The Crime Crisis: A Clear and Present Danger to Philip J. Pierre’s Re-Election Chances in 2026

Let’s not sugar-coat it. Crime in Saint Lucia has reached alarming levels, and it is no longer just a social issue—it is a political time bomb. If the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), under the leadership of Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, does not act decisively and transparently to stem the tide of criminal violence, the consequences at the polls in 2026 could be brutal. The public is watching, hurting, and growing impatient. And in politics, perception is everything.

Crime Is the Elephant in the Room

For too long, the SLP has downplayed or deflected when it comes to the spiraling homicide rate, gang violence, and the general breakdown in law and order. The numbers don’t lie. Year after year, Saint Lucia continues to record one of the highest per capita murder rates in the region. Citizens are living in fear—business owners are losing sleep, parents are terrified for their children, and entire communities feel abandoned.

And while the government continues to tout infrastructure projects and economic numbers, it’s clear that none of that matters if people don’t feel safe. You can’t drive on a new road if you're afraid you might get shot before you get home. You can’t enjoy a better minimum wage if you’re mourning the death of your teenage son who was in the wrong place at the wrong time. Crime cancels out progress.

Pierre’s Achilles Heel

Philip J. Pierre came to power promising “People First.” But in the eyes of many, that slogan rings hollow when gangs are ruling the streets and justice feels like a distant dream. His administration has yet to demonstrate a firm, effective strategy for national security. The National Security Ministry under his watch is seen as underwhelming and reactive, not proactive. A few community programs and lip service to youth development won’t cut it when the bullets are flying.

Worse yet, there’s an emerging narrative—especially in UWP circles and among independents—that Pierre’s government is more concerned with optics than outcomes. That they prioritize political survival over public safety. That the SLP will protect loyalty over competence in their appointments. This kind of talk sticks, especially when backed by rising crime stats and visible street violence.

The Political Cost of Fear

In a small island democracy like Saint Lucia, fear becomes a potent political force. And right now, fear is swelling. Fear of break-ins, fear of carjackings, fear of gang retaliation. This fear turns into anger. And that anger turns into votes—against the incumbent.

Come 2026, voters will not just be assessing what Pierre has built—they’ll be asking what he has failed to protect. If the SLP goes into the next election with crime still out of control, Pierre’s record will be torn apart by opponents and weaponized in every constituency. Safe seats will feel the heat. Marginal seats will swing. The narrative of "change" that got him elected in 2021 could easily be turned against him if people start to believe anyone is better than a government that can’t keep them safe.

The Clock Is Ticking

Pierre still has time, but not much. He must lead the charge against crime—not delegate it to ministers, not bury it in bureaucratic committees, not spin it through PR campaigns. The country needs real action. Real results. Real leadership.

If not, the SLP will walk into the 2026 general elections with blood on its hands—not just politically, but in the minds of a public that no longer feels safe. And in politics, that’s not just a liability—it’s a death sentence.

🌟 Kina Nicholas: From Debreuil to the World as a 2025 Chevening Scholar 🇱🇨🎓

A proud and powerful moment has dawned upon the community of Choiseul-Saltibus, and indeed, all of Saint Lucia. One of our own, the brilliant and ambitious Kina Nicholas of Debreuil, Choiseul, has been named a 2025 Chevening Scholar!

The Chevening Scholarship—funded by the UK Government—is one of the world’s most prestigious international scholarship programs. It offers outstanding emerging leaders from around the globe the chance to pursue a one-year master’s degree in the United Kingdom. But Chevening is so much more than a scholarship—it’s an investment in individuals who have the passion, vision, and drive to shape a better world. And Kina is a perfect embodiment of that vision.

Chevening Scholar

Daughter of the Soil

The daughter of Lynette Nicholas, Kina grew up in the humble but proud community of Debreuil. From an early age, her brilliance shone through—her curiosity, resilience, and unwavering drive made her stand out as a leader in the making. Today, her journey takes her all the way to the halls of some of the UK's finest academic institutions. But even as she rises, she carries with her the heartbeat of Choiseul, the warmth of our people, and the hopes of a new generation.

Impact Beyond Borders

Kina’s Chevening journey will be more than just academic. As part of a global network of change-makers, she will have the chance to influence conversations on development, innovation, and leadership. And when she returns home, Saint Lucia will be richer—not just with knowledge, but with purpose, connections, and ideas that can spark real change.

We Celebrate You, Kina!

We beam with pride as Kina lifts the Saint Lucian flag high. Her success is a testament to hard work, sacrifice, and the power of dreams. She inspires not just the young girls of Debreil, but the entire Choiseul-Saltibus constituency and every Saint Lucian striving for more.

Congratulations, Kina Nicholas!

May your journey be fruitful, your purpose be fulfilled, and your light shine brighter with every step.

Choiseul is proud. Saint Lucia is proud. You were born for this.

God bless you!

Bradley Thanks Choiseul-Saltibus – The Journey Continues with Flex!

Four years in opposition have been no easy road, Bradly laments; they have tested his strength, sharpened his vision, and deepened his love for the people of Choiseul-Saltibus. He continues, "Yet, here I stand—stronger, more determined, and more fired up than ever before!"

"To every single person who stood in line, braving the heat, the wait, and the uncertainty just to place that powerful “X” for Flex—I THANK YOU." He is very much aware that trust is not taken lightly and that each vote was not just a mark on a ballot, but a voice declaring that Choiseul-Saltibus deserves leadership with heart, courage, and unwavering dedication.

This journey is far from over. In fact, it’s only the beginning of the next chapter. "The fire still burns within me, the mission to serve and uplift this community still lives on, and the love I have for you—my people—remains unshakable!" Flex reiterates

Flex reminds his constituents that they have weathered storms before, and together, we will rise again. Like the sun that sets only to rise brighter and stronger at dawn, Flex is ready to rise for Choiseul-Saltibus!

Bradly is confident that as we continue this program of progress, unity, and empowerment, he promises this: "Our best days are ahead. With your continued support, we will build on the foundation we’ve started and create a future that every Choiseul-Saltibus resident can be proud of."

The journey continues, the passion is alive, and together, we will make it happen.

Flex 💛

"The sun sets only to rise again. We will rise again!"

Living on Crown Land for 30+ Years? Here's What You Need to Know…

There’s been a lot of talk lately about people who have been living on Crown land (government land) for decades. Some believe that after 30 years, the land becomes theirs automatically. But let’s set the record straight:

Under the law of Saint Lucia, this is not true.

Even if you've lived on Crown land for 30, 40, or even 50 years — that land does not become yours unless the government gives you legal permission or a title.

So what happens to long-time squatters?

From time to time, the government may run programs to “regularize” these situations. That means: ✅ Offering people a chance to buy the land at a reduced cost

✅ Helping with official documents or leases

✅ Granting legal title in special cases

BUT — this is not a right, and it doesn’t happen automatically. It’s more like a special offer or amnesty. The government is not legally required to give you the land — it’s a choice they make to help regularize informal settlements.

A Bottom Line:

Living on Crown land for decades doesn’t make you the owner.

Only the government can give you legal title.

If you’ve been living on Crown land for many years, look out for official government programs and take advantage of them when they come!

Help spread the truth. Let’s all stay informed and encourage each other to work within the law.

#CrownLand #KnowYourRights #StLuciaLaw #HousingFacts #PublicAwareness #RayneauOnTheMove

Why Students Are Failing Math—and What We’re Getting Wrong

Picture this:

The school bell hasn’t rung yet, and a group of students is huddled over a notebook, frantically copying down last night’s math homework. Not because they didn’t care to do it, but because somewhere along the way, they were taught that points matter more than understanding. That ticking a box is more important than mastering a concept.

Sound familiar?

It should. It’s the daily reality in too many classrooms across the St Lucia—and it's a significant factor behind the concerning trends in Math performance in recent CPEA exams.

Let’s be honest. Math isn't the enemy here. It's the system.

Just ask any frustrated student who scored poorly despite putting in hours of homework… or any burnt-out teacher grading yet another worksheet filled with guesswork instead of real growth.

The truth is, we’ve built a school culture obsessed with compliance.

Finish the homework. Memorize the method. Ace the test.

And if you don’t? Well, better luck next time.

But here's a radical idea—what if we threw that tradition out the window?

That’s what one teacher, Jake, did. No more one-and-done tests. No more homework that students rushed through or copied at the last minute. Instead, he built a classroom based on feedback, retakes, and most importantly—growth.

And guess what?

The results were everything we hoped for in Math education.

Higher test scores. More confident students. And teachers who weren’t running on empty.

The Numbers Don’t Lie

Recent data from Saint Lucia's 2024 CPEA results highlight the issue. While the overall national mean improved to 77.08%, the Math scores told a different story. The national mean for Mathematics was 73.09%, lagging behind other subjects like Science, Language, and Social Studies, which all scored above 77.9% .

This stagnation in Math contrasts with significant improvements in other subjects, indicating a systemic issue in how we approach Math education.

So why are so many of our classrooms still stuck?

Because we’re clinging to a system that’s not working.

A system where students are racing for grades—not understanding.

Where fear of failure is stronger than the desire to learn.

CPEA scores are telling us something. They’re a wake-up call.

Not that our kids aren’t smart. Not that they’re lazy.

But that we need to rethink how we teach Math.

Imagine a classroom where students can make mistakes without penalty. Where they can take a second shot at a concept, and actually get better because of it. Where learning is the goal—not just passing.

That’s the kind of shift we need. From points to progress.

From performance pressure to purpose-driven learning.

Because if we want different results, we have to dare to teach differently.

It’s not just about Math. It’s about giving our students a fighting chance to love learning again.

Call to Action:

Parents, engage with your child’s teacher about how feedback is utilized in the classroom. Teachers, consider implementing one small change toward growth-based learning next school year. It could make all the difference in how our children perform… and more importantly, how they learn.

PUTTING PIERRE FIRST - By Anonymous

Philip J Pierre

Tension is rising in Choiseul about who the selected candidate for the St. Lucia Labour Party will be for the forth-coming general elections. What started as ‘promising’ that four individuals had indicated their willingness to contest the seat became less so as a fifth individual joined the race long after the deadline for applications had been closed and the initial four individuals had been interviewed (at least once).

WHY WAS THE PROCESS REOPENED?

Anxiety immediately started growing once the latest application was accepted and the individual had been interviewed. Constituents then began asking various questions, among them:

Is the last applicant the preferred candidate of ‘the parry’?

What advantage(s) does the last applicant bring, given that he was the current district representative’s attaché?

Is it that the initial four candidates lack the social and political profile of ‘the party’?

It is fair to say that none of these questions has been answered either by the ‘the party’ or the constituents themselves.

THE IMPLICATIONS

Months after the intimal interviews, no announcements have been made regarding the situation as speculation and division grow among the constituents. Understandingly so, the memories of the last general elections have resurfaced with the emphasis again placed on the party executives’ disregard for the wishes of the local electorate. What has emerged is a complex web of possibilities none of which brings any advantage to the selected candidate at wining the incumbent parliamentary representative at the general elections as things stand on the ground. The key issues at play seem to be:

A GENUINE commitment on the parts of individual contestants to support whoever is selected.  Given that it is alleged that at least one contestant disclosed at an interview that he will not support the lone female contestant, genuine commitment seems unlikely.  

The publicly known fact that TWO of the current contestants, including the last contestant, DID NOT support the selected candidate in the last general elections certainly raises concern.

The CAPACITY of the individual contestants to influence their base to support the selected candidate whoever that may be, is also a mammoth challenge.

The EFFORT AND RESOURCES required to REUNITE a clearly divided local electorate, and in addition, TO FIGHT THE OPPOSITION  while can yield benefits will have to be tremendous. Petty roadside contracts may not suffice.

THE FINAL DECISION vs POPULAR CHOICE

Who becomes the selected candidate remains any body’s guess. But clearly, the only clue offered so far lies in the selectors’ decision to reopen the process of selection well after the set deadline. Whether or not facilitating/selecting that last contestant reflects popular choice is a different matter that matters a WHOLE LOT. So the hope is that the process reflects popular choice, which at the moment is very visibly NOT the last contestant. 

PUTTING THE PM FIRST

The catch phrase of the Prime minister has been PUTTING THE PEOPLE FIRST, and certainly, the many projects and initiatives of Prime Minister so far, reflect that mantra. So the expectation is that the phrase will hold for the people of Choiseul as it pertains to their preferred choice of candidate reflected by survey after survey. Until the outcome of the selection process i'm PUTTING PIERRE FIRST.

Editor's note : The author of this piece requested that his name be withheld.

In Defense of Boldness: Allen Chastanet's Call Wasn't Folly—It Was Leadership

 In its June 21 editorial, The Jamaica Gleaner painted St. Lucia’s Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet as a political maverick lost in a “twilight zone” for merely daring to question the effectiveness of CARICOM. But if asking uncomfortable questions that reflect the lived frustrations of many CARICOM member states is “folly,” then perhaps we need more of that so-called madness.

Let’s be honest: CARICOM, for all its noble ideals, has underperformed. Its well-documented “implementation deficit,” glacial pace of integration, and habit of overlooking the concerns of smaller member states are not myths—they are recurring frustrations. Mr. Chastanet, in speaking to fellow OECS leaders, voiced the silent discontent many leaders are too diplomatic—or too fearful—to utter. That is not recklessness. That is leadership.

The Right to Question

The editorial insists that Mr. Chastanet’s question—“Would we be better off negotiating bilateral agreements rather than remaining in CARICOM?”—is dangerous. But is it really? Asking whether CARICOM still works as intended is not the same as calling for its destruction. In fact, it is a necessary question that any responsible leader should be willing to examine—especially given the deepening challenges of regional inequality, climate change, food insecurity, and global political shifts.

Let us not forget that institutions must evolve or risk irrelevance. CARICOM was formed in 1973. Today’s geopolitical landscape, economic dynamics, and youth expectations are not the same. If CARICOM is beyond criticism, then it is already beyond saving.

A Voice for the Marginalized

Mr. Chastanet’s recollection of feeling disrespected and ignored during CARICOM deliberations is not an isolated complaint—it is a reflection of a structural imbalance in the regional bloc. Smaller states like those in the OECS often feel like silent partners in a conversation dominated by the more populous countries. If the voices of smaller members are not being taken seriously, what incentive is there to remain bound to a structure that doesn’t evolve?

Rather than attack the messenger, regional leaders and commentators ought to examine the message. Instead of dismissing Chastanet’s words as irresponsible, the region should ask why he—and many others—feel this way. Ignoring the problem doesn’t make it go away.

The Real Risk: Complacency

The Gleaner rightly points out that CARICOM is

 an “imperfect institution”—but then uses that as a shield against change. That logic is exactly why regionalism has stagnated. If not now, then when is the time to evaluate the usefulness of our institutions? And who better than someone who has sat at the highest levels of CARICOM decision-making to raise those questions?

Let’s also not overlook the irony: the same editorial admits Jamaica once withdrew from the West Indies Federation—yet still feels entitled to scold others for contemplating similar paths. Jamaica, too, knows what it means to question regional alliances when national interest is at stake.

A Wake-Up Call

Far from being a loose cannon, Allen Chastanet is acting as a catalyst for an overdue conversation. The Caribbean doesn’t need cheerleaders for the status quo. It needs leaders unafraid to challenge institutional inertia and spark debate about how we actually move forward—together or otherwise.

So no, Allen Chastanet hasn’t lost his way. He’s just walking a road fewer have the courage to tread.