Infrastructure and Energy Minister Stephenson King, speaking in Parliament, described the draft legislation as a “landmark” reform that has been more than a decade in the making.

“This piece of legislation is an important landmark legislation that we must channel and pilot through the Parliament,” King said.

“The proposed new Electricity Act is a completely new piece of legislation for the sector that will capture all relevant previous amendments and revolutionise the electricity sector here in Saint Lucia.”

The Bill, which has been under development since 2013, has benefited from technical assistance provided by several international partners, including the World Bank, the Caribbean Development Bank (CDB), and the German development agency GIZ.

King explained that while the Bill was presented for its first reading, the government will delay the second reading to allow for broader input from stakeholders.

“Notwithstanding the extensive process which started as far back as 2013 and the numerous opportunities afforded to the general public to participate, it is important to give more time to ensure transparency and engagement,” he noted.

According to the Minister, the proposed Act is designed to establish a secure, safe, reliable, cost-effective, resilient, and independent electricity sector for Saint Lucia.