Opposition United Workers Party (UWP) officials and supporters gathered outside the House of Parliament in Castries on Tuesday to protest against what they described as the “deceitful behaviour” of the ruling Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) government.
The UWP rallied, calling for transparency and answers to the many pressing questions surrounding government actions and policies.
Chants of “We want answers!”, “Where’s our money?”, and “SLP must go!” echoed through the streets as protesters expressed frustration with the government’s handling of critical issues, including health care, government finances, and public infrastructure.
UWP Leader Allen Chastanet addressed reporters outside Parliament before entering the session. When asked why he urged his supporters to protest, Chastanet clarified, “I didn’t. I said the people of Saint Lucia individually must make a decision with what’s going on with healthcare in this country.”
Chastanet criticised the lack of operational health care centers across Castries North, East, Central, and South, forcing citizens to rely solely on the OKEU Hospital, which he claimed is overwhelmed and dysfunctional. “This is not the sign of a caring government. That’s why this government has their priorities wrong,” Chastanet added.
According to him, under his administration, the UWP would have deployed a mobile hospital—a resource negotiated with the U.S. government before he left office. The mobile hospital, according to Chastanet, has been sitting in storage since the 2021 elections and could have been utilised to relieve pressure on the OKEU Hospital.
UWP spokesperson Lenard “Spider” Montoute also took aim at the government’s lack of transparency regarding the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP). “We have no information about how many passports have been sold, how much money has been made, or where the funds have gone,” Montoute stated.
“The Prime Minister is no longer fit to stay in office, and we demand a fresh general election,” Montoute declared, reflecting the mood of the demonstrators who continued to push for greater transparency and governmental accountability.
As protests continue, the UWP insists that the government must answer to the people of Saint Lucia and rectify what they see as deceitful and ineffective governance.
