The revelation that the Bank of Saint Lucia has closed the accounts of Richard Frederick, the Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister, raises serious concerns that demand public attention. This unprecedented move by a major financial institution in Saint Lucia casts a shadow over the integrity of our government and its representatives. Richard Frederick is no stranger to…
The letter, written by Hon. Allen Chastanet as Leader of the Opposition, addresses the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, expressing grave concerns over unresolved homicides linked to the IMPACS investigation, the increase in crime, and the conduct of Housing Minister Richard Frederick. Key points include: The letter ends with a plea for decisive action to avoid a repeat of past…
We have seen the post election chaos in Venezuela. The widespread condemnation from neighboring South American Governments and reputable interrnational agencies which have all declared that the results declared by the Venezuelan National Electoral Council (CNE). We in St Lucia must. be vigilant to protect our tradition of free and fair elections and to ensure that malpractices apparent under Maduro…
In 2021, under the UWP Administration, negotiations began for a 40-bed field hospital to support Saint Lucia’s healthcare capacity. The efforts paid off in January 2022 when the US government officially handed over this critical facility to the Government and people of Saint Lucia. Unfortunately, despite the urgent need for beds at St Jude Hospital and OKEU Hospital, this essential…
By James Stanislaus How much more do we want to know about the people running our country before we decide to take punitory action against them for their misdeeds? Do we intend to remain as quiet as mice until the house collapses? St Lucia is a small island state with limited sources of income, but lately, we have witnessed a…
The Government of Saint Lucia has officially declared a Water Emergency in response to the ongoing drought and critically low water reserves affecting the island. This declaration comes with stringent restrictions aimed at conserving water, including a prohibition on the use of water for making concrete blocks and mixing cement. However, the decision has sparked considerable debate and frustration among…
In a democracy, transparency and accountability are paramount. Unfortunately, these principles seem to have been disregarded by Prime Minister Philip J Pierre in his handling of the Global Ports Holdings deal, which has been shrouded in secrecy from the start. The recent secret ceremony held on Monday, April 29th, 2024, to mark the commencement of the project is just the…
These are some of the key takeaways from Saint Lucia’s 2024/2025 Budget which Prime Minister Philip J Pierre tried to keep a secret: 1)Saint Lucia is now the slowest growing country in the OECS 2)Inflation in Saint Lucia is the highest in the OECS 3)Agriculture declined by a whopping 17% 4)The School Transportation subsidy has been reduced 5)The Government collected…
The harmonization of Citizenship by Investment (CIP) programs among Organization of Eastern Caribbean States (OECS) member islands has long been heralded as a crucial step towards regional cooperation and economic advancement. However, Prime Minister Philip J Pierre’s recent refusal to sign the Memorandum of Agreement (MoA) aimed at achieving this goal has sparked controversy and drawn criticism from various quarters.…
On March 26th, 2024, I officially wrote to Prime Minister Philip J Pierre regarding major concerns with respect to the approval by Parliament of the Guarantee provided to the National Lotteries Authority (NLA) to secure a loan in the amount of $80 million from 1st National Bank Saint Lucia Limited to assist with the financing of a youth and sports…