In what seemed to be the final government press briefing for the year, newly reinstalled Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre attempted to lay out what 2026 would look like and what St. Lucians can look forward to.
After making a passionate plea for the country to unite in the name of national development, the Prime Minister went through a long list of infrastructure projects that have already started or is expected to commence in the first quarter of the year.
Key on the list in the first 100 days is complete commissioning of St. Jude Hospital which is believed to be well on track barring supply chain issues. Pierre committed to commencement of the Rock Hall and the Talvern Housing Projects in the first quarter of the year as preparatory work is on steam.
The Gros Islet Highway Project, a sore point for motorists and a much-debated issue over the last four years, is expected to feature among work to take off in the first three months of 2026 alongside the completion of the much talked about Gros Islet Police Station. The Gros Islet Police Station, already toured by a government delegation, is being constructed by R&F Construction and Renee Construction through a Build-Own-Lease-Transfer {BOLT} arrangement between the National Insurance Property Development and Management Company (NIPRO) and the Government of St. Lucia.
The Vat Free Day, a major campaign promise by the St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP), was schooled to be adequately dealt with and a date announced on Tuesday at the first sitting of Parliament. The Prime Minister indicated that consultation with the St. Lucia Chamber of Commerce and related stakeholders ensure that this promise was being executed properly.
The Hewanorra Airport Redevelopment Project is also scheduled to hit high gear in the early parts of 2026, as the air traffic control section is already being dealt with, according to the Prime Minister. Pierre revealed that the contract for the redevelopment of the airport was put to international tender unlike what was previously proposed by the Allen Chastanet led United Workers Party {UWP} administration.
The Monday morning briefing also addressed other projects including the Halls of Justice in Central Castries and the adjacent green space, The on-going GPH construction and its boardwalk and the stalled Point Seraphine Hotel project.
Other Tourism initiatives were addressed in the first presentation of the morning by Deputy Prime Minister Ernest Hilaire.