Media and Communications in Saint Lucia: News, Phones and Staying Connected

Newspapers and print

For a country of fewer than 175,000 people, Saint Lucia has a lively press. The Voice is the oldest title, with roots going back to the 1880s, and it is among the longest running newspapers in the eastern Caribbean. It publishes in print and online and covers politics, business, sport, culture and community life. The Star, founded in 1987 and published weekly on Saturdays, takes a more popular and investigative approach and is a good way to catch up on the week.

The newspaper market has changed as readers have moved online, and several outlets now exist mainly as websites. The St. Lucia Times launched its website in 2014, St. Lucia News Online began in 2012, OneLucian News dates from 2001, and the St Lucia Mirror is another local title. Their reporting is in English, with the occasional headline or quote in Kwéyòl. Check dates and opening hours with a news outlet before relying on a printed edition, because schedules change.

For a visitor, local papers are a pleasant window into everyday concerns, from road works to cricket results, and they are the best place to find notices of community events and festivals. Our festivals and events guide gives the main dates, and the newspapers will tell you about the smaller village events that never make it into a brochure.

Radio

Radio remains the most immediate way for Saint Lucians to hear the news, call-in programmes, music and weather. Broadcasts began in the 1950s through the Windward Islands Broadcasting Service, and Radio Caribbean International has been on air since 1961. The state broadcaster Radio Saint Lucia was a fixture from 1972, and the airwaves today are shared among a mix of public and private FM stations that play soca, zouk, reggae, gospel, dancehall and international pop.

Talk shows are a big part of the culture, and political debate on the radio can be spirited. Kwéyòl is heard more often on radio than on television, especially in early morning programmes and in rural areas. If you are hiring a car or taking taxis, you will quickly pick up the sound of the island, and your driver will likely have a station tuned in. Tune in during the hurricane season, because radio is a main channel for weather bulletins and warnings. See our climate and hurricanes guide for more.

Television

Television arrived in the 1960s with a service relaying programmes from Barbados, and in the early 1980s the Helen Television System, known as HTS, became the island's first local television station. It is named after the island's old nickname, Helen of the West, and it carries local news, current affairs and entertainment alongside imported programmes. Other channels include Calabash Television, which has partnered with cultural organisations on events such as Creole celebrations.

Most homes and hotels also have cable or satellite packages that carry international news, sport and films. If you want to watch the Premier League, the cricket or a Formula One race, most bars and larger resorts will show them. Our cricket culture guide and sport in Saint Lucia guide explain why live sport is so popular. Reception and programming vary between hotels, so ask when you book if a particular channel matters to you.

Online news and social media habits

Online news is now the first stop for many younger Saint Lucians. Websites for the newspapers, radio stations and television stations are supplemented by social media pages that share breaking news, weather updates and announcements from the state. Facebook is especially popular for community news and marketplace posts, and WhatsApp groups carry a surprising amount of information about road conditions, events and local gossip. Instagram, TikTok and YouTube are widely used by younger people, and local creators are finding audiences for comedy, cooking, music and travel content.

The 2022 census shows how connected the island has become. Broadband internet plans outnumbered mobile data plans in most districts, with about 50,700 broadband plans recorded overall, and Gros Islet had 86.1 per cent of households online. In Canaries the figure was lower, at 59.7 per cent. The result is a connected country with a few rural gaps. As in the UK, treat anything you read on social media with care before you share it, especially during storms or emergencies, and check it against reliable sources.

Press freedom and the media landscape

Saint Lucia is a parliamentary democracy, as our government and politics guide explains, and its constitution protects freedom of expression. Newspapers, radio stations and television channels are mostly privately owned, and there is open criticism of politicians and policy in print, on air and online. Independent press freedom indices are published every year by international organisations and are worth checking if you want the latest ranking.

As in many small island states, journalists face practical pressures, such as small advertising markets and the importance of government advertising, and debates about access to information, libel law and political influence come up from time to time. Some state-leaning broadcasters rely heavily on material supplied by the government information service. For visitors, the main thing to know is that you can read a wide range of local opinion, and you should feel free to ask Saint Lucians for their views, always politely. The law on public order and defamation applies, so avoid making unfounded accusations about named individuals online.

Phones, networks and internet

Saint Lucia is part of the North American Numbering Plan, which means numbers begin with the area code 758 and are written like a US number. From the UK, dial the international code followed by 1 and 758. The island is linked to the world by submarine fibre optic cables, and the telecommunications regulator is the Eastern Caribbean Telecommunications Authority, known as ECTEL, which covers several islands.

The two main mobile and internet providers are Digicel and Flow. Flow is the Caribbean brand of Liberty Latin America and the successor to the former Cable and Wireless network, and Digicel is a Jamaican-based group that has operated on the island for many years. Both sell prepaid SIM cards and data bundles, and both have shops in Castries, Rodney Bay and Vieux Fort. Coverage and speeds are generally good along the west coast, in the north and in the main towns. Signal can weaken in the forested interior, on mountain roads and in deep valleys and bays.

Mobile coverage and SIM tips for visitors

UK roaming charges vary widely between networks and can be steep, so check your tariff before you fly, or switch off data roaming and rely on hotel Wi-Fi. Many visitors prefer to buy a prepaid SIM or an eSIM for local calls and data. To use a local SIM, your phone must be unlocked, so check this with your UK network before leaving. Bring your passport, because you may be asked for identification when you register a SIM. Compare current bundle prices at the airport shops or at a provider's town branch, since they change.

Hotels and resorts almost always have Wi-Fi, but speeds vary, especially at remote eco-lodges and villas. If you are working remotely, ask about connection speed before you book. Download offline maps and your boarding passes before you set out on mountain roads, and keep a power bank for long days out on a boat or on a hike. Our getting around guide and what to pack guide have more practical advice, and our visa and entry guide covers the paperwork you need on arrival.

Finally, remember to put the phone away from time to time. Some of the island's best moments, from a sunset on the beach to a quiet morning in the rainforest, are better without a screen. Our beach bars and sunsets guide and hiking and rainforest guide will point you to some of them.

For practical help on arrival, see our guides to getting around St Lucia and what to pack for St Lucia.

• Check roaming charges, or turn data roaming off.
• Make sure your phone is unlocked before buying a local SIM.
• Carry your passport for SIM registration.
• Download maps and tickets before heading into the hills.
• Ask your hotel about Wi-Fi speed if you need to work.

Questions travellers ask