 The Prime Minister, Hon. Philip JPM, met with the United States Ambassador to the OECS and Barbados, her Excellency, Dinda Taglia Teller, for discussions on matters of mutual interest. The Prime Minister and the American envoy exchanged views on a range of subjects, including St. Lucia's economy, national security, the island's COVID-19 response, and the recent summit of the Americas held in June in Los Angeles. In the area of national security, the issue of the United States' cooperation in stemming the flow of illegal firearms to St. Lucia was raised, following St. Lucia's government's amendment to the Fire Amps Act in Parliament this week, as it seeks to curb the rise in violent gun crime in the country. There was also a discussion on progress towards the removal of the Laie Law imposed by the U.S. on the Royal St. Lucia Police Force as a result of Operation Restore Confidence in 2011. The ambassador was briefed on St. Lucia's citizen-by-investment program as it relates to the government's adherence to internationally-agreed-on sanctions against Russian and Belarusian applicants as a result of Russia's war in Ukraine. Ambassador Taglia Teller, who was based in Barbados, has pledged U.S. cooperation and support in the areas of concern to St. Lucia. Prime Minister Hon. Philip JPM was accompanied by the Minister for External Affairs Hon. Alva Batist, Minister for Tourism, Investment and Culture Hon. Dr. Ernest Teller, Minister for Health Hon. Moses Jabatis, Attorney General Hon. Lesley Mondezi, and technical officials from the various ministries.