In a significant development in the ongoing controversy surrounding Member of Parliament (MP) for Central Castries, Richard Frederick, Sarah Flood-Beaubrun, a prominent member of the United Workers Party (UWP) and former government minister, has announced her intention to take legal action against him.
This announcement is tied to allegations regarding the reported disbursement of funds from the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF). Flood-Beaubrun, who has shifted her political allegiance from the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) to the UWP, has been an outspoken critic of the government’s perceived mismanagement of the country.
The center of this scandal, which she has referred to as the “sex for checks” scandal, purportedly raises serious questions about the conduct of Frederick and his associates.
Flood-Beaubrun warned, “If Richard Frederick does not go, some of his co-conspirators , enablers, accomplices, in high office will be exposed.”
The controversy involves allegations of corruption tied to a former SSDF employee who reportedly received compensation for workplace injuries, yet there is no accountability for the reported disbursement of these funds. Flood-Beaubrun stated, “Every important institution in this country has been compromised openly, knowingly, willfully, and purposely,” criticizing the police force and the Office of the Prime Minister for their handling of the matter.
“To have a Minister for Housing sitting in the Office of the Prime Minister engaged in such a scandal is unacceptable,” she added.
Flood-Beaubrun expressed her frustration over the Prime Minister’s failure to act, stating, “The Prime Minister refuses to relieve the minister of his portfolio.”
Additionally, she announced that she is initiating legal proceedings against Frederick for inflammatory remarks he reportedly made about her on his weekly TV show, Can I Help You?
During a UWP press briefing, on Tuesday, Flood-Beaubrun revealed that her attorneys have been instructed to investigate the statements made by Frederick. She reiterated that she has provided her legal team with various clips of his remarks and has reported these concerns to the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP), noting that the allegations could indicate serious offenses under the Criminal Code, with “probably seven possible offenses.”
Flood-Beaubrun raised concerns about the lack of communication from the DPP, stating she has not heard from that office in about a month. Nevertheless, she emphasized her determination to pursue justice. “I will not be intimidated, and I will not be silenced. I will complete what I have set out to do and run the race to the end to see that justice is done and that our women are respected and protected,” she asserted.
The UWP stalwart called for solidarity in the fight for justice, urging others, “Let us join together, let us fight together for justice … let us not be intimidated, let us not be silenced, let us not be afraid or ashamed about it; let our suffering be our strength.”
This case continues to unfold, highlighting significant distrust on issues regarding integrity and accountability in governance in Saint Lucia.