The nation woke up this morning to the announcement that Saint Lucia’s Parliament has been dissolved — and that general elections will be held on December 1, 2025.
As citizens begin weighing their choices, one online discussion has captured the heart of the public debate. On my Facebook page, I asked a simple but serious question:
“How much has really been spent on St. Jude, and what exactly have we gotten for it so far? Inquiring minds want to know!"
It was a question meant to spark reflection — and it did. Among the many responses, one stood out sharply for its depth, precision, and patriotic honesty. It came from none other than Dr. Alphonsus St. Rose, a proud Choiseulian by birth and long-time advocate for health reform and good governance.
Here’s what Dr. St. Rose had to say:
“Trust me, that tab from 2009 to 2025 (and still counting), spanning four administrations and sixteen years, must shamefully be in excess of half a billion dollars for that. What is even worse is we as a nation and a people are expected to celebrate (at its opening) that level of political negligence with no accountability or transparency. You will easier see a green donkey before you ever get to know the true cost of this contagion. It is for this reason we must command value and purpose to our vote by demanding our government to enact a FOIA, because unlike Caesar's wife, our governments are not beyond suspicion!”
A Question That Struck a Nerve
Dr. St. Rose’s response cuts to the bone of our national conscience. What started as a simple social media question quickly turned into a moment of reckoning for all Saint Lucians — especially those who have watched the St. Jude saga unfold for nearly two decades.
The hospital reconstruction project, born from the ashes of tragedy in 2009, has now become a lasting symbol of political failure and financial secrecy. Sixteen years, four administrations, and hundreds of millions later, Saint Lucians still have no clear public accounting of the total cost.
A National Lesson in Neglect
Each government has had its chance to “fix St. Jude.” Each one promised to deliver. Yet the final product has been delays, reworks, investigations, and shifting narratives. The end result is a structure clouded by mystery, mistrust, and unanswered questions.
As Dr. St. Rose boldly stated, we are expected to celebrate this outcome — as if completion alone justifies the political negligence that led us here. His “green donkey” metaphor captures the absurdity perfectly: it will take a miracle before Saint Lucians ever see the real figures or understand how their money was spent.
The Call for Transparency and FOIA
At the heart of his message lies a demand for a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) — legislation that would finally empower citizens to access government records, contracts, and expenditure data. Such an Act would prevent future governments from hiding behind confidentiality clauses or partisan spin.
Transparency should not depend on political convenience; it should be the default standard of governance. As Dr. St. Rose reminded us, “unlike Caesar’s wife, our governments are not beyond suspicion.”
An Election About Integrity
With elections now officially called, this conversation must rise beyond party lines. The St. Jude issue is not red or yellow — it is a national disgrace that calls for a new political culture.
Voters must now decide whether they will continue to reward empty talk and opacity, or whether they will use the power of their vote to demand accountability, audited results, and legislative reform.
As one citizen’s Facebook question met one Choiseulian’s fearless truth, the message became clear: Saint Lucia cannot afford another sixteen years of silence.
Until the people demand honesty in governance, we might all keep chasing that same green donkey down the same old road.
#AccountabilityNow #FOIAForStLucia #StJudeHospital #Elections2025 #ChoiseulSpeaks #TransparencyMatters
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