OECS OnBoarding Brochure: Saint Lucia

ORGANISATION OF EASTERN CARIBBEAN STATES

MOVING TO SAINT LUCIA Things you need to know

Map of Saint Lucia

OECS Headquarters Morne Fortune Castries

What you need to know

AIR TRAVEL Air travel provided on first passage for employee and family members under the age of 18 and spouse (common law included)

PERSONAL EFFECTS Shipment of personal effects of employee and dependents up to a max. of a 20ft container plus a vehicle.

SETTLEMENT GRANT Settlement grant of one (1) month base salary will be paid upon arrival.

HOUSING Housing for the first month at the expense of the Commission is available, however, should the employee decide to take this option, the employee forfeits that month’s housing allowance.

DUTY FREE CONCESSIONS All professional staff at MPP1 and above are entitled to duty free concessions on a vehicle during the first 6 months of employment (after a 3-month probationary period); MPP5 and above are entitled every 4 years).

PROBATIONARY PERIOD There is a mandatory probation period of 3 months for all employees.

What you need to know (cont'd)

TRANSPORTATION Transportation will be provided from the airport to place of residence upon arrival into Saint Lucia. For the first month, employees will be transported to and from work and where possible may be provided with transportation to the supermarket/bank, etc.

NATIONAL INSURANCE All non-nationals are required to obtain an NIC number which should be submitted to HR upon receipt.

DRIVER'S LICENSE OECS nationals only require a valid national license, while non-OECS nationals require a Saint Lucian driver’s licence to drive on the island.

ORIENTATION During your first few days you will be required to attend an orientation session.

NECESSARY DOCUMENTS For seamless transitioning, there are a few important items/documents one should have before leaving country of origin: At least 5 passport size photographs Birth Certificates Marriage Certificate Referral letter from home bank Referral letters from schools

What you need to know (cont'd)

CURRENCY In Saint Lucia, business is usually conducted in XCD and USD. The exchange rate is fixed at USD 1 = XCD 2.7169.

VOLTAGE Saint Lucia has 220 volt electricity. The cycles (Hz) are 50 per second.

LANGUAGE The local languages used are English and French Creole.

LOCAL TAX The VAT Rate (2018) in Saint Lucia is 12.5% and is charged on sale of taxable goods and services.

COST OF LIVING The cost of living index in Saint Lucia is 149.

PRIVILEGES AND IMMUNITIES All staff are granted diplomatic immunities and privileges in keeping with international protocols for employees of an international organisation.

What you need to know (cont'd)

WORK PERMITS / CARICOM CERTIFICATES Non-OECS staff, and their spouses who wish to work in Saint Lucia, would need to apply for a work permit or a CARICOM Skills Certificate.

Applicants must provide a completed application form along with the original and a copy of the following documents: Passport (copy of the bio page) Birth Certificate and Marriage Certificate Police Certificate of Character from country of birth Police Certificate of Character from host country (if residing for more than 6 months) Proof of Qualification 2 Passport-sized photographs Work Permits and CSME Certificates can be obtained from: Department of External Affairs Baywalk Mall Rodney Bay Gros Islet 758 468 4519

Public Holidays 2018

NEW YEAR'S DAY

1 January

NEW YEAR HOLIDAY

2 January

INDEPENDENCE GOOD FRIDAY

22 February 30 March

EASTER MONDAY

2 April

LABOUR DAY

1 May

WHIT MONDAY

21 May

CORPUS CHRISTI

31 May

EMANCIPATION DAY

1 August

THANKSGIVING

1 October

NATIONAL DAY

13 December

CHRISTMAS DAY

25 December

CHRISTMAS HOLIDAY

26 December

Essential Services

SAINT LUCIA POLICE HEADQUARTERS

Tel#: (758) 456 3712

SAINT LUCIA FIRE & AMBULANCE SERVICE

Tel#: (758) 451 7667

CALL 911 IN CASE OF AN EMERGENCY

Other numbers to note: MINISTRY OF EDUCATION

Tel#: (758) 468 5202 Tel#: (758) 468 5207 Tel#: (758) 468 5208 Tel#: (758) 451 6725

SAINT LUCIA ELECTRICITY SERVICES LTD

Tel#: (758) 457 4400

SAINT LUCIA WATER AND SEWERAGE CO.

Tel#: (758) 457 3900

SAINT LUCIA SOCIAL SECURITY

Tel#: (758) 452 2808

DOMINICA RED CROSS

Tel#: (758) 452 5582

FLOW

Tel#: (758) 453 9000

DIGICEL

Tel#: (758) 453 2999

Supermarkets & Pharmacies

Massy Stores has a number of supermarkets located all over the island.

In the north there are: MASSY SUPERMARKET - RODNEY HEIGHTS MASSY SUPERMARKET - J.Q. MALL MASSY SUPERMARKET - BAYWALK MALL MASSY SUPERMARKET - GABLEWOODS MALL MASSY SUPERMARKET - WATERFRONT OR BOULEVARD MASSY SUPERMARKET - CUL DE SAC

Most of these supermarkets have in-house pharmacies and have flexible opening hours (every day) There are also M & C Drugstore outlets in the City Centre, Baywalk Mall and Gablewoods Mall.

Banking Services

There are a number of banks located all over the island.

BANK OF NOVA SCOTIA Tel#: 758 456 2100

FIRST CARIBBEAN INTERNATIONAL BANK (CIBC) Tel#: 758 456 2422

ROYAL BANK OF CANADA Tel#: 758 456 9200

BANK OF SAINT LUCIA Tel#: 758 456 6000

1ST NATIONAL BANK Tel#: 758 455 7000

Need Housing?

The Commission has a number of reputable Agents that you may want to contact regarding suitable housing: LYDIA OCTAVE-GEORGE

Tel#: (758) 484 1226

loctavegeorge@yahoo.com

RONALD RAOUL

Tel#: (758) 728 0217

AZARIAH Realty info@azariahrealty.com | ronald.raoul@yahoo.com

KATE LARCHER

Tel#: (758) 284 1372

Rockcake Estate info@rockcakerealestate.com

ANGAD SINGH

Tel#: (758) 719 2432

angadmsingh@gmail.com

WILBERTHA KING Blue Reef Real Estate info@bluereefrealestate.com

Tel#: (758) 452 8941 Tel#: (758) 285 2001

Taxi Services

There are several reputable taxi companies on Saint Lucia:

MATTHEW’S TOURING SERVICE

Tel#: (758) 718 4376

JOSEPH MITCHELL TAXI

Tel#: (758) 584 6402

ST. LUCIAN TAXI AND TOURS

Tel#: (758) 713 0041

Vehicle Rentals

In the event you wish to explore the island during your free time, there are vehicle rental services available.

LUXURY CAR RENTAL

Tel#: (758) 450 4192

Rodney Bay, Gros Islet

HERTZ CAR RENTAL

Tel#: (758) 452 0680

John Compton Highway, Castries

AVIS RENT-A-CAR SERVICES

Tel#: (758) 452 2700

Choc, Castries

OPERATIVE CAR RENTAL Corinth, Gros Islet

Tel#: (758) 450 9272

Prayers & Worship

There are numerous churches of varying denominations all over the island, the main ones being: ROMAN CATHOLIC City Centre, Micoud Street

SEVENTH DAY ADVENTIST L'Anse Road, Castries

ANGLICAN Trinity Church Road, Castries

BETHEL TABERNACLE Sans Souci, Castries

FIRST BAPTIST Sans Souci, Castries

PENTECOSTAL Bocage, Castries

Things to do for FUN

SEE ST. LUCIA TOPLESS (MINI COOPER ROAD TRIP)

Tel# (758) 452 5222

Rodney Bay, Gros Islet

RAINFOREST ADVENTURES

Tel#: (758) 458 5151

Bobonneau

TREETOP ADVENTURE PARK

Tel#: (758) 724 7256

Dennery

ISLAND BUGGIES

Tel#: (758) 425 0808

Gros Islet

AANANSI ATV Fond Assau

Tel#: (758) 716 3757

Medical Services

Castries

Tel#: (758) 459 2699 Tel#: (758) 459 2617

VICTORIA HOSPITAL

Tel#: (758) 453-7059

TAPION HOSPITAL

Castries

Gros Islet

Tel#: (758) 450 9661 Tel#: (758) 450 9696

EM CARE

Tel#: (758) 451-6155

GROS ISLET POLYCLINIC

Mongiraud

M CARE CLINIC Rodney Heights

Tel#: (758) 453-2552 Tel#: (758) 452-9032

Contact the HR Unit: Zena Jules: (758) 455 6322 Eurisca Chandler: (758) 455 6323 Gale Jean Baptiste: (758) 455 6362