Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre’s insistence that “no official communication” has been received from the U.S. regarding a travel ban looks increasingly misleading. Despite his statement after meeting U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio that no mention of a blacklist occurred, the documentation tells a different story.
Multiple credible outlets including Reuters, AP, Washington Post and confirmation from a U.S. State Department spokesperson have all cited a leaked memo signed by Rubio outlining potential travel restrictions on 36 countries, including Saint Lucia, based on issues like visa overstays, passport/document fraud and citizenship-by-investment schemes.
Moreover, State Department spokespeople publicly confirmed the consideration of bans tied to these concerns. That aligns directly with what Pierre claimed never happened when meeting Rubio contradicting his statement with concrete interaction.
In short: there’s now a credible disconnect between the Prime Minister’s assurances and what was actually discussed, confirmed and leaked. The memo and official statements indicate Saint Lucia is indeed flagged and the issue was both raised and acknowledged Pierre’s claim of ignorance appears disingenuous. Transparency and honesty are crucial and this situation risks undermining his credibility all while Saint Lucians deserve clarity on a matter that could affect their ability to travel. #RightTheWrong #PierrePaBon
Thursday, February 13th 2025: GPH makes US$63,810 from Saint Lucia Cruise Port
Today, two cruise ships are docked in Port Castries, bringing a total capacity of 6,381 passengers. Due to the disastrous deal signed by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, Ernest Hilaire, and Emma Hippolyte, Global Ports Holding (GPH) walks away with a staggering US$63,810, while SLASPA—the very entity responsible for our ports—gets a mere US$6,381. This is what selling out Saint…
Read more
by Content Manager