CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet says St Lucia is heading in the “wrong direction” more than two years after his administration lost the general election.
“Over the last two and a half years, we …now have an oppressive and autocratic government that has betrayed the trust of the people and is bent on dictatorship and victimization,” Chastanet said in a nationwide radio and television broadcast on Sunday night.
“We have witnessed the complete mismanagement of the economy, nepotism, deceit, hypocrisy, dishonesty, blatant corruption at an unprecedented level, and the flagrant abuse of our civil rights, all in the name of protecting the victory,” he added.
Chastanet said that while it is evident that the country is going through “one of the toughest economic times in its history,” the current crisis has been self-inflicted by a government with no plan and no vision for the country.
“They have been clueless about how to respond to the impact of inflation and the global conflicts that have created a threat to our economy.
”Instead of protecting vulnerable households and the “poorest of the poor”, the Government’s incompetence has worsened the situation by deliberately allowing the price of fuel, cooking gas, bus fares, and bread to increase, in some cases permanently.” said Chastanet.
Chastanet, who served as prime minister from 2016-21, said it is “heartbreaking” that more St. Lucians than ever are currently unable to afford even the most necessities, such as food, medication, and utilities.
“Working-class families and civil servants alike are struggling to provide for their loved ones and to put a decent meal on the table. With a government that only provides excuses and no solutions, this struggle has no end.”
He said a government that feels entitled and lacks ideas to stimulate an economy will always resort to increasing taxes.
He said the ruling St. Lucia Labour Party (SLP) had imposed an additional tax of 2.5 percent on an already struggling population while continuing to ignore the advice of civil society groups that have warned against the negative impact of “ this burdensome tax.
“The consequences of this action are that the poor continue to get poorer, further expanding the poverty margin, while a selected few within the inner circle of the St. Lucia Labor Party continue to enrich themselves.”
Chastanet said the increased crime across the country last year is unprecedented, causing widespread fear and panic. He told the Government pathetically tried to justify a second year of 75 murders by claiming the rate of murders declined in the second half of the year due to its initiatives.
“We can all see the fallacy of his argument, as we have started the first month of this year with eight murders – an average of two per week. If this pattern continues, we can only imagine what the death toll of our young men will be by the end of the year.
“Instead of putting hard-hitting measures in place, Prime Minister Philip Pierre continues to give silly excuses such as I don’t know, I am not a policeman, and hopes that things will get better.”
Chastanet said that the main opposition, the United Workers Party (UWP), “strongly reiterates its unwavering commitment to working with the Government to combat crime.
“We understand the devastating impact of crime on people, communities, and the economy. Therefore, we urge all St. Lucians to unite and stand together as one people in the fight against crime and violence in our country,” he said.
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