Above: St Lucia

By the Caribbean Journal staff

St Lucia is planning to enter the Venezuela-led ALBA alliance, according to the country’s government.

St Lucia Prime Minister Dr Kenny Anthony is heading to the Twelfth ALBA-TCP Summit in Ecuador on Tuesday, where he hopes to “formalize the entry of Saint Lucia into ALBA.”

That would come after the move was announced by St Lucia Governor General Pearlette Louisy in April.

ALBA, the “Bolivarian Alliance for the Americas,” was first put forth by the Hugo Chavez-led government in Venezuela in 2004 following an agreement signed with Cuba.

Last year, St Lucia joined the alliance as a guest country. Antigua and Barbuda, Cuba, Dominica and St Vincent and the Grenadines are ALBA’s other Caribbean member states.

Haiti is currently an observer, although Haiti President Michel Martelly has signaled an intent to expand that relationship.

Anthony is being joined on the trip to Ecuador by Senator Dr James Fletcher, St Lucia’s Energy Minister.