The Government has unveiled a five-pillar national response plan to confront rising public anxiety over increased Fer-de-Lance sightings, as officials warn that panic-driven reactions could worsen an already sensitive situation.
At a press briefing, Agriculture Minister Lisa Jawahir said recent sightings and viral social media videos have made it necessary for the Government to intervene with a clear public safety message.
“Over the last few weeks and months we’ve had an increase in sightings of the Fer-de-Lance and we have seen various reactions from the general public,” Jawahir said. “At this point we know that it is very important to communicate to the people of Saint Lucia what we can do, what we cannot do, and of course what we should do.”
The Minister said the Government’s top priority is keeping Saint Lucians safe, but she also condemned reckless attempts to kill snakes, including one recent incident in which a firearm was used.
“I saw a clip where somebody was discharging a firearm and killed a snake,” she said. “It is important for the people of Saint Lucia to understand what that means for us, not just as a country, but in relation to wildlife protection agreements, tourism, and even funding agencies outside.”
Permanent Secretary Bradley St Ange said the increase in snake sightings, especially in rural communities, has created fear that must be addressed with facts and action.
“We have noticed increased sightings of snakes, especially in rural areas, and this has caused concern,” he said. “The Ministry wants to ease that burden, ease the fear, and share information that will help mitigate the risk of persons getting snake bites.”
According to officials, the Government’s response plan is built on five key pillars: education, access to protective equipment, rapid response, research, and medical response.
Acting Chief Forestry Officer Dr. Donatien Gustave said the plan begins with public education aimed not only at increasing awareness, but also changing behavior.
“We want persons to know that the first paramount strategy must be safety,” Gustave said. “There are safer ways to interact with snakes, in particular the Fer-de-Lance.”
Another major focus is the availability of personal protective equipment, particularly for farmers and others who work in high-risk areas.
“We want to promote that persons have access to that type of equipment, because if persons, particularly farmers in rural areas, are engaged in activities without proper protection, the probability of being bitten is higher,” he said.
The Ministry also plans to introduce a rapid response system, including a hotline and trained teams that will work alongside the Forestry Department to respond to snake reports.
Gustave said research will be critical to understanding why sightings appear to be increasing and where the species is now spreading.
“We need to know the reasons behind what is happening,” he said, adding that mapping and field data will be used to better track the snake’s movement and distribution.
The final pillar involves a coordinated medical response, with the Ministry of Health taking the lead on clinical care, while Forestry continues to manage the environmental side of the issue.
Officials say the response will require collaboration across several agencies, including NEMO, the Saint Lucia National Trust, the Saint Lucia Fire Service, and the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.
The Ministry said the current briefing marks only the beginning of a wider national strategy to contain fear, improve safety, and manage the issue without undermining the island’s environmental obligations
