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10 Facts About Refugees in St Lucia

Refugees in St. LuciaA Brief History:
A refugee is often defined as a person seeking asylum in a country other than the one of their origin, either because they seek better economic prospects or due to political instability in their home nation.

The country of St Lucia is a Caribbean nation, which is home to numerous refugees. St Lucia has a gorgeous landscape, tropical weather and an incredible culture. These facts are one of the reasons why St Lucia has become a primary destination for many migrants. The purpose of this article is to explain 10 facts about refugees from St Lucia.

The 10 Facts:

  1. In 2014, St Lucia was home to over 922 refugees from countries all around the world. Migrants come to St Lucia because of its generous social welfare programs, stable political system and booming economy.
  2. The refugee camps in St Lucia have done significant work in increasing the immunization rate for many of the migrants living in the nation. The immunization rate for DPT and measles is 99 percent and 97 percent respectively.
  3. Having a child while in a St Lucia refugee camp is not a risky proposition for many migrants living in the nation. The lifetime risk of maternal death is .0912 percent for the refugees living in St Lucia. This statistic is due to 96.9 percent of pregnant female refugees receiving prenatal care.
  4. Although having a child while a refugee in St Lucia may not be risky, many women in these migrant camps are having children at a very young age. Around 53.42 out of every 1,000 female refugees under the age of 19 have had a child.
  5. About 92.2 percent of children born to refugees in St Lucia are registered at birth. This high rate of registration allows the camps to ensure these children get the proper care to maintain their health.
  6. Due to the large quantity of refugees’ children registered here, the children born in these regions are treated very well. Only 2.5 percent of children growing up in these refugee camps suffer from malnutrition. This low rate is due to the incredible social programs available for these migrants at the camps in St Lucia.
  7. The likelihood of a refugee in St Lucia being overweight is very small. Currently, the rate of being overweight as a migrant rests at 6.3 percent. Having a healthy body weight reduces the chance of prolonged illness and other diseases.
  8. The life expectancy for refugees in St Lucia is also very high. Men, on average, live until they are 72.54 years old and women are expected to live until they are 77.96 years old.
  9. Men who are refugees in St Lucia have a very high chance of living until the age of 65. Currently, this rate rests at 74.23 percent.
  10. The majority of the population of refugees in St Lucia tends to be young. Currently, only nine percent of these migrants are over the age of 65.

The Takeaway:
Although the migrant crisis continues all throughout the world, refugees in St Lucia often have a high quality of life. High immunization rates, intensive social programs and registration at birth allows for the nation to ensure its migrant populations have the best chance at a higher quality of life. The work that St Lucia has done in its refugee camps should be something all other nations housing migrants should attempt to emulate.

– Nick Beauchamp
Photo: Flickr

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Higher Education in St. Lucia has Skyrocketed in the Last 20 Years


Education in St. Lucia, a sovereign island country in the eastern Caribbean, seeks to prepare students for exciting futures in higher education and the workforce. Educators at 75 primary schools and 24 secondary schools have worked for decades to mobilize their youth to succeed.

In response to poor performance by students in grades one to five on a Minimum Standards Test in 1998, the nation enacted the Education Act of 1999. Supported by parliament members, teachers, and students alike, the act clearly outlines students’ rights and actively contributes to curriculum development.

Furthermore, the Education Act of 1999 rests on the idea that citizens ought to pursue higher education in order to serve the community. As a result—and although students over 16 years old may opt-out of attending school under the act—upper secondary institutions boast a 97.2 percent enrollment rate.

In addition to the cultural push for students to attend school as a civic responsibility, perhaps the numerous opportunities for tertiary education compel students to further their studies. The University of the West Indies, which offers online degree programs, frequently awards Rhodes scholarships to residents of St. Lucia and other members of the Commonwealth Caribbean. St. Joseph’s Convent, an all-female secondary school in St. Lucia, also offers scholarships to those with creative skills and potential as leaders.

Sixteen-year-old Kurmysha Harris perfectly exemplifies the standards of education in St. Lucia. A fifth-form student at the St. Joseph’s Convent, she became St. Lucia’s youngest published author when she published her first novel, The Lost Sister, in September 2016.

Harris, who has been writing for most of her life, cites her uncle and parents as major contributors to her book. Sister Rufina, the principal at St. Joseph’s Convent, also reached out upon the book’s release to show support on behalf of the school at large. With such an enthusiastic fan base, Harris has sold more than 600 copies of her novel and has started working on another.

Opportunities for teens like Harris continue to open up far and wide in the country. With governmental attention and widespread support from adults, education in St. Lucia has the nation’s youth bound for success.

– Madeline Forwerck

Photo: Flickr