That would have been my best guess, that the best connection they could get would be through Miami. The small airlines like Liat, etc., do not normally make very long flights, and the distance from SXM to St. Lucia is quite a ways. I'm surprised that routing would take so long though. Did they check flights into the French side airport, possibly from either Martinique or Guadelupe? Possibly she could cobble something together there. Best wishes.