In Saint Lucia’s bicameral legislature, the House of Assembly is at the helm of national politics. From 2021 to 2026, only two women’s voices have been part of national politics as ministers – Virginia Albert-Poyotte and Emma Hippolyte. However, on February 4, 2025, there was a shift—a House of Assembly featuring nine women.
At just 19 years old, Rhea Barrett took her seat in Youth Parliament as the Member for Gros Islet and Minister for Tourism, Arts and Culture. When her turn came at the podium, she stood firm, adding a confident voice to the day’s debate on the Suppression of Escalated Crime, Police Powers Act. Unknown to her, her performance was met with praise from the audience.
So, who is this poised young woman?
Unsurprisingly, Barrett has an impressive list of accomplishments. In 2017, she was the island’s top performer in the Common Entrance exams. In 2022, she graduated from St. Joseph’s Convent as both Valedictorian and Student of the Year, in addition to being Saint Lucia’s top performer in History and CSEC overall. She went on to attend the Sir Arthur Lewis Community College, where she graduated as the school’s top student in CAPE.
Barrett recently left a position as Medical Laboratory Assistant at the Ezra Long Laboratory. She’s on track to pursue her goal of studying neuroscience, still sifting through college acceptance letters before making a final choice: “I’m really fascinated with the brain and how it operates. I’m also interested in technical application in terms of job development and neurological disorders. Your brain is so important; when it’s not functioning at its best, you’re really at a disadvantage. So, that kind of called me to try to level the playing field for everyone by doing research into the brain,” Barrett says.
Her drive for academic excellence has always been fueled by her personal desire to succeed. “My parents have never been on my back for grades, academics, or anything like that, but they’ve always supported my aspirations … I’ve always strived for excellence, and I feel like the hard work has always reaped the rewards for me.”
So, how did a budding neuroscientist end up in a seat in Parliament?
For Barrett, it was a decision driven by personal development—a clear thread that runs through her life. Youth Parliament presented an opportunity for Barret to hone her skills in an area she felt needed improvement.
“I’m not opposed to politics, but the reason I decided to participate this time around is because I’m not a big fan of public speaking. I felt like it was a really good opportunity to just get out there and step forward. I’m also interested in policies and politics, even though I may not have political aspirations,” Barrett explains.
She says Youth Parliament gave her a behind-the-scenes look and softened her perspective on one day holding a ministerial seat. Barrett believes that if more people—particularly young women—were exposed to this at a young age, it would draw more interest in politics.
“That’s why it’s important to learn about politics and get invested in it. It can help open up more representation for young women like me,” she says.
Read about more inspiring women in St Lucia Times’ International Women’s Day magazine here.
Good job – keep up the good work. Commitment, aspiration and perseverance pays off. I believe when an individual is passionate about education/career choice the sky’s the limit. Godspeed.