As the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank advances, its “Big Push” agenda to double economic output across the sub-region, Prime Minister and Minister for Finance Philip J Pierre says the success of the initiative will depend heavily on behavioral and structural changes within society.
Speaking in Saint Lucia following the launch of the ECCB’s Strategic Plan, Pierre described the ambition as commendable but cautioned that achieving it will require significant national effort.
“It is a very noble idea,” he said. “But several things must be in place. Our productivity must increase and our skills must improve.”
The Prime Minister placed particular emphasis on the role of discipline and personal responsibility, especially among younger citizens.
“We need to get our young men in particular to have patience, the virtue of patience, as well as discipline and commitment,” Pierre stated. “The entire population must embrace those values.”
He argued that national progress is closely tied to everyday behaviour, pointing to issues such as improper waste disposal as symptomatic of a broader challenge.
“We make the point all the time about garbage being thrown in the streets,” he said. “There is no reason why we should be spending so many resources cleaning rivers because of that.”
Pierre indicated that stronger measures, including legislation, may be necessary to address such practices and ensure more responsible use of public resources.
“If we are to achieve a big push, we have to ensure that our resources are spent differently and that our people become more committed to the country,” he added.
The Prime Minister also highlighted what he described as a perceived disconnect between citizens and the state, warning that this mindset undermines national development.
“There seems to be a belief that there is a separation between the government and the people, particularly in terms of what makes the government function,” he said.
Pierre maintains that sustainable growth will depend not only on policy, but on a collective shift in attitudes, discipline, and national responsibility.