The Castries East Constituency held its 36th Annual General Meeting on Sunday, 7thJuly, 2024, under the theme: “Enhancing Lives and Empowering People.”
The meeting was called to order at 4:15 p.m. followed by prayers and the singing of the party song. Immediately after this exercise, reports were delivered by the chairman, treasurer, the women’s auxiliary and the Youth leader. The meeting received fraternal greetings from other constituencies and friends of Labour.
Hon. Shawn Edward, Parliamentary Representative for Dennery North and Minister of Education assured the gathering that the one laptop per child which the government had started was continuing in earnest. He also indicated that the university graduate per family programme was moving with intent.
He was followed by the parliamentary representative for Castries North and former Prime Minister, Hon. Stephenson King who emphasised that the housing assistance programme is being given special attention together with the distress fund which had been reinstated by the present government.
King was succeeded by Hon. Wayne Girard, parliamentary representative for Anse la Raye and Canaries who indicated that a number of social projects and programmes were in the advanced stage of implementation, including tourism projects which would tap into the financial resources of the tourists who pass through Canaries enroute to Soufriere.
The parliamentary representative for Vieux Fort North and Minister for Health, Wellness and Elderly Affairs, Hon. Moses Baptiste affirmed that the government’s commitment to the implementation of health projects and programme was bearing fruit. Jn. Baptiste stressed that St. Lucians who are struck with non-communicable diseases like diabetes and hypertension were now receiving free medical care at all Wellness Centres in St. Lucia. This is very good new for persons suffering with diabetes and hypertension.
Now, it was the turn of parliamentary representative for Soufriere/Fond St. Jaques and Minister for Commerce, Manufacturing, Business Development, Cooperatives and Consumer Affairs, Hon. Emma Hippolyte, to bring fraternal greetings. She expressed sympathy with all her constituents who suffered severe loss as a result of the passage of storm Beryl. Hippolyte, with the support from Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre who was assessing damages along with her, indicated that some level of assistance to constituents would be forthcoming.
Hippolyte also pointed out that the MSME programme is now available to all business minded Saint Lucians.
Then came some light entertainment immediately following fraternal greetings. The meeting was entertained by Les Danseurs Traditionnnels De Ste Lucie which was enjoyed thoroughly by members of the audience.
The Mistress of Ceremony brought the audience to the heart of the meeting by introducing the evening’s guest speaker.
Dr. Earnest Hilaire, 1st Deputy Leader of the party and Minister for Tourism, Investment, and the Creative Industries was the day’s guest speaker. Hon. Hilaire made it abundantly clear that despite all the lies told against him, he had no time to be sad. He emphasised that all negativity will be trampled upon.
Dr. Hilaire, wearing his bright and attractive constituency shirt, admitted that Hon. Philip J. Pierre is an extraordinary person. He was humble, full of wisdom, trustworthy and full of tact.
Dr. Hilaire told his audience that he is part of a government which gives people an opportunity to live civilized lives. He insisted, that his government is in the throes of putting mechanisms in place to improve the lives of ordinary citizens who are struggling to make a living.
Hilaire indicated that the National Skills Development Centre (NSDC) was continuing to provide knowledge and skills to many young people in order to improve their lives.
He went on to point out that the PROUD programme is intended to allow ordinary citizens to acquire “a piece of Saint Lucia.”
Hilaire referred to his own family that was able to (purchase) a piece of land which enabled him to proceed to university. He insisted that the PROUD programme must never end. He also pointed out, that many young people who had enrolled in the STEP programme are now making a name for themselves.
He noted that government was very prolific with high-quality programmes geared to enhance the lives of people. In fact, the government was empowering people to take control of their lives.
The guest speaker indicated that the Youth Economy Agency is creating the conditions which would enable young people to create a sustainable livelihood for themselves.
Hilaire made it clear that the Labour Government was investing in young people. He referred to the Semi-Professional Football League through which young people can transform their lives. He also referred to the fact that government has provided for every child to receive a secondary education and to allow every household to have a university graduate which would transform the lives of families.
He did not forget to mention that government is looking very seriously at health care, a heritage programme to give poor people an opportunity benefit from the tourism dollar. He also referred to the small enterprise programme which is available to St. Lucians.
Next to the podium was the parliamentary representative for Castries East and Prime Minister Hon. Philip J. Pierre.
In a people-oriented voice tone, the prime minister proclaimed that young children must have a better way of life than their parents, they must go to university since his parliamentarians and ministers are in politics to serve.
Pierre insisted that all the distressful comments made against him will do absolutely no harm but instead propel him to unite the nation and create a better quality of life for Saint Lucians.
The prime minister warned his listeners to guard against spreading propaganda. Instead they should have more faith in their party and “To protect the Labour Victory.” He went on to state that the Saint Lucian economy has never been in a better place, meaning so buoyant.
Pierre informed that the government is at an advanced stage of preparing to improve the road network. He also went on to list a number of projects for implementation as follows: 60 housing units for Rock Hall; four technical schools for our education system; assistance to Early Childhood Education and programmes to get young people out of their deviant behaviours.