Tomorrow is not promised: Give the people what they want

– “If citizens are not embroiled in a constant drunken stupor and fetes then they have time and something to think about how their lives are governed and to figure out what’s going on with Health and Citizen Security Levy (HCSL), and other socio-political things.”~ St Lucia’s HCST should be abolished.

By Caribbean News Global contributor

SOUFRIERE, St Lucia – ‘Three years of Liberation from Mental and Financial Slavery 26.07.2021’ and narratives to ‘be thankful, lots to be proud about as a country,’ the cornerstone to celebrating the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), victory and governance.

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, on the occasion of the third anniversary, delivered a national address, stating, in part:

“As a party, we remain committed to delivering governance that is based on values, ethics and standards in public life.” – “We have governed with compassion and a desire to unite our country once again. I invited two independent MPs to join my Cabinet to show that as a country, we can work together despite political differences.”

“We have embraced all Saint Lucians who mean well and want our country to progress. We have demonstrated confidence in our judiciary by making the Caribbean Court of Justice as our final Appellant Court.” – “… we believe in the transformative power of education, the power of access to knowledge. We are placing an emphasis on skills with thousands of placements for free skills courses.

“Health is wealth and we are making great strides in providing better care and prevention. Universal Health Coverage is already benefitting seniors as well as expecting mothers and children.” – “Our efforts at food security continue through initiatives like the Farm Labour Support Programme so that our farmers can be more productive.”

“And in your pockets, your government understands the impact that the world has been struggling with that have caused increase prices to rise called inflation.” – Next week, [August 1] we will also introduce a minimum wage for Saint Lucia.

“[Today], more people are better off. We have seen continuous economic growth over the past three years. We’ve seen increased investment in both the public and private sectors.

“We are investing in upgrading our highways, bridges and roads. We are seeing significant investment in retail plazas and malls, hotel resorts and restaurants. We have attracted over $1 billion in Foreign Direct Assistance (FDI), which will be rolled out in the coming years.”

“The challenges and threats to governance still exist, including threats to our security.”  “We have a lot to be thankful for, and a lot to be proud about as a country.” ~ Philip J Pierre.

Caribbean News Global (CNG) reached out to contributors for comments on the prime minister’s speech.

“Missed opportunity again,” said a political and content consultant. “The speech was low on transformative content and substance.”

A reaction from a tourism and travel expert, said: “We are living in another universe different from these guys!”

Related Links:

Core values and pillars of society

Celebrating three years in government and governance provides the opportunity to examine core values and beliefs, and the guiding principles that influence conduct and policy decisions.

There is another concept that pertains to the pillars of society to which one governs. And, in the context of Saint Lucia, there is the declaration described by a tourism and travel expert, that: “The government is governing a ‘concept’ that does not exist.”

Interestingly, this intertwines with core values, to denote that “ The current construct of government/governance has no objective reality or being.”

To contrast “exist” – “existence” – “nonexistence and nonbeing” are essential features or qualities that must be understood, to have the objective reality of living under favourable and/or unfavourable conditions.

Three years of the ‘intention to deliver, on putting people First” has everything to do with improving people’s livelihoods. The pillars of which should be structured on the economy – providing access to business and external markets, expanding trade and job creation, healthcare and education.

The delivery of higher education, using new technology to improve human resources capability, environment and development infrastructure is adrift. The focus and driving force paired with economic development is nonfigurative.

Included in the societal pillar embodies culture/arts – the embodiment of who we are – our heritage, diversity and knowledge transfer that identifies the unique island of Saint Lucia.

Healthcare is by all citations, terrible to talk about paraphrasing (it does not exist) and to interpret the justice system in two unfavourables; there is no objective reality or being in support of sustainable and lawful livelihoods.

The messaging and three years of governance have not awakened the vibrance and ingenuity of Saint Lucia and induced the ‘substance of governance’ despite many opportunities to do so. (Social entrepreneurship, via ideological dogma and laissez-faire economics.) The socioeconomic base is flatline. The politico is central to individualism and their cronies, making “secret deals,” publicly confessed by the commerce minister. In government, the making of lofty, questionable public and business agreements are subject to inquiry. The optics are ostensible, not “wired” but “just dumb!”

When the going gets weird

There is a pressing need to halt the reversal and degradation of the values of Saint Lucia society and to affirm the pillars towards a well-functioning society.

How? Policymakers and their policies need to stabilise debt and inflation; and raise the standard of living – job creation, healthcare, education, law enforcement, agriculture/agri-business and infrastructure development.

Economic resilience must boost productivity, while governance and the public sector service delivery transition to high-integrity and output.

The pursuit of public and private investments must align with Saint Lucia’s values and the pillars of investments must define commitment and ingenuity towards shared climate and economic goals.

A tipping point

The approach to issues, opportunities and challenges is approaching a tipping point of social and economic imperative.

Samuel Bowers writes: “The specific risks we face from laissez-faire economics is a disintegration of our communities, as individuals not only pursue their best interests but also privatize their miseries in ways that generate public anger, antisocial behaviour and increase homicides (#48/49-July 30). All of which are features of Saint Lucian society today.”

A Facebook commentator notes: “SLP celebrating three years of patronage economy.”

The retort expounded: “Asked yourself why the opposition with all of the noise they are making they can’t get any significant number of Saint Lucians to protest with them simply because the majority of Saint Lucians are satisfied with the progress the country is making and the state of the economy. So you can talk and say whatever you want that’s your right, but the reality is Saint Lucia has never been better managed.

“The fact is the majority of Saint Lucians believe it would be suicide to re-elect Chastanet because of the reckless mismanagement of our country.”

Prime Minister Pierre recently emphasized the importance of leveraging Africa’s vast resources, including its mineral wealth, arable land, and youthful population, to achieve sustainable development goals. Emphasis was also placed on Saint Lucia’s innovative “Youth Economy” initiative, which focuses on empowering young people through entrepreneurship, education, and skills development.

Looking ahead to drive progress requires acting on a shared understanding for long-term economic prosperity while offering a combination of financing and new tools.

The concept of catalyzing new business models and mobilising investments supports the fusion of available resources in an enabling environment of partners – innovation, government facilitation, policy coherence, and investment financing to facilitate growth prospects.

In the absence of these outcomes – Saint Lucia is shock-prone to adverse special effects.

There is work to be done, not celebrations, bakes and chicken legs (no sauce) and the constant government facilitation of drunken stupor and fetes.

@GlobalCaribbean