Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) candidate for Castries Southeast, Lisa Jawahir, delivered an emotionally charged address to Forestiere residents, grounding her message in what she described as the transformative, people-first policies championed by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre.
Jawahir told residents that her personal story reflects “what government can achieve when led by a man committed to fairness, opportunity, and dignity for all.”
“Your daughter is standing here because of the policies of the Labour Party,” she declared.
Recounting her upbringing in a household overwhelmed by financial hardship, Jawahir said she grew up unsure whether she could afford secondary school, much less imagine a future in national leadership. “I wrote Common Entrance not knowing how we would pay for school,” she said. “I was almost hungry because the future felt so uncertain.”
She said that uncertainty changed because of Labour Party policy. Jawahir reminded residents of the Bursary Assistance Programme, introduced under former Prime Minister Dr. Kenny Anthony and expanded over time. She said her family received a $500 cheque through the programme—support she credits with keeping her in school and reshaping her life’s trajectory. “That is the power of people-centered policy,” she said. “And today, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre continues that legacy, strengthening support systems, expanding access, and breaking the cycle of poverty for families just like mine.” Jawahir asserted.
The political hopeful anchored much of her message in what she described as the Pierre administration’s “people-first” philosophy. She highlighted policies that she said are already making a difference in communities like Forestiere.
She pointed to the introduction of free early childhood education, saying that “for the first time, parents don’t have to choose between paying rent and sending their child to preschool. Philip J. Pierre made that possible.”
Jawahir also referenced the government’s payment of all CXC exam fees, which she described as a “game-changing” intervention for struggling parents. “How many young men had to drop out because they couldn’t pay for five CXC subjects? Pierre said, ‘Not anymore.’ Today, every child, rich or poor, gets the same chance.”
She further claimed that the administration’s increased support for young professionals—including the payment of facilities fees for nursing students, expanded scholarships, and new training opportunities—represents “investment in our future.”
Jawahir also praised what she described as strengthened social support systems, which she said ensure that vulnerable households are not left behind as the country develops. From assistance to struggling families to support for police recruits, she argued that Pierre’s focus remains “upliftment, security, and dignity.”
“Philip J. Pierre believed in me,” she told the crowd.
Jawahir spoke candidly about her introduction to national politics, recalling that she felt unprepared when the Prime Minister called her in 2020.
“Philip J. Pierre said, ‘Sister Lisa, I want to make you an Opposition Senator.’ I didn’t even know what a senator really was,” she said with a laugh. “But he knew I could serve. He believed in me, before I believed in myself.”
She said Pierre’s confidence in her, and in young people generally, reflects what she views as his empowering leadership style.
Jawahir also addressed what she said was misinformation about the Forestiere Playing Field. She claimed that the suggestion that the SLP government stopped the lighting project was “a lie.”
According to her, the previous administration attempted to relocate inadequate lights from Soufriere to Forestiere lights she said experts found unsuitable for cricket. She further alleged that “just before the election, those same lights were moved again to fool the young people.”
Jawahir told residents that, under Pierre’s leadership, she has already secured proper lighting for the field. She promised that these lights “will be installed.”
“This is what people-first leadership looks like,” she said.
Jawahir ended her address by reiterating that her own experience not theory or politics, she said demonstrates what the Labour Party and Prime Minister Pierre stand for.
“We know what poverty is,” she told the crowd. “But we also know how to rise above it when leadership invests in us.”
Her message to Forestiere, she said, was clear: Pierre’s policies lifted her, his administration is lifting families across Saint Lucia, and with their support, she intends to continue that work in Castries Southeast.
“Forestiere,” she said, “if you believe in opportunity, fairness, and a government that truly cares, stand with Philip J. Pierre. Stand with the Saint Lucia Labour Party. And stand with me.”
