Castries – Thursday, October, 14, 2010 – On, Tuesday October 12, 2010, Executives of the Saint Lucia Air and Sea Port Authority (SLASPA) took a break from the usual hustle and bustle of the Airports and Seaports to focus on St. Lucia’s youth by hosting a special presentation ceremony to launch the organization’s gold sponsorship of Junior Achievement of St. Lucia. “After learning more about the Junior Achievement Program during a breakfast meeting facilitated by Junior Achievement of St. Lucia, we knew that SLASPA had to be involved in such a program that impacts the lives of St. Lucia’s youth,” said Dona Regis, SLASPA’s Director of Marketing and Product Development. “ SLASPA is the agency responsible for St. Lucia’s Ports of Entry, therefore we are the critical link that provides local business and consumers with access to the global marketplace. Therefore we believe that by investing in St. Lucia’s youth we are also investing in SLASPA’s future,” continued Ms. Regis.

Speaking on behalf of Junior Achievement of St. Lucia, Agnella Joseph, Program Director, expressed sincere gratitude to SLASPA. “Your gift of $ 5000.00 to Junior Achievement (JA) St. Lucia allows us to operate and execute the JA programs. Your generous support will allow us to keep the lights on, the telephones ringing, and the computers computing! All of that allows us to deliver our invaluable programs to children island wide. I know you are as proud of making this contribution, as we are grateful to receive it,” said Ms. Joseph.

The schools selected by SLASPA are the Vieux Fort Comprehensive Secondary School and the Carmen Rene Primary School. In addition to the monetary contribution, SLASPA will also participate in the mentoring program where six mentors and a Business Advisor will work closely
with the students. As part of the Mentoring Program, SLASPA plans to host the students for a day at the Port where they will also have an opportunity to interact with the Senior Executives of SLASPA including General Manager/ CEO, Mr. Sean Matthew.

Junior Achievement of St. Lucia (JA-SLU), a non profit organization was initiated in St. Lucia in 1996 as a project of the Chamber of Commerce, Industry and Agriculture with the assistance of the US Peace Corps Volunteers. In that year, 6 schools in the Castries area with an approximate 111 participants piloted the well known Company Program. Each year since then, Junior Achievement has grown and expanded and can be found in over 20 Secondary Schools, including vocational and over 60 primary schools island wide, involving over 4000 participants.