Saint Lucia
Saint Lucia participated in the First Meeting of States Parties to the TPNW (1MSP) in Vienna in June 2022. It was also one of the co-sponsors for the 2022 UN General Assembly resolution on the TPNW, which called upon ‘all States that have not yet done so to sign, ratify, accept, approve or accede to the Treaty at the earliest possible date.'[1]
TPNW Status
| TPNW Article 1(1) prohibitions: Compliance in 2022 | ||
|---|---|---|
| (a) | Develop, produce, manufacture, acquire | Compliant |
| Test | Compliant | |
| Possess or stockpile | Compliant | |
| (b) | Transfer | Compliant |
| (c) | Receive transfer or control | Compliant |
| (d) | Use | Compliant |
| Threaten to use | Compliant | |
| (e) | Assist, encourage or induce | Compliant |
| (f) | Seek or receive assistance | Compliant |
| (g) | Allow stationing, installation, deployment | Compliant |
| TPNW voting and participation | |
|---|---|
| UNGA resolution on TPNW (latest vote) | Voted yes (2023) |
| Participated in 1MSP (2022) | Yes |
| 1MSP delegation size (% women) | 1 (0%) |
| Adoption of TPNW (7 July 2017) | Voted yes |
| Participated in TPNW negotiations (2017) | Yes |
| Negotiation mandate (A/RES/71/258) | Voted yes |
| Other weapons of mass destruction (WMD) treaties | |
|---|---|
| Party to an NWFZ | Yes (Ratified 1995, Tlatelolco) |
| Party to the NPT | Yes (Acceded 1979) |
| Ratified the CTBT | Yes (Ratified 2001) |
| Party to the BWC | Yes (Acceded 1986) |
| Party to the CWC | Yes (Ratified 1997) |
| IAEA safeguards and fissile material | |
|---|---|
| Safeguards agreement | Yes |
| TPNW Art 3(2) deadline | N/A |
| Small Quantities Protocol | Yes (Modified) |
| Additional Protocol | No |
| Enrichment facilities/reprocessing plants | No |
| HEU stocks | No |
| Plutonium stocks | No |
Latest developments
In the First Committee of the UN General Assembly in October 2022, the Caribbean Community (CARICOM), of which Saint Lucia is a member, announced that they were all either states parties or signatories to the TPNW or ‘in the process of acceding to' the Treaty. The statement further said 'CARICOM is concerned that nuclear weapons continue to figure as a key component of the security doctrine of some states. Promotion of or reliance on nuclear deterrence as a security strategy merely perpetuates the false notion that we are safer by the assurance of mutual destruction. CARICOM resoundly rejects this approach and reminds that the very existence of nuclear weapons continues to present an unacceptable risk to both people and planet. It is for this reason that CARICOM Member States support the implementation of the [TPNW].'2
Recommendations
- Saint Lucia should continue to encourage other states to adhere to the TPNW.
- Saint Lucia should ensure that all the TPNW obligations are implemented domestically, through legal, administrative, and other necessary measures.
- Saint Lucia should conclude and bring into force an Additional Protocol with the IAEA.