Moving forward, research on the island’s biodiversity by outsiders will require a permit detailing the purpose and findings which must be shared with the government.

Sustainable Development Officer, Jeremiah Edmund, says these actions will ensure Saint Lucians benefit from the commercialisation of all its natural resources.

“Let's say they take one of our medicinal plants and they decide to use that to commercialise it into any products. Under this protocol, it gives us the right to claim or access benefits from the commercialisation of these products. So, what we're trying to do now is put provisions in place so that persons cannot just come in and take stuff and go without us benefiting,” Edmund said.

Saint Lucia has been making efforts over the years to conserve its native ecosystems. International agencies like the United Nations have tasked the island with ensuring its biodiversity survives. Governments, while having this objective at heart, are also cognisant of the economic benefits to be derived.

The current administration is currently embarking on commercialising the cannabis plant to tap into the global hemp industry.

Edmund says large companies have come into Saint Lucia before to benefit from its biodiversity. This, he says, will now be regulated.

“What you have is a lot of big companies come in and it's just biopiracy. They would come into your country under the guise of just plain research and they use your genetic resources that they collect, they commercialise, they make millions and you as a provider of the resource, you get nothing,” he lamented.

The Sustainable Development Officer says it is crucial to make Saint Lucians aware of these new policies.

“So we're trying to raise awareness of these activities and let people know that no one is allowed to just come in and take anything from Saint Lucia because it belongs to the state and the people of Saint Lucia.”