“The behavior of an organization is what the leader is willing to tolerate.” This adage, simple yet profound, painfully captures the crisis undermining St. Lucia today under the leadership of Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre.
From the highest offices to our neighborhoods, a climate of unchecked misconduct has taken root—a direct result of what is permitted, excused, or quietly embraced at the top. The current administration has repeatedly shown that power is valued above principle and expedience trumps accountability, with silence too often standing in for leadership.
Consider the most glaring example: the Prime Minister’s embrace of Richard Frederick into his Cabinet shortly after the 2021 elections. Frederick, who won his seat as an independent, was once fiercely condemned by the very party now welcoming him. Not long ago, the Labour Party publicly accused Frederick of nefarious criminal deeds of a wide variety. Whether it was the complaints of the Labour Party or not, the net result was the revocation of his diplomatic and personal visas. Yet, Frederick’s diplomatic status has been restored and he now serves as Minister in the Office of the Prime Minister. Even more troubling, the Labour Party has since announced it will not contest his Castries Central seat—or that of Stephenson King, another independent elevated to senior Cabinet rank. This political accommodation reeks of double standards and backroom deals that erode public trust.
Frederick’s involvement does not end with his dramatic political rehabilitation. He has been deeply implicated in the Bananes land scandal, where he allegedly facilitated the underselling and mismanagement of prime Crown land. The undervaluation of the Bananes waterfront and cash transactions associated with its sale have outraged the public and highlight the urgent need for transparency and accountability.
The pattern extends beyond Frederick. Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire, responsible for the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), has personally signed key government contracts with Caribbean Galaxy tied to both the infrastructure and real estate arms of the CIP—deals now at the center of public controversy due to glaring transparency and governance failures. Despite mounting calls for clear answers about these arrangements, the government remains silent, further eroding the confidence of Saint Lucians.
Elsewhere, Minister Frederick uses his weekly television talk show to attack and malign private citizens, especially women. Yet the Prime Minister looks away, allowing this conduct to persist unchecked. In the Bananes affair and in the public spotlight, the silence of the nation’s highest office emboldens division, fear, and disrespect rather than unity and accountability.
Other questionable transactions have become endemic under this administration: the underselling of government land, the dubious handling of public assets, and political theatre like the Prime Minister’s attendance at court with the Speaker of the House for a minister embroiled in controversy over the clearance of a luxury Land Rover. These events raise more questions than answers, fueling deep suspicion rather than trust.
Worse still, the government’s silence in the face of threats and intimidation from members of its administration —directed at political adversaries, outspoken citizens, the differently abled, and women—has created an atmosphere where impunity reigns. The Speaker of the House brazenly threatens critics with violence by a bazooka. Ministers accused of disgraceful conduct remain unpunished. The Prime Minister encourages members of his party to confront and taunt members of the UWP to their faces Instead of strength and integrity, we find equivocation and moral ambiguity.
Yet leadership that shapes a nation does not reside solely in the halls of political power. The foundation of any society is first laid within our families and schools—institutions pivotal to the primary socialization process. In our homes, parents model honesty, respect, and accountability; in our classrooms, teachers set standards for behavior and cultivate the values that become the bedrock of citizenship. When leadership in these spaces falters—when discipline is inconsistent, or when harmful behaviors are overlooked—children grow up uncertain about right and wrong, often replicating these patterns in their own lives and communities.
Equally, the church has a sacred and profound responsibility as a moral compass within our society. Throughout Saint Lucia’s history, faith communities have instilled a sense of right, justice, and compassion, providing guidance and support not just for individuals, but for the nation as a whole. The church must not remain silent in the face of misconduct, corruption, or injustice—whether in government, school, or home. Its leaders are called to speak truth, model righteousness, and hold both themselves and others to the highest standards of integrity and service. When churches actively fulfill this role, they empower believers to become principled citizens who uplift their families, influence their peers, and contribute to a more just society.
It is in family, school, and church where the foundational seeds of integrity, empathy, and responsibility are sown. Strong, principled leadership in all three is just as vital as it is in government. As a nation, we must recommit to supporting parents, educators, and spiritual leaders in setting and upholding clear ethical standards. For Saint Lucia to rise above its current challenges, every leader—whether in Parliament, at the head of a household, in front of a classroom, or from behind a pulpit—must embody the values we wish to see reflected throughout society. Only by strengthening and aligning these foundational institutions can we hope to create a culture that prizes accountability, compassion, and justice at every level.
These failures carry a heavy price. St. Lucia now reels under a wave of crime, bloodshed, lawlessness, and despair. Murders, corruption, and social decay fill the headlines daily. If the Prime Minister will not check the misconduct thriving in his own Cabinet, how can he hope to restore justice and safety for ordinary citizens?
Scripture in 1 Peter 5:2-3 is clear: leaders must shepherd their people “not pursuing dishonest gain, but eager to serve; not lording it over those entrusted to you, but being examples to the flock.” This administration’s record falls woefully short. Like Moses, Nehemiah, Jesus, and Paul—each confronting and correcting wrongdoing at all levels—our leaders too must find the courage to stand for justice and truth.
What leadership tolerates at the top inevitably becomes the norm for the entire nation. Our current crisis is no accident; it is the bitter fruit of seeds sown in high places, from the persistent refusal to confront wrongdoing—be it friend, foe, or political ally.
St. Lucia deserves better. We need leaders anchored in courage, integrity, and true accountability. We need public servants who understand that every act of tolerance for misbehavior in government ultimately leads to more violence and chaos in the streets.
It is time for us—citizens, civil society, and every institution—to demand a new mark of leadership: one that upholds truth, enforces standards, and refuses to tolerate wrongdoing at any level. Only then can we turn the tide and reclaim our nation’s dignity and safety.