The United Workers Party (UWP) strongly condemns the blatant deception by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre and Housing Minister Richard Frederick regarding the so-called “Halls of Justice” project. What was promised as a shining monument to law and order has instead become a symbol of lies, secrecy and the deliberate manipulation of the Saint Lucian people.
Almost one year ago, in April 2024, the Labour Party administration hosted a groundbreaking ceremony for the Halls of Justice, a political spectacle meant to distract from the truth. From day one, the UWP raised serious concerns about the location, the lack of consultation and the bloated cost of the project. But the Labour government arrogantly dismissed all criticism and pressed on, claiming everything was above board.
Now, the truth has emerged, not through government transparency, but from a brave whistleblower who called into a popular radio show, revealing that the project had been relocated. Instead of coming clean, both Prime Minister Pierre and Minister Frederick scrambled to the media, falsely claiming that no final decision had been made and that negotiations were still ongoing.
But their lies were exposed.
The Government Gazette dated February 10th, 2025, proves beyond a doubt that the land for the new site had already been acquired. So while the Prime Minister and his Housing Minister were busy misleading the public on national radio and television, the decision had already been finalised and published in black and white. This was not a matter of poor communication, this was a deliberate attempt to deceive the nation.
Let us not forget the other deceptions along the way. The original site identified under the UWP administration at Upper Bridge Street, complete with designs and a reasonable EC$80 million cost, was scrapped in favour of an almost EC$300 million vanity project, awarded without tender to a foreign contractor. Saint Lucian contractors were never given a chance. Despite claims of consultation, even the Roman Catholic Church was left in the dark about a project that would directly affect the Cathedral and its surrounding community.
This is not governance. This is betrayal.
The United Workers Party calls on all Saint Lucians to demand accountability from this administration. We cannot sit quietly while SLP leaders treat the public with such open contempt. The truth matters. Respect for institutions matters. Saint Lucians deserve better.
