During the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) briefing on Tuesday, October 1, Dominic Fedee, former Minister of Tourism, Information and Broadcasting, outlined the party’s proposed reforms for Saint Lucia’s justice system.
Fedee, the second deputy leader of the UWP, expressed concern about the current administration’s handling of the system and emphasised the UWP’s intent to make changes.
“The UWP is sure of one thing: we need to make sure that that system is a lot more effective,” Fedee stated, highlighting a need for more efficient court processes and improved witness protection programs.
He asserted that such measures would encourage witnesses to come forward, aiding in resolving crime-related issues across the country.
Additionally, Fedee discussed the UWP’s broader economic strategy aimed at job creation, suggesting the importance of building a robust economy that benefits all sectors of society.
“We will not … build economic opportunities in Saint Lucia in enclaves but create opportunities especially in inner city areas [and] especially in rural communities that are looking for an opportunity,” he said. This approach, he believes, will help alleviate frustration among young, talented individuals who feel overlooked.
Fedee also addressed equality issues before the law, criticising what he described as an imbalance in legal access.
He pointed to the case of Mc Claude Emmanuel’s involvement in controversy regarding the operation of the Citizenship by Investment (CIP) program.
Emmanuel is the Citizenship by Investment Unit’s Chief Executive Officer (CEO).
Fedee declared that taxpayers should not bear the legal costs for politicians and other officials. “You, the taxpayers of this country, have to pay for this personal case,” the senior UWP official remarked.
The former minister stressed the UWP’s considerations to invest in legal aid, ensuring that justice is accessible to all citizens, regardless of their financial situation.
“Often times you have to meet the very expensive cost of trying to find justice, very often that cost is out of reach of you, your family, you have to put up your property… we are in a quagmire,” he stated while proposing the need for systemic changes to ensure fairness in the justice system.
