SUPPORTERS of the United Workers Party (UWP) took to the streets on Thursday to protest against government’s management of the economy and state affairs generally.
Protestors marched from outside the Saab Playing Field, Vigie, to the William Peter Boulevard chanting and waving their placards.
Lenard “Spider” Montoute, the party’s PRO, orchestrated the crowd from the sidelines keeping the marchers in line while UWP’s Deputy Leader Guy Joseph, riding on a truck kept the momentum going with some ‘picong’ while urging the marchers to join in with the refrain.
“Pierre Must Go”, “Pip Must Go”, “Frederick Must Go”, and other slogans such as “Finish the St Jude Hospital”, “Say no to the 2.5% Tax”, “Lucians We Can Do Better”, and “No Racism in Saint Lucia” were some of the choice expressions portrayed during the march.
Montoute spoke to reporters briefly about the outcome and the purpose of the march, as the protestors made their way past the NIC and the government buildings on their way to the William Peter Boulevard.
Montoute claimed there were several contentious issues the present administration mishandled. He listed the GPH project, stating that, “The government is intent on selling out the country” to a foreign entity.
This has been an issue of national debate, which the government say is being executed in the best interest of the people and the country, at large.
The UWPs are also dissatisfied with what it terms exorbitant inflation leading to the high costs of living among the ‘bread and butter’ issues affecting the citizenry.
“When we talk about growing the economy, we are not talking about imposing taxes on people,” declared Montoute. “We are going to ensure that we put a proper health system in place, an education system in place – world class education system and health system with our health insurance…and our E-Books for school children.”
He continued, “We are going to ensure that we continue to do the road works and the infrastructure works that we started. We are going to invite foreign investors to take on projects …and we are going to ensure that we govern in a democratic manner.”
A public meeting at the William Peter Boulevard drew a crowd of UWP supporters and other enthusiasts, later that evening, as speakers from the UWP hierarchy took to the podium to spew out their grievances against the government’s handling of state matters.