While acknowledging that Saint Lucia has made significant strides in global sports, tourism, and commercial and social endeavours-Prime Minister Philip J Pierre noted that the benefits accrued from these enterprises should ultimately benefit citizens of the country.
Addressing issues at the recent End-of-Year Media Conference, PM Pierre said, it is important for the people to benefit from the exploits of their icons.
He referred to the accomplishments of Julien “Juju” Alfred – winning Gold and Silver Medals at last August’s Paris Olympics, along with other major global successes and accolades, as well as, other Saint Lucian achievers globally.
“Saint Lucia has been on a trajectory of growth and improvement…and what’s important is that the people of Saint Lucia benefit from that growth,” he told reporters.
The Prime Minister added that with Julien Alfred’s recent appointment as Saint Lucia’s Tourism Ambassador she will continue to promote Saint Lucia.
“We need to grow these strengths and we need to seek from these strengths the opportunities that are needed for Saint Lucia to reach even higher heights,” Pierre said.
He asserted that the government will continue to support these achievements.
In expounding on matters of national prominence, PM Pierre assessed some major accomplishments undertaken by his administration and areas that need strengthening in the wider national developmental sphere.
He singled out the uptake in the honey sector as an important factor in the diversification of Saint Lucia’s agriculture development.
He also underlined the global recognition afforded to Saint Lucia’s Sea Moss brand products.
“So, we are making some tangible steps …so you can see where the country is going,” he said.
Nevertheless, he acknowledged, there is a need for improvements “as there is never any perfect country …and Saint Lucia will continue to strive for that level of improvement.”
In assessing the challenges, PM Pierre highlighted the issue of climate change as something government cannot …or can never determine what will happen.
“We are very concerned about the level of gun violence,” permeating throughout the country,” he said, stating 78 policemen and women recently graduated from the police academy and a further 80 more police recruits will be trained by February.
The prime minister reckoned that by the end of this year the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force [RSLPF] will employ approximately 160 law enforcement officers “on the ground in Saint Lucia.”
The government, he said, must provide resources for the police …and next year, his administration hopes to open the Gros Islet Police Headquarters.
“It is an Ultra-Modern Police Headquarters …and we are also going to open the Southern Headquarters, which has been closed since 2019,” he said.
The National Security Minister adds that Custody Suites is also due to be operational this year. He noted that lately, the Anse La Raye Police Station has been experiencing problems and the officers had to relocate to another structure to accommodate ongoing rehabilitation works.
“We are also going to be undertaking works at all the other police stations that need repairs… (and) we have increased the resources to the police,” Pierre said.
“Our job will be to give the police the resources to deal with the gun violence and the crime in this country,” he added.
Prime Minister Pierre asserted that “from January, we are going to ensure that we can retrofit the police with Bullet Proof Vests. We have allocated unprecedented resources to combatting crime …and the other part of the equation is for the police to take on their responsibilities seriously and to conduct their duties.”