WHY DID “INTIMIDATED” ENTER THE CONVERSATION?

There was a lot to welcome at the recent swearing-in of the Choiseul-Saltibus Constituency Council.

Young people were encouraged to lead.

The new council was told to listen to the people.

There was talk about revitalising the district, working together and giving the council enough space to develop its own identity.

All of that sounds good.

But one statement from the parliamentary representative stood out to us at Choiseul on the Move.

He said:

“I’m not intimidated when we have people that are talented and are making their presence felt on the global stage.”

Now let us be fair.

The MP may simply have been saying that he welcomes talented young people and does not see their success as a political threat.

That is a perfectly reasonable interpretation.

But still, we have to ask:

Why did the word “intimidated” enter the conversation at all?

Nobody had accused anyone of being intimidated.

Nobody had publicly suggested that talented young leaders were a threat.

So when a political leader introduces that word himself, people are naturally going to wonder what concern he was responding to.

And that is where this becomes bigger than one sentence.

IS A NEW GENERATION OF LEADERSHIP EMERGING?

 Remarks by Parliamentary Rep

The Choiseul-Saltibus Constituency Council now includes younger people who are being encouraged to take on serious public responsibility.

That should be welcomed.                

For years we have heard politicians speak about youth empowerment.

Well, youth empowerment cannot only mean singing at rallies, waving flags, sitting in audiences and taking photographs.

At some point young people must be allowed to lead.

They must be allowed to make decisions.

They must be allowed to build their own public record.

And yes, some of them may eventually become more popular, more visible or even more politically ambitious.

That is part of leadership development.

If every talented young person must remain permanently in somebody else's shadow, then we are not really developing leaders.

We are developing followers.

AUTONOMY SHOULD NOT BE A GIFT

Another statement from the ceremony also deserves some attention.

The MP told councillors:

“I will give you all the autonomy that you can function quite on your own, and to have your own identity.”

Again, the intention may have been positive.

But the wording matters.

Autonomy should not sound like something one politician personally grants to a public body.

A stronger way of putting it would have been:

“I will respect your autonomy.”

There is a difference.

One suggests the council has its own institutional space.

The other can sound as though that space exists because the MP allows it.

That distinction may appear small, but it becomes important when the council eventually has to take positions, raise difficult issues or advocate for communities.

Will councillors feel free to speak when they disagree?

Will the council be able to develop priorities that are not necessarily the same as those of the constituency office?

Will it have its own voice?

Or will autonomy last only as long as everybody agrees?

Those are questions that can only be answered over time.

“KEEP YOUR BUSINESS WITHIN EACH OTHER”

The MP also advised councillors not to discuss internal matters outside the team.

There is wisdom in that.

Every organisation needs discipline.

Not every disagreement needs to become a Facebook fight.

Not every internal discussion belongs in public.

But this is also a public council.

There must be a clear distinction between private disagreement and public accountability.

Residents have a right to know what their council is doing.

They have a right to know what projects are being considered.

They have a right to know what decisions are being taken.

They have a right to question how priorities are being set.

So yes, councillors should work through personal differences internally.

But “keep your business within each other” must never become an excuse for secrecy.

THE BIGGER QUESTION

The real issue here is not whether the MP is personally intimidated by anyone.

Choiseul on the Move cannot know that, and we will not pretend that we do.

The bigger issue is this:

Are we genuinely creating space for a new generation of Choiseul leadership to grow independently?

Because if we are, then those young leaders must eventually be allowed to develop their own identities, their own ideas and their own public standing.

That should not frighten anybody.

Strong leaders do not need weak people around them.

Strong communities do not depend on one individual.

And strong political movements should be able to produce new leaders without immediately treating their growth as rivalry.

WE WILL WATCH WHAT HAPPENS NEXT

The new council has been promised space.

It has been promised autonomy.

It has been encouraged to work together.

It has been challenged to help restore Choiseul-Saltibus as a beacon of the south.

Good.

Now let us see what happens when that autonomy is actually tested.

Let us see what happens when councillors raise difficult issues.

Let us see what happens when young leaders develop their own following.

Let us see whether differing opinions are welcomed.

And let us see whether the council truly develops an identity of its own.

Because statements made at swearing-in ceremonies are easy.

The real test comes later.

And perhaps that is why one small phrase from the ceremony deserves to remain on the public record:

“I’m not intimidated.”

Choiseul on the Move is not accusing anyone of anything.

We are simply asking the question that naturally follows:

Why did intimidation need to be mentioned in the first place?

 

JULIEN WON AGAIN. SAINT LUCIA'S FLAG LOST AGAIN. WHEN WILL WE GET THIS RIGHT?

There are some things a country should not have to keep explaining.

What its national flag looks like is one of them.

On Friday night in Brussels, Julien Alfred once again gave Saint Lucians every reason to stand tall. She stormed to victory in the women's 200 metres at the Wanda Diamond League Final in 21.79 seconds, winning her third consecutive Diamond League title.

Another international stage. Another Saint Lucian victory.

And then came something that should make those responsible for protecting and properly representing our national symbols uncomfortable.

As Julien celebrated, the Saint Lucia flag handed to her appeared in the wrong shade of blue.

Not our distinctive cerulean blue.

And before somebody dismisses this as people making noise over "just a colour", Choiseul on the Move decided to look into the history of this issue.

What we found makes the situation even more embarrassing.

THIS PROBLEM DID NOT START IN BRUSSELS

The Government of Saint Lucia itself is very clear about the colour of our flag.

The official government description identifies the background as cerulean blue. That colour has meaning. According to the Government, it represents fidelity and reflects our tropical sky and the waters of the Caribbean Sea and Atlantic Ocean.

This is therefore not a matter of somebody preferring light blue over dark blue.

There is an official flag.

There are official proportions.

There are official colours.

There is even an official code of etiquette governing how that flag should be treated and displayed. The Government's own guidance says the flag should be of "regulation appearance."

So how difficult can it be to get this right?

Apparently, very difficult.

Because we found evidence that the Government was trying to deal with incorrect representations of the Saint Lucia flag more than 20 years ago.

In October 2003, a Government Information Service publication addressed concerns about the various representations of the National Flag appearing on souvenirs and memorabilia.

The Government specified the official colours, including Cerulean Blue, Process Cyan 100%, along with light chrome yellow, black and white. It also published the correct dimensions for pole flags, hand flags, desk flags and casket flags.

Think about that for a moment.

2003.

The authorities knew there was a problem.

The authorities published specifications to correct the problem.

And here we are in 2026, still looking at questionable versions of our flag on the international stage.

That is 23 years later.

THE WARNING CAME AGAIN

In 2015, engineer John Peters wrote publicly about the problem in an article appropriately titled "After 36 Years – Time To Get It Right!"

He pointed directly to the prevalence of flags being produced with incorrect colours and geometry and referred to the Government's earlier attempt at standardisation.

So this was no secret.

People were seeing it.

People were writing about it.

Government knew about it.

Yet the problem continued.

THEN CAME MISS UNIVERSE

Fast-forward to 2024.

Saint Lucia's Miss Universe representative Skye Faucher appeared in a national costume honouring Julien Alfred.

It was a beautiful idea.

But what became part of the public discussion?

The colour representing the Saint Lucia flag.

Media reports at the time recorded criticism from Saint Lucians who questioned the dark blue used in the costume and asked who had approved it for an international appearance.

There again was the same issue.

The shade of blue.

The representation of our national flag.

The question of who approves what is presented internationally as Saint Lucian.

And now in 2026, Julien Alfred wins one of the biggest athletics competitions in the world and we are having the discussion AGAIN.

HOW MANY TIMES MUST THIS HAPPEN?

At some point we have to stop calling these things mistakes.

A mistake happens once.

When an issue has been publicly identified for more than two decades and keeps resurfacing, we are dealing with a failure of systems.

And this is where Choiseul on the Move believes some serious questions must be answered.

Who is the official custodian of the digital master artwork and colour specifications for the Saint Lucia National Flag?

Who provides international sporting organisations with Saint Lucia's official flag artwork?

When Julien Alfred competes at a Diamond League event, World Championship, Olympic Games or any other major international competition, does the Saint Lucia Athletics Association provide the organisers with an approved national flag file?

Does the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee?

Does the Ministry responsible for Sports?

Does the Protocol and Consular Division of the Ministry of External Affairs have any role in ensuring that organisations overseas have the correct national symbols?

Or are we simply trusting somebody overseas to search the internet for "Saint Lucia flag" and use whatever file comes up?

Because if that is what is happening, that needs to stop.

SOMEBODY MUST OWN THIS RESPONSIBILITY

It would be unfair to simply blame the Diamond League without establishing where the incorrect flag originated.

The Brussels organisers may have sourced it themselves. They may have received artwork from another organisation. We do not yet know.

But Saint Lucia cannot keep leaving this to chance.

Our Protocol and Consular Division already exists to manage important elements of Saint Lucia's official international representation and protocol.

Our Saint Lucia Athletics Association is the national body responsible for athletics and regularly speaks about athletes proudly representing Saint Lucia internationally. In 2025, the Association itself said Julien Alfred and Aasia Laurencin were prepared to ensure "Saint Lucia's flag will fly high" at the World Championships.

The Saint Lucia Olympic Committee also works with national federations in sending Saint Lucian athletes to major international competitions.

Somewhere among these institutions there must be a clearly identified responsibility for ensuring that when Saint Lucia appears on the international stage, Saint Lucia actually looks like Saint Lucia.

If that responsibility currently belongs to nobody, then Government needs to assign it to somebody.

JULIEN HAS DONE HER PART

This is perhaps what makes Friday's situation so irritating.

Julien Alfred did not get her part wrong.

She ran 21.79 seconds.

She beat Kayla White of the United States, who finished in 22.00, and Britain's Amy Hunt, who finished third in 22.16.

She became a three-time Diamond League champion.

Julien has carried this tiny country onto sporting stages Saint Lucia could once only dream about.

She has made television commentators say our country's name.

She has caused our anthem to be played before international audiences.

She has wrapped herself proudly in our flag.

She has done her job.

The least we can do is make sure the flag we put into her hands is the right one.

THIS IS BIGGER THAN JULIEN

National symbols matter precisely because they belong to all of us.

That cerulean blue, gold, black and white flag represents almost 180,000 Saint Lucians at home and thousands more around the world.

It represents the children watching Julien and dreaming that one day they too might stand on an international podium.

It represents those who came before us.

It represents a country.

We would not accept another country's anthem being played for Julien.

We would not accept "almost the Saint Lucia anthem."

So why should we accept "almost the Saint Lucia flag"?

23 YEARS OF KNOWING IS ENOUGH

The Government was talking publicly about incorrect representations of our flag in 2003.

John Peters was calling attention to the problem in 2015.

Saint Lucians were questioning the representation again during Miss Universe in 2024.

Now we are talking about it following Julien Alfred's Diamond League triumph in 2026.

How much longer do we need?

Choiseul on the Move is therefore calling for something very simple.

The Government of Saint Lucia should establish and publicly distribute one authoritative digital National Flag Standards Package containing the approved colours, colour codes, dimensions, proportions and high-resolution vector artwork.

That package should be automatically supplied to the Saint Lucia Olympic Committee, every national sporting association, overseas missions, international sporting bodies hosting Saint Lucian athletes, tourism offices, schools, government agencies, manufacturers and media organisations.

And somebody must be formally responsible for maintaining it.

No guessing.

No random Google images.

No "close enough" blue.

No excuses.

Julien Alfred is carrying Saint Lucia to places we have never been before.

When she wins and reaches for the Saint Lucia flag, there should never again be any question about whether the flag placed in her hands is actually the flag of the country she just represented.

Our champion got it right in Brussels.

It is time for those responsible for our national representation to get it right too.

Choiseul on the Move

The flag is not decoration. It is our identity.

 

CHOISEUL WOMEN ARE CHAMPIONS: A Performance Our Constituency Should Be Proud Of

There are times when we have to call out what is wrong in Choiseul. There are times when we have to ask the hard questions, demand better and hold people accountable.

But there are also times when we must stop, look around and say: well done.

Today is one of those days.

Our Choiseul women have given this constituency something to celebrate after winning the Saint Lucia National Cricket Association Women’s T20 Tournament at the La Fargue Playing Field.

And they did it in style.

Choiseul defeated neighbours Laborie by seven wickets, chasing down 100 runs in just 10.4 overs after restricting Laborie to 99 all out in 19.1 overs.

At the centre of it all was Alyiah Alfred, who produced the kind of all-round performance any team would be proud of.

She took 4 wickets for 18 runs from her four overs, with 17 dot balls, then came back with the bat and smashed an unbeaten 56 from just 33 balls, including four sixes and two fours.

That is not just a good performance.

That is a match-winning performance.

But while Alyiah deserves every bit of the praise coming her way, this victory belongs to the entire Choiseul team.

Captain Roylin Cooper picked up two wickets for 19 runs, while veteran Swayline Williams took two wickets for just eight runs.

With the bat, Alicia Herman contributed 12 and Britnee Norbal added 11 as Choiseul made light work of the target.

The victory becomes even more meaningful when we consider the bigger picture.

Women’s domestic cricket in Saint Lucia had been absent for five years.

Five years.

Then the competition returned.

And Choiseul returned as champions.

That alone is worth celebrating.

More Than Just A Cricket Match

Sometimes we look at sport simply as who won and who lost.

But there is much more happening here.

Every woman standing in that Choiseul team photograph represents something important.

Discipline.

Commitment.

Teamwork.

Sacrifice.

And opportunity.

For young girls growing up in Choiseul, Saltibus, La Fargue, Reunion, Roblot, Piaye and the surrounding communities, these women have now provided another example of what is possible.

You can play cricket.

You can represent Choiseul.

You can compete.

And you can win.

We often speak about creating opportunities for our young people, but this is exactly what opportunity looks like when it is supported properly.

Talent needs somewhere to grow.

It needs coaching.

It needs facilities.

It needs competitions.

It needs encouragement.

And sometimes it simply needs people in the community to show up and say: we see you and we are proud of you.

Let Us Give Our Women Their Flowers

Choiseul has always produced sporting talent.

But too often, women’s sporting achievements do not receive the same attention given to the men.

That needs to change.

If a Choiseul football team wins, we celebrate them.

If one of our young men performs well in cricket, athletics or another sport, we recognise him.

Our women deserve that same recognition.

This team did not simply participate in a tournament.

They won it.

And they did so at home, at La Fargue, in front of their own people.

That matters.

The women representing Choiseul should know that their constituency appreciates the work they put in.

They should know that the young girls watching them are taking notice.

And they should know that this victory should not be the end of the story.

So What Comes Next?

This is where the conversation should now move.

How do we build on this?

Can we encourage more young girls to get involved in cricket?

Can local schools develop stronger girls’ cricket programmes?

Can businesses and community organisations support the team with equipment, uniforms, transportation and training?

Can La Fargue continue developing as an important home for women’s cricket in the south?

Can some of these players eventually move on to higher levels of cricket and represent Saint Lucia and the wider region?

Winning the tournament should not simply give us a nice photograph for Facebook.

It should give us something to build on.

Choiseul On The Move Says Congratulations

So today, Choiseul on the Move is not here to complain.

We are not here to criticise.

We are here to say congratulations.

Congratulations to the players.

Congratulations to the captain.

Congratulations to the coaches and support team.

Congratulations to everyone who kept women’s cricket alive and helped bring the competition back.

And special recognition must certainly go to Alyiah Alfred for a tremendous all-round performance when it mattered most.

Choiseul women are champions.

Let that sink in for a little while.

Because with all the challenges our constituency faces, we should never become so consumed by the negatives that we forget to celebrate our own people when they give us a reason to smile.

Well done, ladies.

You represented Choiseul.

You made us proud.

And now the challenge is to make sure this victory becomes the beginning of something even bigger.

Choiseul on the Move salutes our women’s cricket champions.

Match information based on reporting by sports journalist Terry Finisterre in the Saint Lucia Times.

 

AMERICA IS SENDING DEPORTEES TO SAINT LUCIA. WHAT EXACTLY HAVE WE AGREED TO?

There are some issues we cannot just watch pass by because they are happening in Castries and not directly in Choiseul.

This is one of them.

Saint Lucia is preparing to receive its first group of third-country nationals transferred here from the United States under an agreement between our Government and the US Government.

Six persons, five men and one woman, are expected in the first group. We have also been told that Saint Lucia can receive up to 10 persons every three months over the next two years.

Do the maths.

If the programme runs at its maximum, that could amount to as many as 80 persons over the two-year period.

Now before we go any further, there is something we need to get straight.

These people should not automatically be called criminals.

CARICOM has stated that the agreements are intended for the transit of persons without criminal antecedents to their countries of origin, rather than for permanent settlement in Caribbean countries.

That is important.

An immigration violation does not automatically make somebody a murderer, robber, drug dealer or violent criminal.

We have to be fair about that.

But being fair to the people coming here does not mean Saint Lucians must close their eyes, shut their mouths and ask no questions about an arrangement that could have consequences long after the first six persons arrive.

In fact, the more Choiseul on the Move look at this arrangement, the more questions we have.

FIRST QUESTION: WHO EXACTLY ARE WE RECEIVING?

Government says Saint Lucia has the right to accept or reject persons proposed by the United States.

Good.

But how are we checking them?

Are Saint Lucian authorities carrying out their own independent background investigations?

Are international criminal databases being checked?

Are aliases checked?

Are immigration histories checked?

Or are we depending primarily on information handed to us by the United States?

There is a big difference.

If somebody is being removed from America and sent thousands of miles to our little island, I think Saint Lucians have every right to know what level of independent screening takes place before that person gets on the plane.

We don't necessarily need somebody's private medical records or personal information splashed across Facebook.

But we need to know that the system protecting us is solid.

THEN WE HEARD SOMETHING THAT REALLY CAUGHT OUR ATTENTION

Foreign Affairs Minister Alva Baptiste has indicated that these people are not prisoners and will not simply be locked away when they arrive.

Fair enough.

But Government has also spoken about voluntary repatriation and the possibility of supporting those legally able to remain toward integration into Saint Lucian society.

Hold on.

We thought this was a transit arrangement.

CARICOM itself said these agreements were intended to facilitate transit to people's home countries rather than settlement in Caribbean states.

So when did "transit" start including "integration"?

That is where we believe Government owes the country a much clearer explanation.

Because there is a huge difference between somebody spending a few weeks in Saint Lucia while arrangements are made to return him to his country and somebody eventually living and working here.

Those are two completely different things.

AND THIS IS WHERE CHOISEUL/SALTIBUS COMES INTO THE PICTURE

Let us make this clear.

We have found absolutely NO evidence that any of these first six persons are coming to live in Choiseul/Saltibus.

None.

So nobody should leave this article saying Choiseul on the Move reported that American deportees are being placed in Choiseul.

We did not.

But Choiseul/Saltibus is part of Saint Lucia.

And if integration becomes part of this programme, these persons will not necessarily remain in Castries forever.

They could eventually live anywhere.

Choiseul.

Saltibus.

Soufriere.

Laborie.

Vieux Fort.

Gros Islet.

Anywhere.

That is why communities outside Castries should be paying attention to this discussion from NOW.

SUPPOSE SOMEBODY DECIDES TO REMAIN IN SAINT LUCIA?

What happens next?

Can that person work?

Does he receive a work permit?

Can he rent a house wherever he chooses?

Who helps him find accommodation?

Who pays his expenses while he is unemployed?

Does he qualify for healthcare?

What happens if he becomes sick?

What happens if he cannot be returned to his country?

What happens after six months?

One year?

Two years?

Can his family eventually join him?

These are not wild conspiracy theories.

These are ordinary questions that should have ordinary answers when a Government signs an international arrangement involving people being transferred into our country.

AND WHO IS PAYING?

This is another one that interests me.

We have people right here in Choiseul/Saltibus struggling with transportation.

Parents are struggling to send children to school.

People complain about roads.

Young people are looking for work.

Families struggle with the cost of living.

Our police have enough problems already.

Our healthcare system has its own challenges.

So we don't want to hear six months from now that Saint Lucian taxpayers have quietly started picking up expenses associated with an American immigration programme.

The United States is one of the richest countries on earth.

If America needs Saint Lucia to assist with a problem created by American immigration policy, then America should pay the FULL cost of that arrangement.

Accommodation.

Transportation.

Administration.

Healthcare associated with the programme.

Security and screening.

Repatriation.

Everything.

Not 50%.

Not 75%.

Everything.

Our limited resources should remain available to serve the people already living here.

CARICOM itself has said these arrangements should not divert resources and services away from Caribbean citizens.

We should hold everybody to that promise.

BUT THERE IS SOMETHING ELSE BOTHERING US

Today it is six.

The limit is ten per quarter.

What happens tomorrow?

This is how Government needs to explain the agreement to us.

Suppose one of the six cannot return home.

What happens?

Suppose two decide they want to remain.

What happens?

Suppose another group arrives three months later while persons from the first group are still here.

What happens?

Suppose after the two-year pilot America wants the programme expanded.

What happens?

Because this is how temporary programmes sometimes become permanent policy.

That doesn't mean it WILL happen.

It means Government should tell us what safeguards exist to prevent it from happening without proper public and parliamentary scrutiny.

LET US ALSO BE CAREFUL HOW WE TREAT THESE PEOPLE

I know emotions will run high on this issue.

But these six people are human beings.

We do not know their names.

We do not know their stories.

And based on the criteria publicly stated by CARICOM, they are supposed to have no criminal antecedents.

Our blog is not prepared to call somebody a criminal simply because America deported him.

Many Saint Lucians have had immigration problems overseas.

Some have overstayed.

Some have been deported.

That did not automatically make every one of them dangerous people.

We should therefore give these individuals the same human dignity we would want afforded to one of our own relatives being returned from overseas.

But compassion must never replace common sense.

And humanity must never replace proper national security.

We can have both.

CHOISEUL/SALTIBUS SHOULD BE ASKING QUESTIONS TOO

Our Parliamentary Representative and other elected officials should be able to tell constituents what this arrangement means.

Not party talk.

Not red versus yellow.

Information.

Has the full agreement been made public?

Exactly what background checks are conducted?

What nationalities are being accepted?

Where will these persons be accommodated?

How long can they remain?

Can they work?

Can they eventually settle permanently?

Can they live anywhere in Saint Lucia?

Who pays for their accommodation and other needs?

What happens if they cannot be returned home?

And most importantly, what protection is there to ensure that an arrangement beginning with six people does not gradually become something Saint Lucians never agreed to?

Those are reasonable questions.

THIS IS OUR COUNTRY

Saint Lucia should cooperate with our international partners.

America is important to us.

Thousands of Saint Lucians live, work, study and have family connections there.

But partnership does not mean we stop asking questions.

Especially when decisions taken at Cabinet level can eventually reach little communities like ours.

That is why Choiseul/Saltibus should not dismiss this as "something happening up north."

We need to follow it.

We need to know who is coming.

We need to know what the agreement allows.

We need to know what America is paying.

We need to know what "integration" really means.

And we need to know where temporary transit ends and permanent settlement begins.

For now, there is no evidence that these first six persons are criminals and no evidence they are being sent to Choiseul/Saltibus.

Let us not manufacture fear where the facts don't support it.

But neither should we allow those two facts to stop us from asking the harder questions.

Because sometimes the biggest problem is not what happens on Day One.

It is what a small decision becomes five years down the road.

Choiseul on the Move will be watching this one closely.

What are your thoughts? Should Government publish the full agreement so Saint Lucians can see exactly what we have signed up for?

 

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, Athanasius Mitchel, Nadege Noel, Johann Williams, Canice 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