During the 2021 general elections, the electorate were exposed to a volume of misinformation and propaganda to an unprecedented level based on hatred and jealousy. Fortunately or unfortunately, the public at large bought into the propaganda big time and we witnessed a shellacking of the UWP administration.
This resulted into a 15 to 2 SLP administration which has permitted the administration to enjoy a two-thirds majority in parliament where many laws can be passed without any form of contribution by The Opposition. Hopefully, the electorate has learnt a serious lesson that no administration should ever be given such a grave mandate in the future. The nation has paid a dear price thus far and is likely to get far worse in the remaining two years.
It now appears that Saint Lucia is currently undergoing the degrading of SLASPA for no rhyme or reason other than the abuse of power. SLASPA was carefully put together by Sir John Compton some fifty years ago during which period, the company witnessed some glorious times by way of a booming banana industry, the transshipment business and the cruise line business which brought the port’s revenue to a new level. It remains extremely hurtful to witness the hand over of the cruise sector which we are more than capable of enhancing without outside assistance, especially as only four years ago fifteen million US dollars was spent at the Point Seraphine dock to construct a super cruise line berth for the largest cruise ships presently in use.
St Lucia now remains the laughing stock to the region as we donate our birthright to a group of foreign nationals. The next blow we are likely to envisage is the hand over of the HIA terminal under similar terms to Global Ports Holdings.
What a very sad period for Saint Lucia to be experiencing at this chapter of the nation.