The inquiry will determine how the investors were granted approval and what arrangements were made for the students' studies and welfare.

The Saint Lucia Government will soon launch an independent inquiry into the Lam­birds Academy, following allegations of human trafficking, Prime Minister Dr. Kenny D. Anthony said last week.

In a statement issued by his of­fice, Dr. Antho­ny said “the Cabinet of Ministers had already taken a decision to conduct an indepen­dent inquiry into the matter.”

"The inquiry will determine, among other things, how the investors were granted approval, how the students ar­rived on island and what arrangements were made for their studies and welfare,” the statement said.

The Prime Minister cautioned how­ever, that the inquiry can­not compromise ongoing inves­tigations by the police, or the filing of charges by the Director of Public Prosecutions.

“It is not for the Government to make deci­sions about how the interests of the students will be represented in a court of law, in a criminal matter. It is for the Director of Public Prosecutions to deter­mine whether all of the students can return to their homeland, or whether some can return, while others remain to testify."

The Prime Minister said that Government's re­sponsibility is to assist those who have been cleared by the DPP, to return to their homelands.

He added that the welfare of those affected is "a priority for the Government."