After being called-upon by a demanding Opposition Leader to ‘Ring the Bell’ quickly for early general elections, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre did just that last Sunday evening – announcing that the elections will be on December 1, preceded by Nominations Day on November 21 — a full year before constitutionally due.
PM Pierre’s brief Address to the Nation reviewed his Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) administration’s performance since taking office in July 2021.
He also offered examples of how his government had delivered on its 2021 election manifesto promises – from being inclusive in governance to reducing the national debt, replacing economic decline with successive years of growth — and primary surpluses.
He explained too, how his administration had introduced policies that reflected the SLP’s philosophy of ‘Putting People First’ in everything: from Health and Education to Reducing Unemployment (to its lowest-ever), increasing youth employment, introducing The Youth Economy, paying inherited outstanding wages to government employees, increasing Public Servants’ wages and pensioners payments, introducing the island’s first-ever National Minimum Wage, introducing Universal Health Care, etc.
PM Pierre reported that under his government’s watch, Agriculture, Tourism and Construction has revived, with new hotels being built and an “evident” construction boom.
He noted that existing businesses are expanding and reporting record profits, while several new businesses have been established and foreign investment has returned.
The SLP Leader referred to “investments in hospitals, roads, schools and digital access” to care for Saint Lucians island-wide, by “making education more accessible from Kindergarten to University” and “expanding Special Education Centres and in Mental Health” — all “to bring Social Protection to every citizen.”
He didn’t boast, but the PM instead underscored his government’s ability to turnaround the economy – and most important, reduce what was the highest national debt.
The Prime Minister and Minister for Finance, The Youth Economy and Economic Development reported:
“When we came to office in 2021, our country was on its knees, crippled by mismanagement, corruption and recklessness.
“Businesses were closing-down, people were losing jobs and faith in government had been destroyed.”
He also offered some very-telling examples to show how “When we took office, our economy was in decline.”
He quoted Saint Lucia’s Economic and Social Review (2024) to indicate: “The national debt was 60.9% of GDP and outstanding payables due to local suppliers was EC $22.9 million.
“But in 2021,” he revealed, “under the UWP government, even with a rebased GDP, the national debt was 81.9% (an increase of 21%), while outstanding payables to local suppliers escalated to $130.5 million — 469% over 2016.”
Continuing his chalk-and-cheese comparison, Prime Minister Pierre reported, “In 2024, under the SLP, the national debt was 73.5% (a reduction of 8.0% from 2021) and outstanding payables due to local suppliers is at 79% (a reduction of 39%.)”
And as of September 2025, he added, “Outstanding payables is $38.9 million – a 700% reduction of the 2021 under this SLP administration.”
PM Pierre also offered some contextual observations, indicating that “Every project, initiative and reform” in his government’s record “has one common thread: the interests of the people…”
He also indicated, “We have made unparallel investments in our citizens’ security by investing in our police and other law enforcement agencies, because a country that governs itself fairly and fearlessly is a country that believes in its people.”
The Prime Minister reiterated that under his administration, “There is no place for revenge, vindictiveness, retribution or threats in our society.
“We built a Saint Lucia that cares, a country where progress touches the lives of the most vulnerable.”
He also said his administration has proven that “Government can remain humane” and “that economic success can work hand-in-hand with social justice.”
PM Pierre said his administration has been able “to manage an inclusive, equitable and just society,” which, he noted, was “A reflection of what happens when Leadership is honest, truthful and sincere, when vision is steady and service is guided by one simple principle: Putting People First.”
Dismissing the understandable national excitement of the election date having finally been announced, after the PM’s address, I evaded all the new speculations — about whether he’d chosen the election date with the Opposition Leader’s birthday in mind, whether the UWP Leader would resign if he leads his party to another humiliating loss, whether the St. Jude Hospital will be commissioned before Election Day and whether the PM chose the date ‘to send Chastanet home for Christmas.’
Instead, now that the PM had delivered on the UWP’s loud demands for an early election Agriculture, Tourism and Construction, with new hotels being built and an evident construction boom.
I was more interested in what the Opposition Leader’s response would be to a PM’s address I felt would have encouraged enough undecided voters to consider giving the SLP-led alliance a second term.
I couldn’t imagine how the Opposition Leader would have responded, but he did within 24 hours – and simply blew all sane minds.
He quoted Biblical scripture to heap Hell and Damnation on the Pierre-led administration, claiming it did absolutely “nothing” since taking office and accusing the PM of calling the election “one year early” because “he knew” his government “couldn’t finish” the completed St. Jude Hospital.
But perhaps the biggest takeaway was the UWP Leader’s claim – from start to finish – that “I have changed” and that everyone around him in the UWP’s current leadership had learned from political climate change in the wilderness.
After watching and listening to the opposing national address, I cannot help but look-forward to how the UWP’s campaign will unfold in the next two weeks and four days.
Under normal circumstances, I would have thought he would have awoken on his 65th birthday (November 20) asking himself whether he should really allow himself to be nominated the next day as a candidate for the next general elections.
But these are not normal circumstances – and by then, it will definitely be too late.