CHOISEUL-SALTIBUS HAS A NEW COUNCIL: NOW THE WORK BEGINS

Choiseul-Saltibus has a newly sworn-in Constituency Council, the first council team to serve under Parliamentary Representative Keithson Charles, better known to many as Kiffo.

The Council is headed by Nyus Alfred as Chairperson, with Emina Antoine as Deputy Chairperson.

The other members are:

Eve Aimable, Vincent Peter, Sandy Joseph, Cyril Edward, Esther Theophane, Arthanasus Mitchel, Nadege Noel, Johann Williams, Cannice Richardson, Jenny Gillard and Gaspard Blaize. 

Sources within the Village  Council say one name cannot be released because the appointee was absent for the swearing ceremony.

The Council Clerk is Enora Justin

We congratulate all those who have accepted the responsibility to serve.

But after the swearing-in, the photographs, the handshakes and the congratulations, comes the more important part.

What is this Council actually expected to do for the people of Choiseul-Saltibus?

That is where the law becomes important.

THIS IS KIFFO’S FIRST COUNCIL TEAM, BUT THE COUNCIL HAS A LEGAL ROLE OF ITS OWN

Politically, people will naturally describe this as Kiffo’s first council team because it is the first Constituency Council serving during his tenure as Parliamentary Representative.

Legally, however, the Council is not simply an extension of the Parliamentary Representative’s office.

Under Saint Lucia’s Constituency Councils Act, Act No. 1 of 2012, a Constituency Council consists of between nine and fifteen members, appointed by the Minister responsible for Local Government through an Order published in the Gazette.

The law also says that members are to be selected from different categories, including civil society, political parties represented in Parliament, persons with proven capacity in areas such as agriculture, community development, business, tourism, health, social development and the environment, as well as a representative of the Ministry responsible for Local Government.

For Choiseul-Saltibus, the law also provides for the Minister to appoint the Chairperson and Deputy Chairperson from among the members of the Council.

That distinction matters.

The Council may work closely with Kiffo, as any constituency council will naturally work with its Parliamentary Representative, but it also has responsibilities that are set out in law.

SO WHAT IS THE COUNCIL SUPPOSED TO DO?

This is where residents should pay close attention.

The Constituency Councils Act gives the Council a number of responsibilities.

It is expected to help identify and prioritise the needs of the constituency, assist in the delivery of services, make recommendations to Government on programmes and projects, serve as a link between residents and Government agencies, refer people to the appropriate agencies when services are needed, and maintain information about the constituency.

Put that in simple language.

The Council should know what is happening in Choiseul-Saltibus.

It should know where the problems are.

It should know which communities are being left behind.

It should know where the roads are bad, where drains are blocked, where community facilities need attention, where farmers need access, where young people need support and where vulnerable residents may need assistance.

The Council should not have to wait until somebody gets frustrated and writes a Facebook post before it becomes aware of a problem.

EVERY COMMUNITY MUST FEEL REPRESENTED

One of the biggest tests for this new Council will be whether people across the constituency feel that it belongs to all of Choiseul-Saltibus.

That means residents in Choiseul Village, La Fargue, Reunion, Roblot, Saltibus, Debreuil, Mongouge, Piaye, Industry and the other surrounding communities should feel that the Council is accessible to them.

A Constituency Council cannot be effective if people only know its members when there is a ceremony.

Residents should see Council members in the communities.

They should know how to reach them.

They should know where to raise concerns.

And they should know what happens after those concerns are raised.

PUBLIC MEETINGS ARE NOT OPTIONAL

One of the most important provisions in the law is the requirement for public meetings.

The Constituency Councils Act requires councils to hold two public meetings every year to inform residents about the Council’s progress and agenda.

That alone should tell us something.

The law does not expect residents to remain in the dark.

The public has a right to know what the Council is doing.

Choiseul on the Move would encourage this new Council to go even further than the minimum required.

Tell residents what you are working on.

Tell them what has been approved.

Tell them what has been delayed.

Tell them where funding is a problem.

Tell them which agency is responsible for an issue.

And tell them when something simply cannot be done.

People can understand difficulty.

What creates frustration is silence.

SET PRIORITIES EARLY

Two years can pass very quickly.

Council members generally serve for a two-year term, so this team should not lose valuable months simply trying to figure out what it wants to do.

There should be an early assessment of the constituency.

What are the five biggest problems in Choiseul-Saltibus right now?

Which roads are most urgently in need of attention?

Which drains and waterways pose a flooding risk?

What are the most pressing needs of farmers?

Which playing fields and community facilities need repairs?

Where are the sanitation problems?

Where are residents having difficulty accessing Government services?

What opportunities exist for young people?

Which communities are repeatedly being overlooked?

These are the kinds of questions that should guide the Council’s work.

USE THE SKILLS OF PEOPLE OUTSIDE THE COUNCIL

The Council does not have to do everything alone.

The law allows councils to establish committees to assist with their work.

That creates an opportunity to involve people from across Choiseul-Saltibus who have skills and experience.

The Council could consider focused committees or working groups in areas such as:

• agriculture;
• youth and sports;
• roads and drainage;
• community beautification;
• tourism and heritage;
• disaster preparedness;
• elderly and vulnerable residents;
• small business and entrepreneurship;
• education and youth development.

Choiseul has many capable people.

Use them.

Consult farmers.

Consult teachers.

Consult business owners.

Consult sports clubs.

Consult youth groups.

Consult community organisations.

Good local government does not mean thirteen people sitting around a table trying to know everything.

It means bringing the community into the process.

TRANSPARENCY WILL MATTER

The law also contains provisions dealing with conflicts of interest.

If a Council member has a personal interest in a matter before the Council, that interest must be declared and the member should not take part in the decision.

That is important.

Local councils may deal with contracts, employment opportunities, community projects and recommendations that could involve relatives, friends, businesses or political supporters.

The public must have confidence that decisions are being made fairly.

The law also requires proper financial records and reporting.

So when public money is involved, residents are entitled to expect accountability.

THIS COUNCIL WILL ALSO BECOME PART OF KIFFO’S RECORD

Although the Council has legal responsibilities of its own, we should not pretend that politics disappears.

This is Keithson Charles’ first council team.

Its performance will inevitably become part of how people judge his representation.

If the Council is active, visible, responsive and fair, Kiffo will benefit from that.

If communities feel ignored, if the Council becomes invisible or overly partisan, or if residents cannot see what it is accomplishing, he will also carry some of that political responsibility.

That is simply how constituency politics works.

But the Council members themselves must also understand something.

They are not there merely to defend a political party or promote an MP.

They are there to serve the people.

All the people.

WHAT CHOISEUL ON THE MOVE EXPECTS

Choiseul on the Move wishes Chairperson Nyus Alfred, Deputy Chairperson Emina Antoine and every member of the new Council well.

We want them to succeed.

Because if they succeed, Choiseul-Saltibus benefits.

Our expectations are not unreasonable.

We expect accessibility.

We expect regular communication.

We expect visits to communities.

We expect residents to be consulted.

We expect problems to be documented and followed up.

We expect fairness.

We expect transparency.

We expect the Council to make use of the skills and knowledge already available within our communities.

And we expect residents to be told what is happening, even when the answer is not always what they want to hear.

The swearing-in ceremony is now over.

The congratulations will soon fade.

What will remain is the work.

This is Kiffo’s first council team. Now let us see what it can deliver for Choiseul-Saltibus.

 

FIVE DAYS LATER, AND SOME CHOISEUL/SALTIBUS STUDENTS ARE STILL WITHOUT TRANSPORT

Five school days have passed since classrooms reopened.

While many students are settling into their new routines, a number of children from Choiseul and Saltibus are still trying to figure out how they will get to school each day.

Let us be clear. These children are not refusing to attend school. Their parents are not neglecting their responsibilities.

They simply do not have access to reliable school transportation.

Back in July, following the release of the CPEA results, Choiseul on the Move raised this very concern. We pointed out that students assigned to Beanefield Secondary School could be placed at a serious disadvantage because they did not benefit from a government-supported transportation programme comparable to what is available for some other schools.

We appealed for action before the new school year began.

We did not wait until the last minute.

We even held one-on-one discussions with officials at the Choiseul/Saltibus Constituency Office. The problem was explained. The urgency was made clear. Officials had enough time to raise the matter with the Ministry of Education and seek a practical solution.

Yet five school days into the term, nothing meaningful has been done.

These Children Were Not Suddenly Assigned to Beanefield

The Ministry of Education knew where these students were placed.

The constituency office knew where they lived.

Officials knew that parents were concerned about transportation. They also knew that uniforms, books, meals and other school expenses had already placed heavy pressure on many households.

So why was transportation left unresolved?

This was not an unexpected emergency. It was a known problem that was allowed to follow these children right into the new school year.

And now parents must find money every morning, depend on favours or hope that somebody passing can give their child a ride.

That is not a transportation policy.

That is government leaving families to fend for themselves.

A School Placement Is Useless If a Child Cannot Reach the Classroom

We enjoy announcing CPEA results and congratulating students when they succeed. We publish their photographs and speak proudly about the future of our young people.

But our responsibility cannot end with applause.

A place at Beanefield Secondary School means very little if the child cannot get there safely, reliably and on time.

Education does not begin when the teacher starts the lesson. It begins when a child can leave home with confidence, knowing that transportation is available.

No student should miss classes, arrive late or feel uncertain about continuing school simply because of where that student lives or the school to which the Ministry assigned them.

The Ministry Must Take Responsibility

The Ministry of Education cannot claim to provide equal access to education while leaving transportation entirely on the backs of struggling parents.

If the Ministry assigns students from Choiseul and Saltibus to a school outside their immediate area, then transportation must form part of that decision.

Not after parents complain.

Not several weeks into the term.

Before school opens.

The Ministry must now explain what immediate arrangements will be made for the affected students. Whether the solution is an expanded bus service, subsidized fares or direct transportation assistance, something practical must be put in place.

These children cannot travel to school on promises.

The Constituency Office Must Also Answer

The Choiseul/Saltibus Constituency Office cannot escape responsibility by saying transportation falls under the Ministry.

The office is supposed to represent the people of the constituency. When families raise a serious problem affecting their children’s education, that office must advocate, follow up and demand action from the relevant ministry.

Listening to residents is not enough.

Taking their names and promising to look into the matter is not enough.

A constituency office must produce results, especially when the welfare and education of children are at stake.

If officials were aware of this situation and school still opened without a solution, then the system failed these families.

We Are Calling for Immediate Action

Choiseul on the Move is calling on the Ministry of Education and the Choiseul/Saltibus Constituency Office to treat this matter as urgent.

Identify the affected students.

Speak with their parents.

Establish a temporary arrangement immediately.

Then put a proper transportation system in place so these families do not have to fight the same battle every school year.

The original appeal was respectful and gave officials time to act. That time has passed.

School is already in progress.

The children are waiting.

How many more school days must pass before somebody in authority decides they matter?

Read our original July appeal

 

📚 CXC IS CHANGING THE WAY STUDENTS ARE ASSESSED!

What Every Future CSEC Student in Choiseul & Saltibus Needs to Know

Students, parents and teachers across District 7 should take note. The Caribbean Examinations Council (CXC) has announced one of the biggest changes to the CSEC assessment system in years.

Beginning in 2027, traditional School-Based Assessments (SBAs) in many non-practical subjects—including Mathematics, English A, Caribbean History, Social Studies and Principles of Business—will gradually be replaced by a supervised assessment known as Paper 032. The change is being made because advances in Artificial Intelligence (AI) have made it increasingly difficult to verify whether coursework submitted from home is genuinely the student's own work. 

🤔 Why Is CXC Making This Change?

For decades, SBAs allowed students to complete research projects and assignments over several weeks at home and at school.

However, today's students have access to powerful AI tools capable of writing essays, solving mathematical problems and producing polished assignments within seconds.

CXC has made it clear that the issue is not that AI is evil. In fact, students are still encouraged to use AI responsibly as a learning aid. The real concern is ensuring that every grade truly reflects what the student knows and can do—not what a computer generated. 

📝 So What Will Happen Instead?

Instead of taking coursework home, students in affected subjects will complete their assessment under examination conditions.

But there is good news.

• ✅ Students will receive their assessment topic about one month in advance.
• ✅ They will have additional time during the assessment.
• ✅ They will be allowed to bring reference notes into the examination room.

This approach still rewards preparation and critical thinking while ensuring that the final work produced belongs to the student. 

🎨 Will All SBAs Disappear?

No.

Subjects requiring genuine practical skills—such as Agricultural Science, Visual Arts, Music, Food, Nutrition and Health, Physical Education and Technical Drawing—will continue to have SBAs because these subjects assess hands-on abilities that cannot be measured adequately in a traditional examination room. 

📅 When Does It Start?

For CSEC:

• 📌 In 2027, schools may choose either the traditional SBA or the new Paper 032 for affected non-practical subjects.
• 📌 By 2028, all schools will transition fully to the new supervised assessment in those subjects. 

🎓 What Does This Mean for Students in Choiseul & Saltibus?

If you are entering Forms 3 or 4 over the next year, now is the time to build strong study habits.

Success will depend less on producing attractive projects at home and more on:

• ✔ Understanding the subject.
• ✔ Thinking critically.
• ✔ Writing clearly.
• ✔ Solving problems independently.
• ✔ Managing time effectively during supervised assessments.

Artificial Intelligence can still be an excellent tutor—but it cannot replace genuine learning.

💬 Choiseul on the Move Says...

Education is changing around the world, and the Caribbean is adapting to protect the value of a CSEC certificate.

The message to our young people is simple:

"Use technology to LEARN... not to CHEAT."

When you earn your CXC passes through your own effort, those qualifications will continue to open doors to college, university and employment throughout the Caribbean and beyond.

Your future is worth the effort.

 🎒💻 THE LAPTOP IS ALREADY THERE — SO WHY ARE PARENTS STILL BUYING A BAG FULL OF BOOKS?

Choiseul on the Move asks whether it is time for Saint Lucia to finally create the “digital schoolbag”

School reopens on Tuesday.

Across Choiseul and the rest of Saint Lucia, parents are making those final preparations: uniforms, shoes, transportation, stationery, lunch money — and, of course, textbooks.

For some households, particularly those preparing two, three or more children for school at the same time, the financial pressure can be considerable.

But there is another concern that parents have raised for years.

Some are reluctant to purchase every single book on a school list immediately because experience has taught them that, in some cases, certain books may be used frequently, others occasionally, and some very little.

That leaves parents asking themselves:

Do I spend scarce money buying the entire list now, or wait until the teacher confirms which books will actually be needed?

It is an understandable dilemma.

But in 2026, there is an even bigger question that Saint Lucia should be asking.

💻 IF THE CHILD ALREADY HAS A LAPTOP, WHY CAN'T WE BUILD A DIGITAL SCHOOLBAG?

Every student entering Form One this academic year is expected to receive a government-issued laptop.

That is a commendable investment in education.

But surely the next stage of that investment should be to transform the device from simply being a laptop into a complete educational tool.

Imagine a Form One student receiving that computer with a properly organised educational package already installed:

📘 Mathematics resources

📗 English Language materials

📕 Integrated Science

📙 Social Studies

🌎 Geography resources

💻 Information Technology

📝 Worksheets and revision exercises

🎥 Educational videos and demonstrations

📚 Approved e-books where licensing permits

📋 Curriculum guides and learning objectives

🧮 Interactive exercises and quizzes

And importantly, much of the material should be available offline, so that a child without reliable internet access at home is not placed at a disadvantage.

That would be a genuine digital schoolbag.

🇱🇨 SAINT LUCIA HAS ALREADY STARTED THE JOURNEY

This is not some futuristic idea that Saint Lucia has never considered.

Government previously introduced the LernBook e-book programme, providing digital learning content to secondary school students.

The programme covered a wide range of subjects, including Mathematics, English, Biology, Chemistry, Geography, Integrated Science, Social Studies, Information Technology, Principles of Accounts and Principles of Business.

Saint Lucia subsequently expanded the distribution of Chromebooks and other devices to students.

Government has also reported that local curriculum specialists have been developing digital educational content in several subject areas.

And even in August 2026, the Ministry of Education has been advancing work under the WISTLE Project involving curriculum development, educational technology and digital skills.

In other words:

The foundation already exists.

The question is why we have not yet brought all these pieces together into a comprehensive national digital textbook and curriculum programme.

📚 THIS DOES NOT MEAN THROWING AWAY BOOKS

Choiseul on the Move is certainly not suggesting that printed textbooks should disappear tomorrow.

Some students learn better from printed material.

Some teachers prefer particular textbooks.

There are also copyright and publishing licences to consider, and not every commercial textbook can simply be copied onto thousands of computers.

There will also be damaged devices, technical problems, electricity and internet-access issues.

So printed books will continue to have an important place.

But it does not have to be print OR digital.

It can be print AND digital, with the balance gradually shifting as the country's digital education infrastructure improves.

💰 THINK ABOUT THE SAVINGS TO FAMILIES

A family preparing one secondary-school student may be able to absorb the cost of textbooks.

Now imagine a household preparing three children.

Add uniforms.

Shoes.

School bags.

Transportation.

Lunch.

Stationery.

PE clothing.

And textbooks.

The Government is already attempting to ease that burden through the $500 Form One bursary, laptop distribution, book assistance and other educational support.

Why not make the laptop itself part of the solution to the textbook problem?

Every digital resource that can legally and practically replace a physical book is potentially one less expense for a household.

📖 WE COULD ALSO PRODUCE MORE OF OUR OWN MATERIAL

There is another opportunity here.

Why should Saint Lucia's digital education strategy simply involve purchasing electronic versions of foreign textbooks?

Our curriculum specialists and teachers can continue developing high-quality local educational resources aligned specifically with the Saint Lucian curriculum.

Imagine Social Studies material containing Saint Lucian examples.

Mathematics problems using EC dollars and situations children encounter locally.

Science lessons examining our environment.

Geography resources incorporating our communities, watersheds, agriculture and coastline.

History presented within a Saint Lucian and Caribbean context.

These materials could be updated far more easily than waiting years for another edition of a printed textbook.

🏫 GIVE EACH FORM ITS OWN DIGITAL PACKAGE

The Ministry could eventually develop standard packages for:

Form 1 Digital Schoolbag

Form 2 Digital Schoolbag

Form 3 Digital Schoolbag

Form 4 Digital Schoolbag

Form 5 Digital Schoolbag

When the student progresses, the next curriculum package becomes available.

Teachers could still recommend supplementary books where necessary.

Schools could still maintain physical textbooks.

Parents who prefer printed books could purchase them.

But purchasing a long list of expensive books would no longer have to be the automatic starting point for every family.

⚠️ AND THERE MUST BE ACCOUNTABILITY

There is also a legitimate question surrounding school book lists.

If a textbook appears on a compulsory or strongly recommended list, parents should reasonably expect that the book will form a meaningful part of instruction during the school year.

Where a book is merely supplementary, perhaps the list should say so.

Something as simple as categorising books as:

REQUIRED — used regularly

RECOMMENDED — supplementary

OPTIONAL — additional reference

could help parents enormously.

A parent struggling financially should not have to guess which $60 or $80 book can safely wait until next month.

💡 THE TECHNOLOGY SHOULD REDUCE THE COST OF EDUCATION

Saint Lucia deserves credit for putting computers into the hands of secondary-school students.

But distributing hardware should never be the final objective.

The real achievement comes when we ask:

What is inside the computer?

If thousands of dollars are being invested in devices, connectivity, curriculum development and educational technology, then parents should eventually see some of that investment reflected in lower recurring educational costs.

The Chromebook should not simply travel to school beside a bag filled with expensive textbooks.

Over time, the Chromebook should become part of the schoolbag itself.

Saint Lucia has already started down that road.

Perhaps the question parents, teachers and policymakers should now be asking is:

When are we going to finish the journey?

— CHOISEUL ON THE MOVE Community. Development. Accountability. Progress.

 💃🏾🕺🏾 SUNDAY THOUGHT: WHEN WE JUDGE DANCING, WHAT ARE WE REALLY JUDGING?

A couple taking part in Liberty FM’s dance competition caught our attention—not only because of their dancing, but because of an interesting comment made about their performance.

One viewer wrote:

“Dancing on a higher level. Nice but without finesse.”

He later explained:

“Ok in simple terms, western comes with charisma. However, they are behaving like they are just doing a job.”

That got us thinking.

Can dancers really be performing at a “higher level” while having no finesse? And are finesse and charisma the same thing?

Not quite.

Finesse is seen in the refinement of the dancing—the control, smoothness, coordination, transitions and manner in which movements are executed.

Charisma is something different. It is the personality, energy, chemistry and emotional connection that make an audience want to keep watching.

After looking at this performance, we certainly wouldn't say this couple has no finesse. There is coordination, confidence and skill on display. What someone might reasonably argue is that, because this is a competition, they could project more outward expression, chemistry and showmanship.

And perhaps that is what the commenter was really trying to say when he described them as looking like they were “just doing a job.”

But here's where judging dance becomes interesting: technical excellence and entertainment value are not always the same thing. One couple may impress you with difficult movements and precision; another may perform simpler moves but completely capture the audience with personality and chemistry.

In this Liberty FM competition, the ultimate judges are the Facebook fans—and ❤️ reactions will have their say.

                             A short clip from the video

Watch the full video Here

So rather than tearing down people who have had the courage to step onto the dance floor, let's appreciate the effort, enjoy the competition and have a healthy discussion about the performances.

👏🏾 We wish this couple the very best of luck in the competition.

Now we'd love to hear from you:

When YOU judge a dancing couple, what matters most—skill and technique, finesse, chemistry, charisma, or pure entertainment?

Keep the discussion respectful. After all, dancing is supposed to bring people together. 💃🏾🕺🏾❤️

 

Choiseul on the Move

GROOM & BLOOM

Helping Our Boys Step Into the New School Year With Confidence

A practical back-to-school initiative helping school-aged boys across Choiseul-Saltibus look sharp, feel confident and start the new school year on a positive note.

As families across Choiseul and Saltibus prepare for the opening of school, a simple but thoughtful initiative is helping to ensure that some of our young boys return to the classroom looking sharp, feeling confident and ready for a fresh start.

Choiseul on the Move welcomes and supports the “Groom & Bloom” Back-to-School Haircut Assistance Program, presented by Parliamentary Representative for Choiseul-Saltibus, Hon. Keithson “Kiffo” Charles.

📅 Programme Dates

Friday, August 28
Saturday, August 29
Monday, August 31, 2026

✂️ More Than Just a Haircut

At first glance, this may appear to be simply about getting a haircut before school. But initiatives such as Groom & Bloom can have a much wider impact.

Preparing children for a new school year places additional financial pressure on many households. Parents are already faced with purchasing uniforms, shoes, books, school supplies, transportation and other necessities.

Helping with even one of those expenses can make a difference.

A fresh haircut may not determine a child's academic success, but confidence, dignity and a sense of belonging can certainly contribute to a positive beginning.

💈 Supporting Our Local Barbers

Another commendable aspect of the initiative is its involvement of local barbers and barbering businesses.

The programme does more than assist children and their families. It also places business into the hands of people providing valuable services within our communities.

💈 Orie’s Barbershop
📍 Londonderry, Saltibus
📞 719-5361

💈 The Community Barbershop
📍 Belle Vue Dacretin & Environs
📞 721-5132

💈 Studio 16 – Hasan the Barber
📍 Choiseul Barber “Hassan” — Operating from Vieux Fort

💈 Bertram’s Barbershop
📍 Choiseul Village

Whenever community assistance can simultaneously help families, support local entrepreneurs and uplift young people, the benefits extend well beyond the immediate recipients.

👦🏽 Our Boys Deserve Encouragement

As we speak about education, we should also remember the importance of giving our boys encouragement.

Young men need to know that their community sees them, believes in them and expects great things from them.

Whether through educational assistance, sports, mentorship, skills training or something as simple as helping them prepare for the first day of school, every positive intervention sends an important message:

YOU MATTER.
YOUR EDUCATION MATTERS.
YOUR FUTURE MATTERS.

That message should come not only from politicians, but from parents, teachers, businesses, churches, community organisations and ordinary citizens.

👏 Credit Where Credit Is Due

Choiseul on the Move has always maintained that community development should be bigger than political colours.

When an initiative benefits our people, we should be mature enough to acknowledge it. When something needs improvement, we should also be prepared to say so.

On this occasion, Groom & Bloom is a practical and timely initiative deserving of support.

We therefore commend Hon. Keithson “Kiffo” Charles, the participating barbers and everyone involved in bringing the programme together.

Most importantly, we hope the young boys who benefit will walk into their classrooms next week not only with a fresh trim, but with renewed confidence and determination.

🎒 To Our Students Across Choiseul and Saltibus

Walk through those school gates with your heads held high.

Work hard.
Respect your teachers.
Believe in yourselves.
Make your families and communities proud.

A new school year means another opportunity to learn, grow and bloom.

Choiseul is moving —

and our young people must move forward with it.

— Choiseul on the Move

 

CASE CLOSED — BUT BY WHOM?

The Richard Frederick Investigation Raises a Bigger Constitutional Question

The police investigation involving Housing Minister Richard Frederick has come to an end.

Commissioner of Police Verne Garde announced that the allegation investigated by police was “not sustained.”

That finding must be treated fairly. An allegation is not proof of wrongdoing. An investigation is not a conviction. And Richard Frederick should not be declared guilty in the court of public opinion simply because police investigated an allegation against him.

But after listening carefully to the Commissioner's explanation, Choiseul on the Move believes another question now deserves attention.

It is perhaps even more important than asking what the original allegation was:

Was the completed investigation ever submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions?

That question matters because Saint Lucia's Constitution establishes an important separation between investigation and prosecution.

Police Investigate — The DPP Prosecutes

The Royal Saint Lucia Police Force investigates suspected criminal offences.

Police interview witnesses, collect evidence, conduct searches where lawfully authorised and determine whether an investigation has produced evidence requiring further action.

But the Director of Public Prosecutions occupies a separate constitutional office.

Section 73 of the Constitution gives the DPP authority to institute and undertake criminal proceedings against persons before the courts.

The DPP may also take over criminal proceedings instituted by another person or authority and may discontinue proceedings before judgment.

Indeed, the Constitution makes the DPP's authority particularly powerful by providing that certain prosecutorial powers are exercised “to the exclusion of any other person or authority.”

That independence exists for an important reason.

Political considerations should not determine who gets prosecuted.

Neither should public pressure.

The evidence and the law should determine that.

So What Exactly Did Commissioner Garde Close?

This is where careful language becomes important.

There is nothing inherently unusual about police concluding an investigation.

If investigators examine an allegation and determine that the available evidence does not substantiate it, the police cannot reasonably be expected to investigate forever.

If Commissioner Garde was saying, “The police investigation is complete and investigators found insufficient evidence to sustain the allegation,” that is one thing.

But deciding whether criminal proceedings should ultimately be instituted is another matter.

That is why the public deserves clarification about what happened between those two stages.

Was the Richard Frederick investigative file submitted to the DPP for review?

If it was, simply tell the country that.

If it was not, then another reasonable question follows:

Why not?

That question does not presume wrongdoing by Commissioner Garde.

Neither does it presume guilt on the part of Richard Frederick.

It simply asks Saint Lucia's institutions to explain the process followed in a matter involving a sitting Cabinet Minister.

Remember How Serious This Became

This was not some passing rumour circulating on Facebook.

Richard Frederick was detained and questioned by police.

His residence was reportedly searched.

The matter generated weeks of national controversy.

The Government publicly called upon citizens to respect due process and the independence of the police investigation.

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre indicated that he would await the outcome of that investigation before determining what action, if any, should be taken concerning Frederick's position in Cabinet.

Saint Lucians therefore waited.

Now that the investigation has concluded, surely citizens are entitled to understand how it concluded.

And We Still Don't Know the Allegation

Then comes the second troubling question.

When Commissioner Garde was asked about the allegation, he declined to disclose it.

There may be perfectly legitimate reasons for that.

Disclosure could potentially identify a complainant. It could expose sensitive personal information. It could unfairly damage someone's reputation by publicly repeating an allegation police were unable to substantiate.

Those possibilities should not simply be dismissed.

But if confidentiality is necessary, the Commissioner should be able to explain why confidentiality remains necessary without revealing the confidential information itself.

There is a considerable difference between saying, “I cannot disclose this because doing so could identify or compromise the privacy of an individual involved” and simply leaving the country wondering what happened.

“Not Sustained” Also Deserves Clarification

There is another phrase Saint Lucians should examine carefully.

The Commissioner reportedly said the allegation was “not sustained.”

That should not automatically be transformed into:

“The allegation was proven false.”

Those are not necessarily the same conclusion.

An allegation may fail to be sustained because investigators could not obtain sufficient evidence to establish it.

That does not make the accused person guilty. Quite the opposite: without sufficient evidence, the presumption of innocence remains fundamental.

But accuracy matters.

The public should know precisely what conclusion investigators reached rather than allowing politicians and commentators on either side to manufacture their preferred interpretation.

Three Questions — No Conspiracy Theories Required

Choiseul on the Move therefore puts three straightforward questions to Commissioner Garde:

1. Without revealing names, witnesses or sensitive information, what was the general nature or category of the allegation investigated?

2. If even the general nature of the allegation cannot be disclosed, what legal, privacy or investigative consideration prevents its disclosure now that the police investigation has concluded?

3. Most importantly, was the completed investigative file submitted to the Director of Public Prosecutions for review before it was announced that the allegation was “not sustained”?

These are not accusations.

They are questions.

And democratic institutions should never fear reasonable questions.

This Is Bigger Than Richard Frederick

Supporters of Richard Frederick may understandably regard the conclusion of the investigation as vindication.

His political opponents may remain suspicious.

But institutional accountability cannot depend upon whether the person being investigated wears red, yellow, blue or green.

Imagine the same circumstances involving a minister from another government.

Would we ask the same questions?

We should.

The constitutional safeguards surrounding criminal justice exist precisely because important decisions should not depend upon personalities or politics.

Police investigate.
Prosecutors prosecute.
Courts determine guilt where charges are brought.

And citizens have every right to ask whether those institutions operated according to the procedures designed to protect both the accused and the public.

Respect Frederick's Rights — And Ask the Questions

Nothing presently before the public justifies declaring Richard Frederick guilty of an undisclosed allegation that police say was not sustained.

His presumption of innocence should be respected.

Similarly, nothing presently before the public establishes that Commissioner Garde improperly terminated the investigation.

We should not manufacture evidence that does not exist.

Transparency does not require accusation.
It requires explanation.

Tell us generally what was investigated, insofar as the law permits.

Tell us why further disclosure cannot be made if legitimate confidentiality considerations prevent it.

And tell us whether the investigative file went before the independent Director of Public Prosecutions.

If those questions have straightforward answers, providing them would strengthen rather than weaken confidence in the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force.

The police may have closed their investigation.

But there remains one question that deserves a clear answer:

WAS THE FILE PLACED BEFORE THE DPP?

Until Saint Lucians know that, saying simply “case closed” may close a police file — but it does not necessarily close the legitimate public-interest questions surrounding it.

Choiseul on the Move — Independent community commentary.
Accountability should never depend on political colour.