A controversy has arisen after students and teachers of the Ave Maria Girls Primary School were seen outside the school during class hours on Nomination Day, chanting political slogans.
Critics have questioned whether the activity breached the Saint Lucia Teachers’ Union Code of Conduct. Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, however, defended the students’ presence, accusing detractors of hypocrisy and pointing to the Opposition’s history of similar occurrences.
“The United Workers’ Party always likes to shift the focus, what they call in politics, political umbrage: shift the focus. Children are excited about different things. There are many times, during several elections, children shouted UWP. We never complain. We never complain. You know, a party is just an excuse-making party. Always looking for an excuse, always looking for somebody to blame, always looking for some excuse to divert themselves from the point that they have failed,” Pierre said.
The Prime Minister questioned why youth expressing political preferences is often criticised.
“But we speak about the youth. The youth, the youth, the youth. Why when the youth express their political preferences, we only get annoyed? Why? Why are we not saying we’ve got so pristine and pure? We’ve got so pure and pristine, why call children ethical? This is hypocrisy at its highest. And I can’t subscribe to that. This is being a hypocrite,” he added.
Pierre also took the opportunity to distinguish his administration’s economic record from that of the Opposition United Workers’ Party.
“The United Workers’ Party never presided over the primary surpluses that we are presiding now over. We’ve had four years of economic growth. We’ve had primary surpluses for these years. The United Workers’ Party must say to you what surpluses existed when they were in government. We’re just getting blanket statements on the economy. What were the growth figures? Our growth figures have been verified by the IMF, been verified by the World Bank, by the ECCB. What are their growth figures? Let us get figures. Economics is a science. You don’t just say statements without giving the figures.”
He highlighted the government’s success in managing the nation’s debt.
“The debt to GDP ratio when the United Workers’ Party left it was nearly 100%. It’s actually been reduced. GDP has not been re-based and the debt to GDP ratio has actually reduced from when we took it from the United Workers’ Party. So I don’t understand the argument for debt management. I don’t understand where the argument is coming from, what is that about? We need more details. We need more details as to the debt, the figures as it relates to the debt, not blanket statements about debt management and borrowing.”
Pierre contrasted the economic situation under his administration with that of the Opposition following the COVID-19 pandemic.
“When the United Workers’ Party, Saint Lucia was the highest borrowing country after COVID. The United Workers’ Party, economy, Saint Lucia’s economy was the worst battle after COVID. Saint Lucia was in the first ten in the world.”
He stressed that the government’s performance is verifiable and cannot be disputed. “You see, that manipulation is going to be a continuation of the progress of the government. I’ll tell you something. The difference between us and them is our performance has been documented. There’s a big difference. Our economic growth is documented. It has been proven that no one can dispute that. We had four years of economic growth. No one can dispute that. It’s a fact that you cannot dispute that our debt to GDP has been reduced. You cannot dispute that,” he said.
The Prime Minister’s comments come as the country approaches the December 1st general election, highlighting both his administration’s economic record and his stance on political engagement among youth.