A senior health delegation from Saint Lucia recently participated in a high-level regional meeting aimed at bolstering early disease detection and public health surveillance across the Caribbean’s cruise tourism sector.
Held in St Maarten last month, the Regional Caribbean Vessel Surveillance System (CVSS) meeting convened health leaders from across the region to advance the implementation of CARPHA’s Caribbean Vessel Surveillance System, a digital platform designed to monitor and respond to travel-related illnesses in real time.
Representing Saint Lucia were Chief Medical Officer Dr Sharon Belmar George, National Epidemiologist Dr Michelle Francois, and Environmental Health Officer Velon Charmon. The trio joined counterparts from other member states to explore strategies for integrating the CVSS into national health systems and strengthening regional coordination in disease surveillance.
According to the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, the CVSS is a “critical tool in the early detection and coordinated response to health threats associated with cruise tourism.”
With over 33.3 million cruise passengers recorded in the Caribbean in 2024, an 11.3% increase from the previous year, the region faces growing risks of infectious disease importation that could strain public health infrastructure and destabilise tourism.
The meeting, hosted by the Caribbean Public Health Agency (CARPHA), showcased the newly developed CVSS web-based platform and facilitated discussions on securing buy-in from health, tourism, and cruise industry stakeholders.
Delegates reviewed regional guidelines for safer cruise operations, shared feedback from pilot countries, and explored public-private partnerships to support system rollout.
Saint Lucia’s Velon Charmon contributed to a panel discussion highlighting the country’s experience piloting the CVSS, while Dr Belmar George chaired the opening ceremony on the second day of the workshop.
The forum marked a significant step toward harmonising public health protocols across the region and enhancing countries’ capacities to detect and respond to illnesses aboard cruise vessels.
It also laid the groundwork for integrating the CVSS into national preparedness strategies, reinforcing the Caribbean’s commitment to safeguarding both residents and visitors through proactive disease surveillance.
