Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre has alleged that last week’s protest in Roseau, where residents blocked the road leading to Saint Lucia Distillers to demand road repairs, was politically motivated and aimed at damaging the country’s international reputation.
He also insisted that plans for the road improvement were already in place, and the demonstration was not the reason they began.
Last Friday morning, Roseau residents set up a roadblock that prevented vehicles from entering and exiting the distillery, disrupting deliveries and sales. Protesters said they were fed up with the deteriorating road conditions and excessive dust affecting their daily lives.
During Monday’s pre-Cabinet press briefing, Pierre charged that the demonstration was part of an effort to misrepresent conditions in Saint Lucia. He accused the opposition of being behind it.
“I believe, and that’s my belief, that this is a means of causing our country to look… bad… for foreign consumption,” he alleged.
The prime minister warned of potential economic fallout, stating, “We can get hurt where it matters—in our tourism industry, in our investment industry.”
Although the road repairs began within hours of the Roseau protest, the prime minister rejected claims that the protest was necessary to push the government into action, pointing out that roadworks were already in progress in the area.
“Right now, in the same constituency, there is work going on a major highway as we speak. There are millions of dollars of work going on in the same area as we speak,” he contended.
Wayne Girard, the Member of Parliament for Anse La Raye-Canaries, which includes Roseau, also maintained—as he did during the protest—that the demonstration was unnecessary, as work was already planned.
“Very interestingly, just a week ago, the engineers were on that very same road measuring it to commence work. So it was very interesting that some people were encouraged to take that action,” he said.
Girard also hinted that outside influences may have played a role in the protest. However, he reassured constituents that progress would continue.
“We are going to deliver to the people of Roseau as expected.
“As far as I’m concerned, my responsibility is to the people of Roseau, and I did what was in the best interest of the people of Roseau, irrespective of the politics,” he said, adding that the protest was “a matter for law enforcement officers to look into and realise what was the story behind that.”
