Dear Prime Minister Pierre,
We write to you yet again to express our growing concerns over several pressing issues that continue to undermine the stability and well-being of our nation. Chief among these are the soaring cost of living, the deteriorating healthcare system, the out of control crime situation and the gross mismanagement of the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), all of which reflect the reckless governance of your administration.
Despite repeated warnings, your government allowed the price of gas to surge to $17.95 per gallon, and while it has been marginally reduced to $16.50, it remains unjustifiably high. This decision has had a cascading effect on bus fares, bread prices, and the overall cost of living for households and small businesses. With the global price of oil now at approximately $70 per barrel, there is no rational justification for maintaining these inflated prices at the pump. We demand that you take the necessary steps to reduce the cost of gas to reflect global market realities and ease the financial burden on the people of Saint Lucia.
Similarly, the imposition of the 2.5% levy continues to deal severe blows to struggling households and small businesses. Despite your public assurances that this levy would not affect food prices, the reality is starkly different. The revelation on 12th June 2024 that your Cabinet granted concessions to a businessman by waiving this levy on his project is not only patently unfair but also deeply offensive to the citizens who bear the brunt of your policies. If such exemptions can be made for one individual, they must be extended to the public. We demand the suspension of the 2.5% levy to restore equity and provide relief to the people.
The situation with the CIP is particularly egregious. Newly leaked contracts reveal that over 5,000 Saint Lucian passports, valued at US$1 billion, have been allocated under the Galaxy arrangement. Alarmingly, US$600 million of this amount remains unaccounted for, raising serious concerns about transparency and accountability. Additionally, Bemax—a company contracted to construct 66 low-income houses for US$62 million—has been linked to criminal activity, with its principal recently arrested as part of a major organized crime investigation.
Prime Minister, we also remain very concerned about the crumbling healthcare situation. As you are aware, our current health system has been labeled the worst it has ever been by members of the Medical and Dental Association. This is due to nurses and doctors resigning en mass, persistent shortages of vital medication, a lack of basic medical equipment, the closure of multiple health centers around the island and the fact that St Jude Hospital remains housed in the national stadium 3.5 years into your tenure. We are disappointed that your administration continues to put the lives of Saint Lucians at risk due to the lack of urgency or a strategic plan to address these issues.
In light of these developments, we reaffirm calls for the following immediate actions:
1. Dismissal of the CEO of the CIP Programme for failing to uphold the integrity of the programme.
2. Replacement of the CIP Board to restore public confidence.
3. Removal of the Minister responsible for the CIP portfolio to ensure impartial oversight moving forward.
4. An independent investigation, spearheaded by the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) and the Auditor General, to uncover the full extent of the mismanagement.
5. Suspension of any further issuance of citizenships related to Galaxy and infrastructure investment until the investigation is completed.
6. Resume the process to establish a National Health Insurance Programme which you stopped. This will help create a dedicated revenue stream to help finance and address many of the issues which currently plague the system and our people.
These actions are non-negotiable if your administration is serious about addressing the public’s growing distrust.
The cumulative impact of these financial impositions and governance failures has eroded the trust and confidence of the people of Saint Lucia in your administration. The evidence of mismanagement, inconsistency, and lack of accountability is overwhelming. As the Opposition, we will not stand idly by while this betrayal of public trust continues. We will persist in holding your government accountable and demanding immediate corrective measures that prioritize the interests of the people of Saint Lucia.