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Three years into the Philippe J. Pierre government, it is time to reflect on its poor performance, especially in the area of infrastructure. This government’s tenure will be remembered for its failure to deliver on its promises, and instead, for leaving the country’s infrastructure in tatters. Upon coming to power, the government halted more than 90% of ongoing infrastructure projects initiated by the previous UWP government led by Alan Chastanet, citing corruption and mismanagement. However, despite the appointment of a special prosecutor to investigate the allegations, no charges have been filed to date.
The St. Jude Hospital project, Hewanorra International Airport redevelopment project, Rodney Bay four-lane road project, Tavern and Choc housing project and numerous road rehabilitation projects have all been abandoned without any evidence of wrongdoing. The government’s actions are rife with deceit, dishonesty, hypocrisy and incompetence. They have accused Fresh Start, the company behind the Rodney Bay four-lane road project, of colluding with former minister Guy Joseph for corruption and are now begging the same company to restart the project. How much will the artificial suspension of this project cost the taxpayers of this country?
The Tavern and Choc housing projects were halted due to lack of planning permission, only to find out later that they had already obtained the necessary permissions. Today, I have been reliably informed that the Government has asked the original contractor, Fresh Start, to restart both projects? The consequences of these actions are dire. The people of Saint Lucia are now saddled with the financial costs of legal fees, interest and penalties for project delays, and increased costs for materials and services. It is simply shameful that taxpayers are being forced to pay for the Government’s incompetence.
The Government’s excuse of not building roads because of the rainy season is a pathetic attempt to shift the blame and a veiled insult to the people of this country. The designation of 2024 as the “Year of Infrastructure” is a farce and a cruel joke on the people of Saint Lucia. The Government’s inability to deliver on its promises is a stark reminder of its incompetence, bravado and lack of vision.
The fact is that the St. Lucia Labour Party lied to the people when they were in opposition and when they came to power they had to pretend to investigate these projects knowing full well that there was no corruption. This callous deception cost the country tens of millions of dollars and commuters and drivers millions of dollars in spare parts and wasted time driving on potholed roads.
Saint Lucia’s road network is currently in the worst condition in the country’s modern history. Potholes, cracks and uneven surfaces have become the norm, making life miserable for commuters and drivers. The government’s inaction has made the country’s roads unsafe, and the people are forced to suffer the consequences of the government’s incompetence.
At the heart of this failure is the Minister of Infrastructure, Stephenson King. There is no excuse for his abysmal performance in this position for eight consecutive years, and as Prime Minister for four years. He is without a doubt the worst Minister of Infrastructure in the Eastern Caribbean. His tenure has been marked by inaction, incompetence, mediocrity and a blatant disregard for the well-being of the people.
The people of Saint Lucia should hold their government accountable. We should demand that members of this failed, deceitful and evil government personally bear the financial burden of their actions, rather than passing it on to the taxpayer. The people of Saint Lucia deserve better. We deserve a government that is transparent, accountable and committed to their welfare. Furthermore, we demand that Minister Stephenson King resign immediately. If he refuses to step down, we demand that the Prime Minister take immediate action to sack him. Enough is enough.
The State cannot continue on this path of dishonesty, incompetence and mismanagement. The Ministry of Infrastructure must be led by someone who is capable, competent and committed to achieving results. Anyone less than that is unacceptable. The time for excuses is over. Now is the time for action. We demand accountability and we demand it now!
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