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
Allen Chastanet: The Visionary behind Saint Lucia Jazz
In 1992, Saint Lucia’s tourism landscape changed forever, not by accident, but through the vision and determination of one man: Allen Chastanet. Serving as Director of Tourism at the time, Chastanet dared to dream beyond the traditional tourist season. May, once a quiet and unprofitable month, would become the heartbeat of Saint Lucia’s cultural calendar. Amidst scepticism, limited resources, and…
Read more
by Content Manager