World Bank approves US$30 million credit for Saint Lucia’s COVID-19 response

St Lucia port

WASHINGTON — The World Bank Board of Executive Directors has approved the US$30 million Saint Lucia COVID-19 Response, Recovery, and Resilience Development Policy Credit. This quick-disbursing credit aims to help mitigate the negative economic impacts of COVID-19 on the most vulnerable Saint Lucians. It also aims to strengthen the country’s economic recovery from the COVID-19 crisis and enhance resilience to shocks in the medium term. 

“The COVID-19 pandemic has had severe social and economic impacts on the Caribbean small states, especially those that are highly dependent on tourism such as  Saint Lucia,” said Tahseen Sayed, World Bank Country Director for the Caribbean. “This financing aims to provide Saint Lucia urgent support to protect lives and livelihoods and strengthen economic resilience.” 

Saint Lucia’s GDP is projected to contract by 18 percent in 2020 due to the nearly complete halt in tourism.