Hon. Dr. Ernest Hilaire

Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments, Creative Industries, Culture and Information

Ernest Hilaire has a wide range of experiences which span student and youth activism, politics, sports, management and diplomacy.

In 1985, he was elected as the Founding President of the Student Branch of the National Youth Council (SB-NYC) and later became the Vice President of the NYC. He would also become President of the Caribbean Federation of Youth and President of the St Lucian Students Association at Cave Hill.

He started his professional life as a teacher at the Entrepot Secondary School and also taught as an Assistant Lecturer at the Cave Hill Campus, UWI and at London Metropolitan University as a tutor.

He served as Attaché to Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony from 1997 to 1999. In 1999, he became Permanent Secretary in the Ministry of Youth and Sports overseeing the reorganisation of the youth and sports programme. He was also responsible for overseeing the construction of the National Stadium and National Cricket Ground. He has served as the CEO of Cricket World Cup 2007 Saint Lucia Inc. and as Tournament Director for the ICC World T20 2010 attaining vast experience in managing global events. He worked as a Management Consultant with the world-renowned management firm Mckinsey and Company. He is a former Chief Executive Officer of the West Indies Cricket Board. He served as Saint Lucia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland and as Saint Lucia’s Ambassador to France and also accredited to numerous international organisations headquartered in Europe.

He has chaired Statutory Boards including responsibility to establish Sport Saint Lucia Inc. and the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP). He has served as a member of various Task Force including the Constitutional Reform Commission and the Local Government Reform Commission.

Hilaire attained a first class honours in Political Science and Sociology (Double Major) from the Cave Hill Campus, University of the West Indies. He later became a Cambridge Scholar and attained a Masters of Philosophy in International Relations from Cambridge University and followed with a PhD from the London School of Economics. He also attained an Executive Diploma in Negotiation and Conflict Resolution from Notre Dame University.

Hilaire was elected on June 6, 2016 as Parliamentary Representative for Castries South. He is presently the Saint Lucia Labour Party 1st Deputy Political Leader and Shadow Minister for Commerce, Investment, Tourism and the Citizenship by Investment Programme. On July 26, 2021 he was re-elected as Parliamentary Representative for Castries South along with his party winning the general elections. He was then appointed as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Tourism, Investments, Creative Industries, Culture and Information.

Hon. Emma Hippolyte, OBE

Minister for Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Co-operatives and Consumer Affairs

A native of Soufrière, Emma Hippolyte is a Certified General Accountant (CGA) and Certified Fraud Examiner (CFE) with over 25 years of experience in auditing, finance, governance, and social security. She has held senior roles in both national and international organizations, including Director of Audit for Saint Lucia, Senior Auditor with the UN’s Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) in Rome, and a member of the External Board of Auditors for the Organization of American States (OAS).

In 1998, she became the first woman to head the National Insurance Corporation (NIC), leading major reforms including pension modernization, investment diversification, and the establishment of key institutions such as NIPRO and the National Community Foundation (NCF), a charity supporting health and education.

Her passion for community service has driven her involvement in organizations like the National Research and Development Foundation (NRDF), the East Caribbean Organization of Development Foundations (ECODEF), and initiatives for disadvantaged youth. In 2006, she was awarded the OBE by Queen Elizabeth II for her public service contributions.
Entering frontline politics in 2007 as an Opposition Senator, she was elected MP for Gros Islet in 2011 and currently serves as a Cabinet Minister. A strong advocate for youth, ethics, and transparency, Emma is known for her integrity, dedication to service, and deep connection to her community.

Octavian Charles

Chief Executive Officer, Invest Saint Lucia

As the Chief Executive Officer of Invest Saint Lucia, Mr. Charles has the responsibility of leading the organisation charged for promoting Saint Lucia as an ideal investment hub in the Eastern Caribbean and effect change in the country’s economic development.

Prior to his appointment, Charles served as a Corporate Banking Manager where he evaluated development projects financed by the institution in addition to monitoring local, regional, and international economic environments for trends and events relevant to Saint Lucia’s socio-economic progress. In his previous roles, as Branch Manager of Bank of Saint Lucia, he identified and recommended customer and revenue growth opportunities aligned with the company’s strategy.

Charles brings to the role a wealth of senior leadership experience, as well as insight into the operations of two critical sectors—agriculture and finance. He serves at the helm of several development focused organisations. These include Chairman of BELFUND and Director of St. Lucia Marketing Board, as well as his previous stint as Director of the National Research and Development Foundation.

A graduate of the University of Reading, he holds multiple qualifications in the field of Agriculture, including an MSc. in Agricultural Extension Systems and Management. When he is not overseeing corporate initiatives, you can surely find him cultivating plants on his island farm.

Louis E A Lewis

Chief Executive Officer, Saint Lucia Tourism Authority

Louis Lewis is a seasoned tourism executive with a distinguished career spanning over two decades in destination marketing and tourism development across the Caribbean. He previously served as the CEO and Director of Tourism at the Saint Lucia Tourist Board, where his nine-year tenure marked a period of dynamic transformation. Under his leadership, Saint Lucia experienced increased airlift, stronger international brand recognition, and record growth in visitor arrivals. He was instrumental in reimagining the Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival, helping to elevate the event to global prominence. Most recently, Mr. Lewis served as CEO of the Tobago Tourism Agency Limited, where he successfully led marketing campaigns and forged strategic partnerships that significantly boosted Tobago’s visibility and visitor numbers on the world stage.

Mr. Lewis holds a Master of Business Administration in General Management and a Bachelor of Science in Economics from the University of the West Indies (Cave Hill Campus). A certified Project Management Professional (PMP), he has also completed advanced training in Tourism Destination Management at George Washington University, alongside programs with the International Monetary Fund and the US Federal Reserve.

Known for his innovative approach, collaborative leadership, and deep understanding of Caribbean tourism dynamics, Lewis’ return to the helm of Saint Lucia’s tourism sector has been marked by a renewed commitment to enhancing the island’s competitive edge. Under his leadership, the recently concluded Saint Lucia Jazz & Arts Festival experienced a remarkable 30% growth over 2024, reaffirming its status as a premier cultural event in the region. Mr. Lewis is leading a high-performance agency geared at matching the welcome with the visitor experience, and fostering sustainable growth, especially making Saint Lucia the Green Heart of the Caribbean.

Mc Claude Emmanuel

Chief Executive Officer, Citizenship by Investment Unit, Saint Lucia

Mc Claude Emmanuel serves as the Chief Executive Officer of the Citizenship by Investment Unit (CIP) of Saint Lucia, bringing over a decade of leadership experience across both public and private sectors. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Economics and Business Management from the University of the West Indies and a Master of Business Administration (MBA) in Marketing from King Graduate School. He is also a certified Project Management Professional (PMP) and a Business Professional in Marketing.

Mr. Emmanuel has held several senior leadership roles throughout his career, including positions at St. Lucia Electricity Services Ltd, Radio St. Lucia Company Ltd, McDowell Broadcasting Ltd, and Cable & Wireless (St. Lucia), where he led strategic initiatives in marketing, operations, and mobile services. His expertise spans marketing strategy, operational management, and economic and financial analysis, all of which inform his data-driven and results-oriented leadership style.

As CEO of the CIP Unit, Mr. Emmanuel oversees a team of forty professionals, guiding the Unit’s operations with a focus on integrity, transparency, and adherence to international best practices. Under his leadership, the Unit continues to pursue innovation while enhancing Saint Lucia’s position in the global investment migration industry.

Richard Moss

Director, Global Sales, Saint Lucia Tourism Authority

Richard is an experienced hospitality and business management professional with unique sales and marketing savvy. He joined the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA) with 25 years of experience in the hospitality industry having worked for resorts, attractions and airlines. He believes the powerful potential linkages that tourism creates and sustains, has far-reaching positive impacts for so many communities regionally. As a proud Caribbean national, the continued sustenance, optimal synergistic marketing and smart growth of this industry is a driving force for him personally.

Richard is guided and inspired by the mantra “Life shrinks or expands in proportion to one’s courage” (Anais Nin). As such, he creatively exploits the far-reaching digital platforms of today along with engaging, impactful live and virtual presentations, expertly utilising digital technology alongside traditional distribution channels.

“Travel advisors are such an important part of our distribution strategy and their feedback is a constant consideration in our mix. Supporting them effectively, we fundamentally nurture goodwill for our destination and their confidence further inspires consumer confidence.”

Additionally, at its core Richard considers hospitality a “People and Relationship business” and his uniquely personal approach is what truly differentiates him from his peers.

Richard holds a BSC in Management Studies from the University of the West Indies (UWI) and also an MBA from the University of New Orleans with honors: graduating Beta Gamma Sigma within the top 20 percentile of his class.