Castries, Saint Lucia – In a significant stride toward modernizing border management and enhancing the travel experience in the Eastern Caribbean, the Organisation of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) Commission officially handed over 10 Automated Passport Control (APC) kiosks to Saint Lucia on October 9, 2025.

Eight of the APC kiosks have been installed at Hewanorra International Airport (HIA) and two at George F. L. Charles Airport (GFLCA) representing a significant step in aligning Saint Lucia's entry points with international best practices in passenger facilitation and border security.

Key national and regional stakeholders attended the handover ceremony, including Honourable

Jeremiah Norbert, Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister with responsibility for Home Affairs; His Excellency Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS; diplomatic representatives; development partners; senior government officials; and members of the SLASPA team.

This initiative is a flagship component of the Regional Integration Through Growth, Harmonisation and Technology (RIGHT) Programme, coordinated by the OECS Commission and funded by the European Union under the 11th European Development Fund (EDF). The programme aims to improve the efficiency, security, and interoperability of immigration systems across OECS Member States by leveraging innovative technology.

"The introduction of these kiosks in Saint Lucia and several of the OECS member states is in fact a major step forward in ensuring the ease and security of travel across the OECS region in keeping with our ambition to have a seamless economic union with free movement of people," said Dr. Didacus Jules, Director General of the OECS. He added, "However, this is just a first step and the technology is rapidly advancing so we are looking at a programme of continuous improvement of the airports that will bring all aspects of security from immigration to national security into play in a seamless fashion that is invisible to the passenger, which ensures ease of entry, speed of entry and security of entry".

The kiosks, already operational as part of a successful five-week testing phase, have demonstrated substantial improvements in passenger processing times. Full deployment is now set ahead of the peak tourist season, ensuring Saint Lucia is well-equipped to welcome more arrivals efficiently and securely.

At the national level, the initiative represents a critical milestone in SLASPA's airport modernization agenda. Ms. Amy Charles, Director of Airports at SLASPA, noted the importance of aligning with global standards:

"This project is a clear demonstration of our alignment with the provisions of ICAO Annex 9 Facilitation, which calls upon Contracting States to implement measures that streamline border control processes, minimize passenger inconvenience, and adopt modern automation technologies," she said. "By integrating these APC kiosks into our arrival process, we are not only adopting global best practices, we are also reaffirming our commitment to regulatory compliance and the principles of efficient passenger facilitation."

Receiving the kiosks on behalf of the Government of Saint Lucia, Hon. Jeremiah Norbert applauded the regional collaboration:

"We are very pleased and grateful for the collaboration between the OECS and the EU in supporting our Government's vision of delivering a Saint Lucia that is simply beautiful, for ensuring that our visitors can be on their way to enjoying our beautiful island within 30 minutes of arriving at either HIA or GFLA. This is only the start, the start of an effort to bring out seamless travel to Saint Lucia. In the coming period, we will focus our efforts on increasing the use of technologies at the ports of entry in Saint Lucia." 

Officials emphasized that the APC kiosks actively reduce congestion and shorten passenger wait times while strengthening national and regional security frameworks. By adopting this technology, Saint Lucia's airports now serve as modern, tech-enabled gateways that meet international standards and drive the region's broader goals of digital transformation and economic integration.