The third New Year Address to the Nation by Prime Minister, Minister of Finance, Economic Development, The Youth Economy, Justice and National Security and Castries East MP, Philip J. Pierre, delivered on Sunday January 7th, 2024, was – to all who watched and listened with both eyes and ears and without prior prejudices and conclusions – a veritable report on his government’s 2023’s accomplishments, with clear promises of more to come at different times in 2024.
As Chairman of the Cabinet of Ministers of a government elected with the highest popular mandate in the 21st Century and who swore, on taking office in 2021 to be a ‘Servant Leader’ lead a government that’ll always be ‘Putting People First’, this was definitely not your usual report on political, economic, social and other achievements, but also an admission that not all will always be well.
It was also a direct appeal to Saint Lucians to start to end old inherited colonial habits and begin embracing new approaches to old problems that have plagued the island for too long.
Urging what he described as “thoughtful reflection, resolution, and renewal,” PM Pierre called on Saint Lucians to “muster the courage to put aside petty differences, recognize what binds us together, show consideration for each other – and compassion for the less fortunate…”
The PM also recommended that “Our characteristic friendliness should not extend only to visitors, but to ourselves as well,” and to “resolve in 2024 to reach out to each other with a greater sense of charity, love, understanding, and friendship.”
He urged citizens to “Recognize that working together as one nation, one people, with a common purpose is the only viable pathway for our country to attain inclusive, meaningful, and sustainable development.”
Prime Minister Pierre urged nationals to “resist the destructive forces of division and embrace the uplifting spirit of unity, as we work together to build a more equitable and inclusive society.”
Addressing one of his favorite subjects that also characterize his 27-year political legacy as a six-time successively re-elected parliamentarian, the PM said “Truth and Integrity in Public Life” was paramount to his administration.
He urged Saint Lucians to “appreciate the value of speaking the truth ,which is important “because it forms the foundation for rational discourse, knowledge, and understanding.”
Besides, he added, “Truth is a cornerstone of good governance, credibility and trust.”
Regarding the opposition’s propaganda tactics, the Prime Minister insisted his government “will counter with the facts,” against “the unfortunate and self-serving campaign of blatant lies and misinformation and disingenuous activities that can have serious implications for the nation.”
He promised, however, that never mind whatever distractions, his administration “will continue to be the steward of accountability and integrity in public life.”
The PM said Saint Lucians “deserve nothing less from their government and from all those who present themselves for leadership positions of any kind…”
He also reported on: The Economy, Roads, Housing, Infrastructure, Health, Air and Sea Ports Development, St. Jude Hospital Reconstruction Progress, as well as Business Support and Job Creation, Macro Investment Creation, Social Policies, Minimum & Equal Wage Livable Legislation, Food & Nutrition Security, Crime Reduction & Citizens Security.
One doesn’t have to recap every achievement the PM itemized last Sunday to convince the average Saint Lucian that this Prime Minister and the party he leads are very serious about delivering on their 2021 General Elections promises, as that’s the main reason so-many broke with the past and voted (many for the first time) for a better platform that crossed party lines and opened-up to any and all ready to vote for and serve with it.
For almost two-and-a-half years the opposition has refused to accept it miserably lost the July 26, 2021 General Elections, soundly defeated with a 13-4 victory by the winning party on Election Night that turned into a 15-2 parliamentary majority by the time the new government was sworn-in on August 17.
Similarly, the vanquished opposition has absolutely refused since then to accept the ruling party and government have done anything good or better for Saint Lucia, only opposing for opposing sake and trying to strengthen supporters’ leg muscles by having them to pound Castries highway and city pavements more often than when it had a more-serious parliamentary presence.
The opposition keeps publicly condemning every step the government takes to make life better for Saint Lucians, including its supporters.
But what PM Pierre reported on in his New Year’s address were practical and demonstrated achievements, with assurances of continuity, including in many areas the previous administration patently failed to deliver -like with the St. Jude Hospital and Hewanorra International Airport reconstruction projects – and exposing false opposition claims that the Castries and Soufriere ports had been sold to Global Port Holdings.
The PM didn’t bother to report on the millions in overdue payments paid out to pensioners and needy persons for Christmas, or to explain why and how his administration has been able to make look and feel so easy so much that the previous administration found impossible to deliver.
Instead, he simply said his government had stabilized the economy and the outlook for 2024 looks good.
While the opposition continues gloating over crime, the Prime Minister, with responsibility for Justice and National Security, offered reassurances that his government intends to continue improving the conditions for improving delivery of justice and for the Police Force to continue to tackle all levels of crime.
As expected, the Opposition Leader was asked to respond to the Government Leader address – and as also expected, he rubbished it to nothingness, responding in the negative to every reporter’s question about the positives in the PM’s address, including irrefutable facts, with the absolutely determined position that “It doesn’t matter…”
Watching the Opposition Leader responding, one could hardly believe he even watched the address, but if he did, he certainly didn’t believe it deserved any admission, far less honest commendation.