Labour Pledges to Continue Working in the Peoples Interest

The Annual Conference of Delegates of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) in Micoud Sunday, was said to be a major success by supporters and delegates despite the inclement weather.

The Conference’s guest speaker Dominica’s Prime Minister Roosevelt Skeritt acknowledged the fraternal friendship that exists between the two sub-regional states, while delivering a motivational speech, calling on the SLP stronghold to keep in tune with the times and most assuredly, seek after the interest of its membership, the country and the people at large.

“I feel like I’m at home among these warm and friendly people that remind me so much of Dominicans,” declared Skerrit to an attentive and supportive audience.

“At home in this most beautiful setting …the sense of tranquillity, the lush green and fertile land, the agricultural setting, the bananas and other crops. It feels like home. I see the hills rising to the sky and it feels like home,” said the Dominican PM as he waxed poetic to the gathering in his delivery.

He added that it was an honour to address the SLP membership, and “I feel like family, I feel like the family of the St Lucia Labour Party.”

According to Skerrit, the gathering of delegates is a “joyous” occasion” for a government, and especially “for a political party that is in office …it is particularly momentous when it follows a resounding victory at the national polls.”

He attached a certain level of decisiveness and significance to the SLP’s victory, stating that: “You have joined the trend here in our region …a trend where it’s converting the Caribbean Sea to the red sea.”

Skerrit noted that the trend of Labour party governments in office transcend throughout the entire Eastern Caribbean states and even the neighbouring country of Barbados.

In the midst of the celebratory atmosphere, he added, it was also a moment to ponder and take stock.

On a more serious note, the Dominican PM said regional governments are reeling under the strain of the current global economic crisis, and so, it is imperative that governments make the utmost effort to meet the needs of its people.

However, he urged party supporters to be patient and try to work in tandem with the governing party as the SLP administration pushes with its mandate of putting ‘Saint Lucia and its people first’.

“Everyone will be on the bus – some will get on first, others will get on later. But there is space for everyone on the SLP bus in Saint Lucia,” declared Skerrit.

He asserted:  “You must trust your driver Philip J. Pierre to take you safely to your destination.”

With a word of caution to the SLP machinery, Skeritt stated: “Parties must remain true to their promises, to their political base and to the reasons that they were elected. Faithfulness to the people builds trust it protects the victory and secures the future.

“Every politician has a shelf –life or expiry date…let this man of long-standing caution you that if you do not put the people first, if you don’t deliver you will quickly grow very stale and you will find that those who welcomed you with cheers, will just as easily send you on your way with jeers.”

He said the politicians must establish close relations with the supporters and the people that put them in office, so “Never forget that those who put you where you are, are depending on you to make a difference in their lives and in the fortunes of the country.”

In his feature delivery, Prime Minister and SLP Political Leader Phillip Pierre spurred on the audience, declaring that “It’s Labour time!”

He went on to assess the achievements of the SLP administration over the past year, while “examining the challenges …and protect the victory while securing for ourselves and the country and protecting ourselves from selfish, ruthless and uncaring people.”

While acknowledging the support from the citizenry, diplomatic heads and other concerned groups, Pierre urged: “Let us continue to work with this government at improving the quality of life of the people of our beautiful island.”

Reflecting on the government’s performance over the past year, he said, his administration had to work decisively and quickly to save lives in the midst of the pandemic.

Assuring that the SLP administration will continue to work in the interest of the people, he added: “We believe that each citizen must be encouraged to reach their full potential so as to become useful (productive) citizens of our island.”