The government of Saint Lucia intends to commence prosecutions against persons in government who committed crimes of dishonesty during the last administration. Thank God Almighty!
Plunderous politicians and their goons have been drying this country up over the course of many years and they have never been brought to account. Now, Philip Pierre aims to go down in history as the first Prime Minister to establish an institution to move the process forward.
A draft bill has already been prepared that will lead to the appointment of a Special Prosecutor to prosecute government personnel who stole money from this country. With access to the nation’s accounts for the last five years in hand, Pierre confessed that ‘the reckless financial mismanagement of our country during the last administration is worst than (he) had initially thought’. He equated our present financial vulnerability with that of a cliff hanging position and the threatening abyss.
According to the Prime Minister, before covid-19 ‘the economy of Saint Lucia experienced a negative 23% decline, the highest in the region. Saint Lucia borrowed the most in the Eastern Caribbean Monetary Authority and presently has the highest debt portfolio’.
But covid-19 brought money in the form of loans which, if properly managed, would have cushioned the effects of the worse times during the height of the pandemic, for the poor of this country. The government reports however, that despite the fact that the last ‘government received five (covid-19 relief) loans totaling $323.8M from four existing international creditors,’ our country is broke. In fact, reports are that by the time power changed hands in Saint Lucia, there was only $19M of these loans left.
No joke! Under Allan Chastanet’s leadership money went through the treasury like it was nothing. Decisions on spending authorized by government in the last five years seemed to have been made in total isolation to reality. Even when we were on the heels of the last general elections, Allan Chastanet wanted to go to parliament to do even more borrowing. The government’s proposal at the time was for tens of millions of dollars to be borrowed and paid back over the next few decades, partly by the unborn child. Members of the last cabinet who opposed this borrowing if even for political reasons, are bound to receive at least some mercy.
The former government’s approach to spending led us to where we are today. The Prime Minister reports that as of July 31, 2021, St. Lucia’s Public Debt was $3.932 B.
How could a small country like ours, with a population of less than 200,000 people amass such a large debt! And even more, how could we ever expect to continue borrowing at our revenue levels, and expect not to eventually crash! There is no logic here!
It is as clear as day that one more year under Allan Chastanet’s leadership would have sent our economy crashing. Philip Pierre is an economist and a government minister of vast experience. His arrival to the seat of the Prime Minister could not be timelier. It is our hope that like our late Prime Minister John Compton, Pierre will prove to us that he has the skills of a prudent economist.
Already the Prime Minister has said that the Saint Lucian economy requires prudent financial management. We will be observing keenly to determine whether he takes a prudent approach.
ONE CARIBBEAN continues to ponder on one final issue which is whether the Prime Minister will hold his team to the same standard to which he intends to hold the opposition. If Philip Pierre finds that one of his Minister’s or high ranking civil servants is taking bribes or kickbacks or contracting his or her goons to get work for himself or herself, will he react? Will the Special prosecutor prosecute members of the SLP if necessary?
Then we will know the true fiber of the man!
We look forward to an answer.