beyond the typical hotel and call centre work is something to look forward to.

The introduction of the Youth Economy Agency (despite my belief that it has centralised a key service, when we should be aiming to replicate new and proven

models across the system, reducing barriers to access) has ushered in a fresh approach towards the development of the entrepreneurial class. The programme has generated optimism among young business owners and those at the ideation stage about the chance of securing financing and technical assistance to launch their ventures.  To seriously tackle the unemployment issue, the programme should aim to decentralise access so that skilled youth in rural districts who may benefit more from tailored business mentorship can feel equally optimistic. Institutions such as the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, the National Skills Development Centre, the Chamber of Commerce, BELfund, and the National Enrichment and Learning Unit (among others) can effectively fill that gap.

Perhaps a more strategic view of young entrepreneurial development (to capitalise on the current industrial revolution) could rethink the pedagogical approach to teaching business at secondary schools, to develop the skills and attitudes needed to build the businesses of the future. I believe the TVET institutes are well on their way to that.

Closely related to youth economic participation is financial literacy and asset accumulation. Many local and regional leaders over the years have argued for improving the teaching of financial literacy in the classroom. Equally urgent, however, is access to property such as land and housing for young people. We are behind the curve in this regard, and authorities should seriously consider introducing an accessible housing scheme, such as the “Rent to Own” programme implemented by the National Housing Corporations in Trinidad & Tobago and Barbados. In its 2026 Budget, the Barbados Labour Party administration introduced  a new “social mortgage” initiative that seeks to convert rent payments into home

equity, narrowing the gap to homeownership and asset accumulation for low- to middle-income earners.

Convincing young talent to stay and invest locally 

The above issues suggest that a significant number of young people in 2026 may feel they are on the fringes of reported economic growth trends. This disenfranchisement, as a feature of the socioeconomic landscape, could explain why Saint Lucia, based on a recent UN Migration report, recorded one of the highest percentage increases in emigration (255%) among 10 Caribbean countries from 1990 to 2020. Since graduating from secondary school just over a decade ago, there have been many examples in my year group of people who have opted to move abroad for various reasons. No doubt, economic and educational factors are major driving forces. Therefore, a reversal of this trend could depend on either educating our people to a standard that drives desired economic outcomes or creating the conditions for a level of industrialisation that provides more jobs for skilled workers and university graduates.

Tackling perennial challenges within the social system 

The most critical indicator of whether we are giving young Saint  Lucians a future to look forward to is the reduction of youth-involved murders,  whether as victim or perpetrator. Data available from the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force indicates that roughly 35% of murder victims in recent years are aged 21-30, most of whom are male. There’s a wide body of research on the factors that drive youth involvement in crime and violence. The most recent, developed by the USAID-funded Youth Resilience, Inclusion and Empowerment programme, highlights “exposure

to community violence”, “negative peer influence”, “family dysfunction” and “beliefs about violence” among the top factors influencing youth violence. Other research on social system policies and agencies identified the need to improve inter-agency coordination and to empower local communities to implement peacebuilding strategies.

The Government’s renewed focus on rehabilitation and offender reintegration is a crucial step to facilitate the restoration of family and community bonds impacted by violence. However, consistent investments in research and data management, service accessibility, the empowerment of communities, and care for practitioners can ensure that young people are offered the guidance and opportunities to continue contributing productively to society.

Change Cannot Wait 

While I remain optimistic about our future (recognising that crises often force positive change among people), the rate of change is a strong cause for concern.  Recent developments in the geopolitical space make it increasingly clear that no one is coming to save us. Therefore, a future that young Saint Lucians can look forward to will require implementing evidence-based strategies to decentralise services, closely track and redefine education to align with industry needs, be creative in efforts to expand youth asset ownership and overall economic participation, and strengthen stakeholder investment/partnerships for social support.

Ajani Lebourne is a development professional and youth development practitioner with experience in programme management, policy analysis, and youth and community development in Saint Lucia.

The article The future running towards us: Giving young Saint Lucians something to look forward to is from St. Lucia Times.