Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has hit back at calls from the opposition United Workers’ Party (UWP) for a full financial audit of the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund (SSDF), accusing the previous administration of failing to produce audited financial statements for several years.
Pierre made the comments during the August 10, 2026 sitting of Parliament, where he responded to questions from the media concerning the SSDF’s financial records and the government’s commitment to completing outstanding audits.
The Prime Minister said the audit record of the SSDF under the former UWP administration needed to be placed in context.
“You may recall that Allen Chastanet was prime minister from the year 20s, and I want you to take these dates correctly, take them down, from the year 2016 to 2021,” Pierre said.
He noted that Chastanet also served as Minister for Finance during that period.
“The last audit, listen carefully, please, 2016 to 2021, the then leader of the opposition was Minister of Finance.”
According to Pierre, the most recent completed audits at the time covered the 2016 to 2017 and 2017 to 2018 financial years, with those audits completed in March 2023.
“The last audit for the Saint Lucia Social Development Fund was done for the years 2017 and 2018. These audits were done in March 2023,” he said.
Pierre said the current administration initially focused on addressing outstanding audits covering the period when the UWP was in office.
“The process initially focused on clearing the outstanding audits for the financial year, for the financial period 2016 to 2021 under the United Workers’ Party government.”
He said the audits for 2016 to 2017 and 2017 to 2018 have since been completed, while the SSDF encountered difficulties obtaining supporting documentation for subsequent years.
“The board encountered challenges in obtaining the necessary supporting documents for the subsequent financial years 2017 to 2018, 2018 to 2019, 2019 to 2020 and 2020 to 2021 all under the governance of the United Workers’ Party.”
Pierre stressed that no audits were carried out for those subsequent periods.
“No audits were performed, none.”
He said that, following discussions with auditors, the SSDF agreed to prepare the outstanding financial statements as qualified statements, allowing the process to move forward despite the documentation difficulties.
“Following extensive discussions with the auditors, the board reached a mutual agreement to proceed with the preparation of the outstanding financial statements as qualified statements.”
Pierre said the approach was intended to address the outstanding years and advance the audit process.
“This approach allows the SSDF to address the outstanding years and advance the auditing process despite the documentation challenges encountered.”
The Prime Minister said the SSDF is now working towards bringing its financial reporting fully up to date, with auditors committing to produce unqualified statements for the more recent financial years.
“The SSDF is now looking ahead and is pleased to advise that the auditors have committed to delivering unqualified audited statements,” Pierre said.
He identified the outstanding periods as the financial years 2022 to 2023, 2023 to 2024, 2024 to 2025 and 2025 to 2026, with the board targeting completion by the end of this year.
“The board is working closely with the auditors who have been appointed with the objective of having the statements finalized by the end of 2026.”
Pierre placed responsibility for the outstanding audits squarely on the former UWP administration.
“So the only reason why statements have not been reviewed is because the United Workers Party under the present leader of the opposition failed to present audited statements for these years,” he said.
He argued that scrutiny of the SSDF should not undermine confidence in the institution itself.
“Because the SSDF is too important. The SSDF is not a ministry. It’s a governmental institution that deals with social benefits.”
Pierre warned that damage to the reputation of the Fund could have wider consequences for vulnerable communities that depend on social assistance.
“When you damage that, you damage the social fabric that serves the underserved, and that’s what you damage. It’s hurtful.”
The Prime Minister nevertheless said that any wrongdoing by an individual minister should be dealt with appropriately, while distinguishing such matters from the functioning of the institution as a whole.
“If a minister has transgressed, we will deal with it. Let’s deal with it. But don’t bring the whole organization into dispute.”
His comments come as the SSDF faces increased political scrutiny, with the UWP pressing for greater financial accountability and a full audit of the Fund.
Pierre maintained that his administration is committed to completing the outstanding audits and establishing a more current financial record for the SSDF.