Pierre on Chastanet Snub: “Handshakes Are Voluntary”

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has shrugged off claims that he deliberately refused to shake hands with Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet during a church service on Sunday, suggesting that he did not see the moment as significant.

When asked about the alleged snub at the pre-Cabinet briefing on Monday, Pierre responded, “The last time I heard about handshakes, handshakes are voluntary.”

Pressed on whether political parties were still viewed as opponents rather than enemies, as they had been in the past, he added, “I have no enemies. My enemies are poverty, hatred, envy, and greed—these are my enemies.”

The controversy arose after the United Workers Party (UWP) claimed in a social media post that Prime Minister Pierre deliberately refused to shake Chastanet’s hand during the customary “sign of peace” at the St Joseph the Worker Parish Church in Gros Islet—“a clear and undeniable act witnessed by those in attendance”.

The special mass, held to celebrate the Jubilee Year of the Church, was attended by several dignitaries and public officials, including Pierre, government ministers, and Chastanet.

A video posted by the UWP showed Chastanet extending his hand toward Pierre, who seemed to turn away as the church choir sang, “Reach out and touch somebody’s hand, make this world a better place if you can.”

During the service, Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire urged political leaders to work to bring people together, adding that the Church must also play its part.

“I always say to people that politics, by its very nature, has a very divisive element in it because it is a colossal contest for leadership. The biggest challenge I think for leadership today is whether we can lead our people to unity or we can lead our people to outright division. What are we going to present to our people in the next few months, in the year or so?” he asked.

“Today, I want this jubilee of our leaders—of our government, both Cabinet and opposition—to be one that seeks after unity and the peace of our country, because we all together, we have a nation to build together.”