On Tuesday, March twenty fifth, 2025, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre formally offered earlier than parliament the Estimates of Income and Expenditure for the 2025–2026 fiscal yr. Valued at roughly $2.1 billion, this represents the most important nationwide funds ever launched by any administration within the historical past of Saint Lucia. In outlining the rationale behind his authorities’s expansionary fiscal coverage stance, the Prime Minister emphasised that the elevated expenditure is geared toward constructing on the momentum of final yr’s infrastructure investments or lack thereof, whereas broadening the scope to incorporate enhanced healthcare companies, social improvement initiatives, citizen safety, and expanded job creation efforts.
Like many different residents of Castries South, I awaited with nice anticipation the contribution of our parliamentary consultant Dr. Ernest Hilaire to the nationwide funds debate—particularly given the importance of the 2025–2026 Estimates of Income and Expenditure, broadly described as each landmark and transformational. I used to be genuinely shocked and deeply disenchanted to find that Dr. Hilaire—additionally the Deputy Political Chief of the Saint Lucia Labour Get together, Chief of Authorities Enterprise in Parliament, and the Minister chargeable for Tourism and the Citizenship by Funding Programme (CIP) opted to not converse in the course of the debate.
His silence is very troubling contemplating the significance of his ministerial portfolios: Tourism, the primary engine of Saint Lucia’s financial system, and the CIP, one of the vital debated and misunderstood programmes within the nation’s current financial historical past. At a time when the nation wanted clear articulation of coverage route, sectoral priorities, and strategic imaginative and prescient, notably from one of many authorities’s most senior ministers, Dr. Hilaire’s absence from the controversy was conspicuous and regrettable. That this resolution might have been influenced by the refusal of the Opposition Chief, Allen Chastanet, to take part solely deepens the priority. The accountability to signify the individuals of Castries South and contribute meaningfully to nationwide discourse ought to by no means be contingent on political gamesmanship.
The nationwide funds is a doc of profound significance, serving as the federal government’s major instrument for managing public funds, distributing assets, and translating financial and social insurance policies into actionable applications. It’s central to attaining nationwide improvement aims, selling fiscal accountability, and guaranteeing macroeconomic stability. Past its technical capabilities, the funds performs a pivotal function in shaping the nation’s developmental trajectory, guiding investments that foster progress, innovation, and long-term prosperity. Equally vital, a funds ought to mirror a authorities’s dedication to social fairness, because it implements focused measures to guard the poor and susceptible, scale back inequality, and help inclusive improvement. One among its core capabilities is to successfully handle the financial system, guaranteeing the optimum use of restricted public assets to satisfy each current calls for and future ambitions. In essence, the nationwide funds just isn’t merely a monetary plan, it’s a strategic roadmap for nation-building.
Dr. Hilaire should be reminded that he’s in authorities, and with that comes a constitutional and statutory obligation to handle the Home and the nation, particularly on issues as consequential because the nationwide funds. Given his seniority and presumed involvement in shaping the insurance policies and priorities offered, his silence just isn’t solely baffling—it’s deeply disappointing.
Provided that this funds might very properly be the final earlier than the subsequent common election, Dr. Hilaire’s non-participation within the debate is, frankly, an act of disrespect to his constituents and flies within the face of the ideas of excellent governance, transparency, and accountability. Moreover, Dr Hilaire is the minister with accountability for the controversial and troubling CIP Programme. His deafening silence reverberated loudly and clearly as he negated his solemn responsibility to sensitize the nation on the unhappy state of affairs regarding the CIP Programme. That is notably worrisome because the European Union (EU) and the US (each Democrats and Republicans lawmakers) are scrutinizing the Citizenship by Funding applications in Caribbean nations, doubtlessly resulting in visa-free journey restrictions for CBI nationals as a consequence of safety considerations and perceived program weaknesses.
The EU has additional expressed considerations in regards to the screening and vetting procedures of Caribbean CBI applications, suggesting they may not be strong sufficient to stop potential safety dangers from coming into the Schengen space visa-free. As such, there’s mounting proof that the EU is contemplating suspending visa-free journey privileges for nationals of Caribbean nations with CBI applications if these considerations will not be addressed. As a former high-ranking diplomat, this shouldn’t be misplaced on Dr. Hilaire.
As an alternative, the Member for Castries South selected to neglect one in all his key parliamentary tasks by not addressing his ministerial portfolio in Parliament on the funds. Honourable Ernest Hilaire’s muteness within the Home of Meeting was maybe pivoted on the axis of political mischief, design with crafty malice and was premeditatedly and circumspectly calibrated with toxic quiet political venom of the worst form. At its core, this act on the a part of the Member of Parliament for Castries South implies that his motion was deliberate prematurely and composed in a cautious and methodical method.
This system or method of political engineering was artfully executed, with ability and precision as a political technique within the Home of Meeting. One of these maneuverings seems to be typically per the view that the agenda of the “occasion “and the workplace or tenure of ‘a ruler has paramountcy with absolute energy and supreme jurisdiction over the federal government of a state.
Once they declare to be placing individuals first, what they’re in truth doing—cleverly and strategically—is putting the occasion’s financial and political ideology on the forefront. This ideology, typically offered as a car for empowerment, subtly positions itself because the driving pressure behind the nation’s financial and social buildings, selling social possession of political management below the guise of public curiosity.
Such an method displays a broader alignment with financial, political, and social actions that are inclined to depart from the ideas of consultant democracy, favouring as a substitute centralized authority masked as collective will. Beneath the rhetoric of prioritizing the individuals lies a fastidiously constructed framework the place the loyalty to occasion doctrine supersedes real democratic engagement and consultant politics, regularly blurring the traces between governance for the individuals and management over the individuals.
Due to this fact, it’s crucial to ship a transparent and unequivocal message, delivered with fierce urgency, that occasion paramountcy must not ever be elevated above the broader crucial of nationwide unity and cohesive nation-building. The pursuits of a political occasion should not eclipse the collective aspirations of the individuals or undermine the foundations of inclusive governance and long-term nationwide progress.
I due to this fact pose these six questions on to Dr. Hilaire: Ought to the individuals of Castries South and Saint Lucians at giant interpret your silence as a scarcity of help for the funds? Was your resolution to not converse based mostly on the truth that there’s little or nothing within the funds for Castries South, and thus, you most popular not to attract consideration to that? Is it now your normal political technique to solely converse after Allen Chastanet, so you possibly can construct your contribution solely on rebuttal somewhat than proactive management and illustration? Did you exploit Allen Chastanet’s resolution to not converse as a handy protect to keep away from your personal accountability to the nation? If that’s the case, then you definately owe the Chief of Opposition a honest debt of gratitude for offering you with political cowl. Ought to your resolution be interpreted as an try to safeguard your public picture, simply as members of your occasion have so fervently urged the nation to do in your behalf? Lastly, Dr. Hilaire, was it Allen Chastanet who elected you, or was it the individuals of Castries South? Your silence suggests you’re extra involved about Allen Chastanet’s actions than in regards to the wants of your constituents.
What the nation, and notably the constituents of Castries South, witnessed was nothing lower than a blatant dereliction of responsibility. Importantly, Ernest should be reminded that it’s by the democratic political course of that the individuals entrusted him with the mandate to talk and act on their behalf. His failure to take action not solely mirror a dereliction of that accountability but additionally raises severe questions on his legitimacy and health to proceed representing the individuals of Castries South. Illustration just isn’t a title—it’s a responsibility.
Additional, this episode underscores a troubling sample of evading accountability, exemplified when Dr. Hilaire tabled a two-year-late Citizenship by Funding Annual Report in the course of the Minister’s Assertion phase of Parliament a procedural maneuver lauded by occasion trustworthy that conveniently shielded the report from parliamentary scrutiny. Disturbingly, this tactic was not solely enabled however successfully executed by each the Speaker and the Prime Minister.
Could I additionally remind the nation and specifically, the constituents of Castries South—that the Citizenship by Funding (CIP) Annual Report for 2023–2024 stays conspicuously overdue, constituting one more clear violation of statutory obligations. This ongoing disregard for transparency and legislative compliance is now not an remoted lapse it has seemingly develop into the modus operandi and normal working process of the Saint Lucia Labour Get together administration.
Disturbingly, this sample extends past the CIP. Different statutory businesses, such because the Nationwide Lottery Authority, have additionally didn’t desk their annual reviews, additional compounding the erosion of public belief. These actions signify a severe affront to the ideas of accountability, integrity, and good governance—ideas to which each and every public official is duty-bound. The individuals of Saint Lucia deserve transparency, not concealment. They deserve management, not avoidance.
Such practices undermine the ideas of democracy and accountable governance. We should demand higher, not solely from the Opposition however from these we entrusted with energy. Transferring ahead, the Standing Orders of the Home ought to be reviewed and amended to make sure that the Opposition just isn’t unfairly deprived throughout parliamentary proceedings. With out such reform, we threat persevering with a troubling pattern of silencing the minority, an act that undermines the very foundations of our democracy.
Importantly, the Standing Orders of the Home ought to be amended to incorporate a transparent and binding provision that requires Members of Authorities to contribute to the controversy on the Estimates of Income and Expenditure, as soon as they’re current within the Chamber. Given the important function that authorities ministers play in shaping the funds and influencing nationwide priorities, their participation shouldn’t be handled as optionally available or discretionary. Talking on the Estimates just isn’t merely a political courtesy—it’s a constitutional accountability and a matter of public accountability.
Maybe it’s time for Saint Lucia to think about adopting a extra structured and clear method to funds debates—much like the mannequin presently practiced in Jamaica. For example, in 2025, Minister for Finance and the Public Service, Hon. Fayval Williams, offered Jamaica’s Price range Estimates on March tenth. Two days later, on March thirteenth, Hon. Julian Robinson, the Shadow Minister of Finance, delivered a complete rebuttal to the federal government’s funds proposals. This was adopted on March sixteenth by a substantive contribution from Opposition Chief, Hon. Mark Golding, offering additional scrutiny and different coverage views.
Subsequently, on March twenty fifth, Prime Minister the Most Hon. Andrew Holness offered his response, culminating with Minister Williams’ closing presentation, throughout which she addressed and responded to the opposition’s critiques and considerations. This format permits a radical and significant interrogation of the numbers and proposals outlined within the nationwide funds, guaranteeing that the controversy stays substantive and coverage centered.
Following the overall debate, Jamaica’s Parliament then proceeds to the sectoral debates, the place every Minister outlines the budgetary priorities for his or her respective ministries. These are in flip met with responses from their corresponding Shadow Ministers from the other facet, permitting for a extra detailed, clear, and accountable examination of sector-specific plans. Such an method promotes deeper democratic engagement, strengthens parliamentary oversight, and in the end serves the general public curiosity by guaranteeing that each greenback proposed within the funds is rigorously justified.
As a nation, we should disabuse ourselves of the notion that such a sacred and consequential train because the nationwide funds ought to be confined to only a few hours of parliamentary debate. This method undermines the gravity of the method and shortchanges the general public’s proper to transparency, accountability, and thorough scrutiny of how their assets are being allotted and managed. Importantly, residents deserve to listen to immediately from these in command of key portfolios about how assets are being allotted and what outcomes are anticipated. Failing to mandate such participation dangers weakening the transparency, credibility and integrity of the budgetary course of, and undermines public belief in our parliamentary democracy.
“The tyranny of a prince in an oligarchy just isn’t so harmful to the general public welfare because the apathy of a citizen in a democracy.” – Montesquieu
————By Involved Castries South Constituent
