Four Years of victimization: Why Is the Blanchard Community Center Still Closed?

It has been four long years since the Blanchard Community Centre in Micoud South was completed, yet its doors remain locked. This facility, built under the leadership of former Prime Minister Allen Chastanet, was meant to serve as a vital hub for the community—a space for meetings, events, and essential services. But instead of fulfilling its intended purpose, it stands as a glaring symbol of neglect and political victimization.

Why has the SLP government, led by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, refused to open this much-needed facility? The answer is as disheartening as it is unjust: the people of Micoud South are being punished for their political choice to support Allen Chastanet.

This kind of petty and vindictive governance is an insult to the democratic principles we hold dear. Governments are elected to serve all citizens, regardless of how they voted. Yet, under Philip Pierre’s leadership, it seems the residents of Micoud South are being treated as second-class citizens simply because of their political affiliation.

The decision to leave the Blanchard Community Centre closed for four years is not just an administrative failure; it is a deliberate act of punishment against an entire community. The SLP has repeatedly shown that their priorities are rooted in political expediency, not the well-being of the people they are sworn to serve.

Imagine the difference this facility could have made in the lives of the people of Blanchard and surrounding areas. It could have been a safe space for youth programs, community gatherings, disaster relief coordination, or even a temporary shelter during emergencies. Instead, it remains a locked building, a monument to the SLP’s neglect and vindictiveness.

Prime Minister Pierre must answer this simple question: why has the Blanchard Community Centre not been opened? The excuses have run out, and the silence from the government is deafening. This facility was built with public funds—money that belongs to the people of Saint Lucia. Its closure is a direct affront to those who paid for it and deserve to benefit from it.

The people of Micoud South will not forget this injustice. They deserve answers, and more importantly, they deserve action. It is time for the SLP government to put aside their political grudges and do what is right for the people of this community. Open the Blanchard Community Centre and show that you are capable of governing for all Saint Lucians, not just those who voted for you.

Enough is enough. The people of Micoud South deserve better.