With Saint Lucians preparing to cast their ballots on Monday, the nation heard sharply contrasting final appeals from United Workers’ Party (UWP) Political Leader Allen Chastanet and Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, as both leaders addressed the public and framed the election as a defining crossroads for the country’s political and economic future.
In a nationally broadcast address, Chastanet mounted a fierce critique of the incumbent administration, urging voters to reflect on what he described as failures under the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP).
“On the other hand, you’ve also seen what happens when the Philip Pierre administration is in charge,” Chastanet said, accusing the government of dividing the nation, misleading the public about major infrastructure achievements, and presiding over worsening national conditions. He alleged “increased taxes, increased crime, increased national debt,” alongside “increased corruption, favoritism, silence, and fear of government,” while claiming declining performance across tourism, healthcare, and agriculture.
Positioning the UWP as the alternative, Chastanet described his party’s policy platform as a plan rooted in economic empowerment and national ambition.
“Our plan is bold because our people deserve bold. It is ambitious because our future demands ambition,” he stated, asserting that the UWP’s proposals are designed to remove barriers to wealth creation, help families retain more of their earnings, and build “true independence in every home and community.”
He outlined a series of pledged initiatives aimed at reshaping the country’s social and economic landscape, including strengthening policing with modern technology to create safer communities, lowering the cost of living, stimulating job creation island-wide, implementing national health insurance for affordable healthcare, introducing free tertiary education, constructing thousands of new homes, raising minimum wages for tourism workers, and diversifying the economy across agriculture, agro-processing, manufacturing, tourism, digital services, and the creative industries.
Chastanet insisted the platform was fully prepared for implementation.
“Our plan is not guesswork or experimentation. It is fully costed, fully deliverable, and ready for implementation,” he said, adding that the UWP intends to complete what he termed a “journey COVID interrupted.”
Responding to the opposition’s message, Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre addressed the nation on Sunday evening, offering voters his own assessment of the moment facing Saint Lucia. Pierre characterized the election as more than a contest between personalities or parties, calling it a pivotal choice between two competing visions for national direction.
“We face a choice that will shape our future. Not just a choice between two political parties or even two people. It’s a choice between two very different plans for where our country goes from here,” Pierre said.
Reflecting on the political history of the island, the Prime Minister drew a contrast between leadership that he said puts the people first and leadership marked by self-interest.
“Our island has seen good times and bad. We’ve had leaders who listened, who cared and put people first. And we’ve had leaders driven by ego, by headlines, by self-interest. We know the difference. And now, more than ever, we can’t afford to go back,” he cautioned.
Pierre noted that while his administration spent much of its term, in his words, repairing damage inherited from years of mismanagement and working to stabilize the economy, the next phase must move beyond recovery.
“The world is changing fast. Crises that begin across the ocean still reach our shores,” he said. “Though we’ve restored stability… repair alone is not enough. St. Lucia deserves better than simply getting back on track.”
Outlining Labour’s forward-looking agenda, Pierre emphasized national resilience, self-sufficiency, and inclusive development across all communities.
“Above all, a commitment to the people in every constituency and the island as a whole. That is the Labour Way,” he said, pledging continued efforts to grow the economy, prepare young people for future opportunities, and build “a Saint Lucia where everyone has a fair chance.”
The Prime Minister issued a pointed warning against a return to what he described as unsound leadership practices of the past.
“To stay with a team of proven leadership and steady hands or hand this country to the careless, the reckless, the untrustworthy and the vengeful,” he said, framing the vote as a decision between unity and renewed instability.
“You know my team. You know what it means to put people first,” Pierre added.
Closing his address, Pierre underscored the weight of individual participation in the democratic process.
“When you step into that polling station, you have a choice to make. The choice you make will determine whether St. Lucia rises with unity and opportunity or slides back into the hopelessness and instability we worked so hard to repair.”
