Saint Lucia now stands at a defining moment—one where political reward must give way to national responsibility. Elections are behind us. The people have spoken. What lies ahead is governance. And governance begins with one of the Prime Minister’s most powerful decisions: the assignment of ministerial portfolios.
In that decision-making process, one name demands careful, strategic consideration—Keithson “Kiffo” Charles, Parliamentary Representative for Choiseul/Saltibus.
This is not about politics.
This is about competence, credibility, and country-first leadership.
A MAN BUILT FOR PUBLIC UTILITIES & ENERGY
For over 25 years, Kiffo Charles has served Saint Lucia through LUCELEC’s Transmission and Distribution Division, rising to the level of supervisor with responsibility for the southern region. This is not ceremonial experience. This is hands-on national infrastructure leadership.
He understands:
- How power is generated, distributed, protected, and restored
- How to respond to outages and system failures
- How to manage crews, equipment, and emergency operations
- How policy decisions translate into real-world service delivery
He is also formally trained, holding:
- A Certificate in Electrical Engineering Technology
- A Certificate in Management from UWI Arthur Lok Jack
This makes him one of the most technically qualified MPs in the House when it comes to energy and utilities. Assigning him anywhere outside of Public Utilities & Energy or Infrastructure would be a misuse of rare expertise.
Saint Lucia is pushing toward:
- Renewable energy conversion
- Grid modernization
- Water and energy reliability
- Climate resilience
These are technical battles, not ceremonial ones. The Ministry of Public Utilities needs a minister who can challenge engineers intelligently, question consultants confidently, and make decisions based on real operational knowledge.
Kiffo Charles is that man.
INFRASTRUCTURE & TRANSPORT: A NATURAL EXTENSION OF HIS SKILLSET
Beyond electricity, Kiffo’s background aligns seamlessly with Infrastructure, Ports and Transport. This ministry governs:
- Roads and bridges
- Drainage systems
- Public transport
- Ports and logistics coordination
- Utility-infrastructure integration
Anyone who understands power distribution understands:
- Load-bearing systems
- Subsurface planning
- Disaster response coordination
- Technical project supervision
This ministry is not for political experimentation. It is for engineers, planners, and project managers. The south of the island—Choiseul, Laborie, Vieux Fort—needs accelerated infrastructure development, and Kiffo brings both technical muscle and constituency urgency.
WHY POLITICAL REWARD MUST NOT OVERRULE NATIONAL INTEREST
Too often in Caribbean politics, ministerial posts are assigned based on:
- Seniority
- Internal party bargaining
- Political balancing
rather than ability and fit.
Saint Lucia cannot afford that approach now.
Power reliability, water access, and infrastructure resilience are economic pillars, not side issues. Every blackout costs businesses. Every failed water system strains public health. Every delayed road project hurts commerce.
This is where leaders must choose:
- Comfort over competence, or
- Country over convenience.
Assigning Kiffo Charles to Public Utilities or Infrastructure would send a powerful national and international signal:
“This government puts expertise where it matters most.”
THE YOUTH & SPORTS PORTFOLIO: A STRONG SECOND OPTION
Kiffo’s history as
- A recognized youth mentor
also makes him a formidable option for Youth Development & Sports—but this should be considered only if Public Utilities or Infrastructure are unavailable.
The youth portfolio needs discipline, mentorship, structure, and credibility. He brings all four. Yet, even here, the nation would still be under-utilizing his core technical strength.
A DIRECT MESSAGE TO THE PRIME MINISTER
Prime Minister, this is not a call for favoritism.
This is a call for functional governance.
You now have in your Cabinet an individual who:
- Has supervised national infrastructure systems
- Has technical training
- Has real management experience
- Has constituency trust
- Has crisis-response knowledge
To place Keithson “Kiffo” Charles outside of Public Utilities, Energy, or Infrastructure would be to separate skill from responsibility—a mistake Saint Lucia can ill afford.
PUT THE RIGHT MAN WHERE THE WIRES, WATER & ROADS MEET
History will not judge this Cabinet by slogans.
It will judge it by:
- Lights that stay on
- Water that flows
- Roads that last
- Services that work
Kiffo Charles has already spent his life ensuring these systems function. Now he stands ready to shape them at national scale.
The decision is yours, Prime Minister.
But the logic is clear.
And the country is watching.
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