UNITED NATIONS POPULATION INFORMATION NETWORK (POPIN) UN Population Division, Department of Economic and Social Affairs, with support from the UN Population Fund (UNFPA)

Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia Site of Regional Preparatory: Meeting



 Saint Lucia was the site of the recently-concluded "Meeting of Government 

Experts on; development", held in preparation for the 1993 Latin America and 

Caribbean Regional Population and Development Conference.



 The Meeting, hosted by the Government of Saint Lucia and Jointly sponsored 

by the Economic Commission for Latin America and the Caribbean (ECIAC) and 

IYFPA, took place from 6 to 9 October, 1992 in Castries.



Over 100 experts discussed current and projected population trends in the 

region; linkages between population and development; population policies and 

programmes; the spatial distribution of population; population and 

environment interactions; women and population dynamics; and family 

planning, health and family well being.



While overall optimism was voiced about the decline in the region's  

fertility rates, the experts cautioned that such progress was irregular, 

indicating that some countries were only at the initial stage of their 

fertility transition. Participants also noted that the region was 

characterized by demographic differences within countries -- with family 

planning and reproductive health services primarily accessible in urban 

areas and often by higher-income groups.  The Meeting called for equity in 

policies so that rural and marginal groups gain effective access to 

population programme services.



The recommendation and conclusions of the Saint Lucia meeting will be 

submitted to the Latin America and Caribbean Regional Population and 

Development conference which will take place from 29 April to 4 May 1993 in 

Mexico City.