Erwin Louisy elected as SLHTA President at 62nd Annual General Meeting
(Castries, Saint Lucia –Thursday, 18th June 2026)- Erwin Louisy has been elected unopposed as President of the Saint Lucia Hospitality and Tourism Association (SLHTA), securing a term to 2028.
The Managing Director of Barefoot Holidays DMC was returned to the post during the Association’s 62nd Annual General Meeting (AGM) held on Wednesday, 17th June 2026 at Harbor Club. Karolin Troubetzkoy of Anse Chastanet & Jade Mountain resorts was also re-elected unopposed as Vice President.
Hosted under the theme ‘Powering the Growth of Tourism — Utilities: Essential for Saint Lucia’s Future’, the AGM was presented by Liberty Business, with support from Gold Sponsor St. Lucia Electricity Services Limited (LUCELEC) and Bronze Sponsor the Saint Lucia Tourism Authority (SLTA).
The informative event brought together tourism stakeholders, Government representatives and industry partners to reflect on the work of the past year and discuss issues critical to the continued growth and competitiveness of the sector. Presentations and discussions focused on water security, energy resilience, telecommunications, industry advocacy and other priority matters impacting tourism. With a number of developments and expansion projects anticipated in the near and medium term, the discussions highlighted the importance of ensuring that the infrastructure and systems necessary to support this growth are in place.
The feature address was delivered by Skeeta Gibbs, Chief Executive Officer of the National Utilities Regulatory Commission (NURC), who highlighted the role of the Commission in fostering the efficient and economic development of the utility services sector.
Meanwhile, Honourable Keithson Charles, Minister for Physical Development and Public Utilities, underscored the importance of tourism to Saint Lucia’s national development and reaffirmed Government’s commitment to continued collaboration with the private sector to ensure the necessary infrastructure is in place to support the sector’s anticipated growth.
Gilroy Pultie, Managing Director of LUCELEC, outlined the company’s strategic priorities and ongoing investments aimed at strengthening energy resilience, enhancing service reliability and supporting Saint Lucia’s future development.
Updates on the Association’s work programme over the past year were provided by Louisy, Troubetzkoy and SLHTA Chief Executive Officer Noorani M. Azeez, highlighting advocacy efforts on matters such as water security, energy policy, safety and security, workforce development and industry competitiveness. Updates were also provided on initiatives including the establishment of the cross-sector Water Working Group, engagement on the draft Electricity Bill, and participation in regional discussions on the Caribbean circular tourism economy and environmental sustainability. Community impact was reflected in the work of the Tourism Enhancement Fund, with Chairman Dr. Winston Anderson highlighting the disbursement of over EC$1 million in programmes and initiatives across Saint Lucia.
Businesses were also presented with an insightful presentation by Carol Robertson, Senior Business Development Manager & Government Partner (Regional) at Liberty Caribbean, who provided Saint Lucia’s leading hospitality operators with an overview of the company’s cutting-edge connectivity solutions for the sector.
The Open Session concluded with the prestigious Tourism Legends Awards, during which five industry stalwarts were recognized for their years of dedicated service, devotion and commitment to Saint Lucia’s tourism industry. This year’s recipients are:
- Gregory Emmanuel
- Carl Hunter
- Joseph Lambert
- Willings LaMontagne
- Gregory Piper
The Closed Session was equally substantive, featuring the elections, a marketing update from SLTA Chief Executive Officer Louis Lewis, a presentation from Dainea Stevens, Corporate Communications Manager at the Water and Sewerage Company Inc. and a financial update by auditors PKF St. Lucia.
Following the election, President Louisy stated: “At the start of my career I had three options: the arts, fashion or tourism. I chose tourism and I have never looked back. It is with gratitude I thank our members, Board of Directors, TEF Trustees, the Secretariat, Ministry of Tourism, SLTA, and everyone here today. I just want to say thank you.”
Louisy noted that the focus will be on building a stronger, more efficient and more responsive Association. This will include pursuing new revenue opportunities, strengthening of member services, and reviewing the membership structure to ensure long-term sustainability and value.
In outlining her priorities for the new mandate, she said: “Beyond our operations, the SLHTA will continue to be a strong voice for the private sector. We will advocate for greater private sector collaboration, stronger economic linkages, higher industry standards, and policies that support competitiveness, including airlift, renewable energy, marketing, ease of doing business, and security. We will also advance important institutional reforms, including strengthening the Saint Lucia Hyperbaric Chamber and the Tourism Enhancement Fund to ensure their long-term sustainability and effectiveness. The year ahead will require focus, collaboration, and decisive action. The SLHTA must remain a platform for progress and a catalyst for growth, helping ensure that tourism continues to benefit our members, communities, and the wider economy.”
The Association thanks all attendees, sponsors and partners for their support in making the AGM a success.
Tags
