NDC & Duty Free Pointe Seraphine Give Back To The Community

As St. Lucia's principal agency overseeing investment generation and facilitation the National Development Corporation (NDC) over the years has etched out quite a reputation for landing major foreign direct investment deals that have defined the local economic landscape and have resulted in employment for thousands of persons.

As of late however the investment promotion agency is gaining recognition for its heavy social programme of giving back to the community. As the owner and manager of what to date still remains St. Lucia's premiere duty free shopping complex - Duty Free Pointe Seraphine, the NDC has been using the unique facility as the vehicle for touching the social fabric of the lives of ordinary St. Lucians.

Communications and Special Events Officer John Emmanuel says throughout the year the shopping complex takes on different appearances in keeping with the island's cultural calendar. "That is exemplified during the hosting of St Lucia Jazz, Carnival celebrations, Jounen Kweyol activities and of course the festive season in which we are currently in. Local residents always form the primary focus group with the thousands of cruise ship visitors making up a secondary audience," says Emmanuel.

Management of NDC has launched a special campaign dubbed "A Duty Free Christmas" designed to showcase life on the island during the Christmas season. Special activates such as sorrel and black cake tastings, extended shopping hours, give-aways and loads of local entertainment have been planned to run up until Boxing Day on December 26th.

On Thursday the campaign reached a highpoint when Duty Free Pointe Seraphine in association with Carnival Cruise Lines via the vessel Carnival Victory hosted over two dozen less fortunate St. Lucian youth between the ages of four to fourteen years. Emmanuel says the Captain and crew of the Carnival Victory were delighted to spend several hours with the kids, taking them on a tour of the vessel and entertaining them in the process. "Normally those kids would never get to see a cruise ship up close yet alone to visit one. Today all that changed when they became VIP's enjoying fine luxury," says Emmanuel.

Emmanuel says NDC remains committed to the being a model corporate citizen and is delighted to give back to the community in such a significant way. St. Lucians from all walks of life are being encouraged to visit Duty Free Pointe Seraphine in order to take advantage of the many benefits to be had under the campaign.