Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre says he will not make any public statement on Housing Minister Richard Frederick while police investigations into the matter remain ongoing, insisting that he await the outcome before deciding on the minister’s future in Cabinet.
Pierre addressed the issue during a pre-Cabinet press briefing on July 27, 2026, following reports that Frederick is under police investigation for alleged offences that have not been publicly identified.
The Prime Minister said he would not be pressured into commenting before the investigation is completed.
“Making no statement on the Richard Frederick issue because the police are continuing their investigations and I’m making absolutely no statement on it at this point in time,” Pierre said.
He added that any decision regarding Frederick’s position in government would only be made after receiving the findings of law enforcement.
“I’m awaiting the police investigation. When the police have investigated, when the police have come to a conclusion, the Prime Minister will take a decision on the future of Minister Richard Frederick in the Cabinet of Saint Lucia,” he said.
Pierre said public commentary, including criticism on social media and other platforms, would not influence his approach.
“But right now, I’m making no statement and no amount of slander, no amount of talk shows, no amount of memes, no amount of Facebook posting will make me make any statement in public on Richard Frederick until the police have completed the investigation,” he stated.
The Prime Minister said the government’s work continues despite the situation involving Frederick, noting that the minister holds separate responsibilities within government.
“There is a minister in local government and there’s a minister in housing. So the people’s business continues,” Pierre said.
He maintained that he would not interfere with the police process.
“I am awaiting the end or the conclusion of the police investigation. This is the first order of business. When I get the police investigation, whatever happens will have to happen,” Pierre said.
“But I’m not rushing to judgment because there’s a police investigation. There’s a police investigation and I’m not interfering in the police investigation.”
Pierre also responded to comparisons being drawn between his handling of the current matter and his previous decision involving former Senator Stanley Felix, who was removed from his post as Senate President in 2022 after being charged.
The Prime Minister said those comparisons ignored the circumstances surrounding the two matters.
“You may tell me, and I know that is the half-truth that has been peddled, in the case of the Senator I took action against,” Pierre said.
He argued that his previous position was based on whether charges had been filed.
“If you go on the record, you will see that I said, ‘When the Senator gets charged’, so Stanley Felix, I took action against him, when he’s charged,” Pierre said.
Pierre said action was taken only after formal charges were brought in that matter.
“As soon as he was charged, I dismissed him. That’s what I said,” he stated.
The Prime Minister said the circumstances surrounding the two cases were different and cautioned against drawing conclusions before the current investigation is completed.
“Two different situations. Right now, this one has been turned into a major situation. So, I will allow the police investigation to continue,” Pierre said.