St Lucia has made history on the international stage as Senate President Alvina Reynolds was elected Vice President of ParlAmericas, becoming the first Saint Lucian and OECS national to ever hold the position. Her election was confirmed on Thursday, May 29, 2025, during the 21st Plenary Assembly and 9th Gathering of the Open Parliament Network held in Montevideo, Uruguay.
Reynolds, who currently serves as President of the Senate of Saint Lucia, succeeds Bridgid Annisette-George, former Speaker of the House of Representatives of Trinidad and Tobago. Her appointment marks a significant achievement for Saint Lucian leadership in hemispheric parliamentary diplomacy and regional integration.
ParlAmericas is an internationally recognized body that brings together parliamentarians from across North, Central, and South America, and the Caribbean. It supports democratic governance by promoting transparency, inclusion, and cooperation among member parliaments. The organization is governed by a Board of Directors made up of executive leaders and regional representatives designated by national legislatures.
According to ParlAmericas, its mission is to:
Promote parliamentary diplomacy in the Inter-American system;
Foster political dialogue and collaboration on hemispheric issues;
Support the development and strengthening of democratic institutions in service of all people across the Americas and the Caribbean.
Reynolds’ election places her at the heart of this influential network, reinforcing Saint Lucia’s voice in regional and global governance.
In addition to Reynolds’ achievement, two other Saint Lucians currently hold key roles in ParlAmericas. Senator Lisa Jawahir serves as Vice-President for the Caribbean on the Parliamentary Network on Gender Equality, becoming the first OECS national in that position. Speaker of the House, Claudius J. Francis, also represents the region on the Board of Directors.
This landmark appointment has been welcomed with national pride, as it reflects Saint Lucia’s growing leadership in global legislative affairs and strengthens its role in shaping democratic policy across the hemisphere
