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Tuesday, November 25, 2025

⭐ THE ECONOMY: Stability vs Expansion

The economy is always the heart of any manifesto — and here, the SLP and UWP paint two very different pictures of Saint Lucia’s present and future.

🔴 SLP: “We Fixed It.”

The SLP opens its scorecard with a strong argument:
the economy has been stabilised since 2021.

Their claims include:

  • Moving from a $117M deficit to a $95M surplus
  • Achieving the lowest unemployment in recorded history (about 8.8%)
  • Introducing a national minimum wage
  • Providing tax refunds to 8,000+ citizens
  • Raising the income tax threshold to $30,000
  • Clearing back pay and government arrears

THE MESSAGE:
“You can trust us with the economy — we repaired it and protected households.”

🟡 UWP: “We Will Grow It Faster.”

The UWP narrative is the opposite.
They argue that SLP slowed the economy and that Saint Lucia needs bigger, bolder, more aggressive expansion.

Their plans include:

  • New large-scale investments
  • Lower taxes across multiple sectors
  • A $75,000 National Health Insurance plan
  • Major tourism expansion
  • More public-private partnerships
  • Faster job creation through infrastructure and foreign investment

THE MESSAGE:
“The country needs speed, scale, and ambition — and only we deliver that.”

⚖️ HEAD-TO-HEAD SUMMARY

Issue SLP Approach UWP Approach
Fiscal Balance Stabilise, reduce deficit, move to surplus Grow economy aggressively
Taxes Relief for households, higher tax exemption Broader tax cuts
Jobs Youth entrepreneurship, gradual growth Large investment + fast job creation
Investment Style Measured, accountable, community-focused Big projects and PPPs
Tone “We delivered already.” “We will launch bigger things.”

🧭 WHAT THIS MEANS FOR VOTERS

If a voter values stability, debt control, and steady improvement, SLP’s message resonates.

If a voter prefers rapid development, large-scale investment, and tax-cut-driven growth, UWP’s message stands out.

Saint Lucia must choose between two philosophies:

  • Build carefully
  • Expand boldly

Both offer benefits — but both come with different risks and trade-offs.

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