Newly elected Members of Parliament on Wednesday, March 25th, delivered their maiden contributions to the debate on the Estimates of Revenue and Expenditure in the Lower House, outlining priorities within their respective ministerial portfolios while pledging support for the government’s fiscal agenda in Saint Lucia.
Among those making their first budget presentations was Choiseul/Saltibus MP and Minister for Physical Development and Public Utilities, Keithson Charles, who voiced strong backing for the $2.18 billion budget.
“I rise today to add my voice in unflinching support of the 2026 to 2027 estimates of revenue and expenditure so ably presented by the Honourable Minister for Finance,” Charles said.
He began by expressing gratitude to his constituents.
“It is only by their grace, their mandate and their overwhelming vote of confidence that I stand in this Honourable House today as their newly elected representative,” he stated. “To the people of Choiseul Saltibus, I promise you a voice that will not waver and hands that are ready to build.”
Charles framed the budget as a reflection of the government’s priorities.
“Every budget tells a story and the estimates today before us are no exception,” he said. “Yesterday, the Honourable Prime Minister distilled the philosophy of this budget in four words, and he said, ‘We put people first.’”
Vieux Fort South MP and Minister in the Ministry of Education, Danny Butcher, also endorsed the estimates, describing the budget as both meaningful and people-centered.
“This budget reveals what is significant to the people of Saint Lucia, but what it conceals is even more vital,” Butcher said. “What I can tell you is that this budget has a soul, this budget has spirit, this budget has life.”
He emphasized that the government’s guiding principle is clear.
“At the fundamental lifeblood of this budget is the central theme of this government, and that is putting people first,” he stated. “Every Saint Lucian could trust this budget because at its center is putting every Saint Lucian first.”
Babonneau MP and Minister in the Ministry of Tourism, Culture and Creative Industries, John Paul Estephane, highlighted support for the creative sector, pointing to a range of grants and initiatives.
“Approximately 25 small grants were given to support photography, film, music, craft, stage management, pageantry, junior carnival bands and decor businesses,” Estephane said. “Approximately 70 community-based performances were supported across various artistic disciplines.”
He also noted targeted investment in audiovisual production.
“Sixteen grants were provided to advance the audiovisual sector for music and video production, costuming and artist promotional tours,” he added.
Estephane underscored strong demand for funding under the creative economy grant programme.
“The programme recorded exceptionally strong national engagement with 982 applications,” he said. “We had only received 350,000 dollars, so we could not meet all requests, but with the addition of one million dollars, we will be better able to engage the applicants.”
Castries South East MP and Minister in the Ministry for Agriculture, Lisa Jawahir, detailed allocations aimed at strengthening agriculture and fisheries.
“We see an additional 1.7 million allocated to the Banana Management Unit to support disease control inputs, technical support and farm advisory services,” Jawahir stated.
She assured that key agricultural inputs will be secured.
“We will no longer have to worry about spray oil,” she said. “Out of that 1.7 million, 650,000 is specifically for acquiring fungicides and mineral oils.”
Jawahir also addressed fisheries infrastructure upgrades.
“Eight hundred thousand has been allocated for the rehabilitation of landing sites,” she noted. “Major upgrades have been completed across Vieux Fort, Savannes Bay, Laborie and Gros Islet.”
Highlighting ongoing works, she added, “Repairs and upgrades to the Vieux Fort Fishing Complex continue, as well as jetty repairs at Savannes Bay and the rehabilitation of the Laborie Fishers Market.”
Jawahir stressed her commitment to national development beyond her constituency.
“I am not the minister only for agriculture for my constituency, but I will be a minister of agriculture for all constituencies,” she declared.
The debate on the estimates continues as lawmakers scrutinize allocations and outline policy priorities expected to shape the country’s economic and social development in the coming fiscal year.