Only hours after Deputy Prime Minister and Tourism Minister Ernest Hilaire announced his delight at the Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) decision to dismiss Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet’s appeal in the “RoverGate” scandal, Hilaire finds himself facing another legal battle. This time being charged with assault, accused by self-proclaimed independent reporter Eldrise Charles for an incident which reportedly occurred at parliament building on Tuesday August 19th, 2025.
Charles claimed Hilaire pushed her out of the parliament citing assault and subsequently reporting the matter to police. Some two months later Ernest Hilaire has had the opportunity to be called and interviewed by officials of the Royal St. Lucia Police Force (RSLPF).
Earlier this week, the Deputy Prime Minister called a special press conference to officially address the matter. Hilaire who vehemently denied the allegation, says he has every reason to believe that this affair is well orchestrated. “Upon request I attended an interview with Inspector George Clarke at the Criminal Investigation Department. I knew Inspector Clarke from an earlier encounter in 2021 to which I will return. His only remarks to me displayed that he had made up his mind on the allegation so much so that one, he started by stating to me that he had reason to believe I had committed an assault,’ Hilaire recounted. Hilaire went on to identify Clarke as an “alleged known UWP operative” who may or may not have acted on his own in the matter and revealed that their first encounter occurred when Clarke allegedly tried to stop an SLP meeting Anse La Raye in 2021. The tourism minister also had many questions about the officers’ handling of the matter.
As it relates to Eldrise Charles, Hilaire reported that they always had a cordial relationship, and any offense could have been handled easily, however he cited this as “a political matter with a political purpose” for Charles choosing a criminal complaint over a civil complaint where compensation would be at play.
Asked about engaging the RSLPF on the matter, Hilaire was blunt in his response. “I have not spoken to the commissioner, and I will not speak with him. At this point my lawyers will deal with it. I said in my statement what we expect from the commissioner and what we expect from the police force,” was his retort. Hilaire went on to clarify that the Philip Pierre administration was proud of the relationship with the RSLPF, a level of respect that would not lend to government interference in their operations. He advised that the RSLPF must be professional in every operation whatever the persuasions of individual police officers.
Pressed by the Voice Newspaper concerning the impression that the hierarchy of the RSLPF may not have a proper handle on its officers, Hilaire’s response spoke loudly, “I don’t know many St. Lucians that will disagree with you.”
The alleged incident at parliament building took place while a planned political protest was taking place on Peynier Street adjacent to the parliament building. Charles was allegedly part of the protest.