Tourism Minister and Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire has forcefully rejected allegations by the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) regarding the relocation of residents from Bannanes Bay as part of the area’s redevelopment.
Speaking to the media Tuesday, Dr. Hilaire described the opposition’s statements as “dishonest” and “hypocritical,” and pledged to lay key documents before Parliament next week in defense of the government’s actions.
At the heart of the controversy is the ongoing relocation of Bannanes Bay residents to facilitate development works associated with the island’s cruise infrastructure. Opposition figures, including UWP’s Castries South candidate, Tommy Descartes, has accused the government of forcibly displacing vulnerable residents without proper consultation.
Dr. Hilaire firmly dismissed the claims, stating, “There is so much dishonesty and hypocrisy in the conversation… I’ll be very blunt, it’s very, very dishonest.” He noted that similar plans were initiated under the UWP government as far back as 2018, when Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. had entered into discussions to redevelop the area under conditions that, alleged, included no provisions for the current residents.
Referencing a post he made in May 2016, Dr. Hilaire claimed that the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) had long envisioned a community-inclusive redevelopment of Bannanes Bay, contrary to what he said were UWP’s previous intentions to “bulldoze” the area and remove the residents.
“In 2018, the leader of the opposition visited Bannanes Bay with then Mayor Peterson Francis, accompanied by police,” Hilaire recounted. “There was talk at the time that everyone would be removed because the area was considered to be occupied by squatters. That was their plan.”
According to Hilaire, the SLP administration, upon taking office, renegotiated the framework with Global Ports Holding (GPH) and insisted that residents be engaged meaningfully throughout the process. He pointed to meetings, consultations, and even financial literacy workshops organized for affected residents as evidence of a people-centered approach.
“We have videos, we have pictures, we have testimonials from residents who support the development,” he said. “SLASPA, which owns the land, has been working closely with residents, including hiring an expert on resettlement, hosting collective and individual consultations, and providing dispute resolution mechanisms.”
Dr. Hilaire also criticized the opposition’s track record on public consultation, referencing the relocation of truckers from Bannanes Bay to Cul-de-Sac during the UWP administration, which he claims displaced Goodlands residents from their informal cricket field without dialogue.
“The UWP never consulted with the residents of Bannanes or Goodlands then,” he said. “Now they want to lecture us on how to treat people?”
He went further to challenge recent media interviews with residents critical of the government’s handling of the situation, stating that some of those individuals had already accepted compensation. “They should be asked if they’ve already collected their checks,” he remarked.
Throughout the address, Hilaire acknowledged that no government is perfect, but argued that the SLP has consistently demonstrated its commitment to protecting vulnerable communities.
“We will make mistakes because we are human,” he said. “But the UWP cannot lecture us on putting people first. If there is any government that cares, it is the Philip J. Pierre administration.”
Dr. Hilaire is expected to table supporting documents in Parliament on Tuesday, including the 2018 Royal Caribbean agreement and records of consultations with residents, as part of a ministerial statement on the Bannanes Bay redevelopment.
