There are moments when silence becomes complicity. This is one of them.
The recent threat made against the life of Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre by a Saint Lucian residing in the United Kingdom is not merely reprehensible—it is a vile, cowardly, and unforgivable attack on every principle that holds our nation together. It is an assault on democracy itself, a betrayal of our shared heritage, and a stain on the character of our diaspora community.
This Cannot Stand
Let us be absolutely clear: there is no justification, no excuse, and no rationalization for threatening the life of our Prime Minister. None.
You may oppose his policies. You may disagree with his governance. You may feel passionate about the direction of our country. That is your democratic right—indeed, it is the very essence of democracy. But the moment you cross the line from disagreement to death threats, you have abandoned reason, rejected civility, and forfeited any claim to be part of the democratic process.
This threat is not "passionate politics." It is not "strong opposition." It is criminality of the highest order, dressed up in the pathetic costume of political conviction.
A Coward's Act from Afar
What makes this act even more contemptible is that it comes from someone sitting comfortably in England—thousands of miles away from the consequences of their words, insulated from the fear they seek to instill, removed from the democratic institutions they seek to undermine.
This individual enjoys the safety, stability, and rule of law provided by their adopted country while attempting to export chaos and violence back to the land of their birth. They sit in comfort while threatening to plunge Saint Lucia into crisis. They lecture about Saint Lucia's problems while contributing nothing but poison to the discourse.
If you are so dissatisfied with the leadership of Saint Lucia, return home. Vote. Organize. Engage in the democratic process. Run for office yourself. But do not—do not—dare to threaten violence from your safe distance and pretend it is patriotism.
An Attack on All of Us
When someone threatens the life of the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia, they threaten every single one of us.
They threaten the mother in Choiseul who depends on stable governance for her children's future.
They threaten the fisherman in Laborie whose livelihood depends on peaceful political transitions.
They threaten the teacher in Vieux Fort who believes in the power of democratic example.
They threaten the young person in Castries who dreams of a Saint Lucia where ideas compete, not bullets.
This is not about Philip J. Pierre the man—this is about the office he holds and what that office represents. It represents the will of the people. It represents the peaceful transfer of power. It represents the principle that we settle our differences through dialogue and ballots, not through intimidation and violence.
Democracy Dies in the Shadows of Threats
History has shown us, time and again, what happens when political violence becomes normalized. When threats are dismissed as "just talk." When we shrug our shoulders and say "people are just emotional."
We have seen nations torn apart. We have seen democracies crumble. We have seen the descent into chaos begin with words that were ignored, with threats that were not taken seriously, with lines that were crossed without consequence.
Saint Lucia has worked too hard, sacrificed too much, and come too far to allow this poison to take root in our political culture.
We are a nation that has weathered colonialism, hurricanes, economic hardship, and political transitions. We have done so because we have, by and large, maintained a commitment to democratic norms and peaceful political engagement. We cannot—we will not—allow that legacy to be destroyed by individuals who have lost all sense of decency and proportion.
Justice Must Be Swift and Certain
The authorities in both Saint Lucia and the United Kingdom must treat this threat with the utmost seriousness.
This individual must be identified, investigated, and prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. If they are in the UK, extradition must be pursued. If extradition is not possible, cooperation with UK authorities must be secured to ensure they face justice under British law.
There must be consequences. Real, meaningful, legal consequences.
Anything less sends the message that such behavior is tolerable. Anything less emboldens the next person who believes their political frustrations justify threats of violence. Anything less makes a mockery of our justice system and our democratic values.
To Our Diaspora: You Are Better Than This
To the Saint Lucians living abroad—in the UK, the United States, Canada, and beyond—we know that the overwhelming majority of you would never condone such behavior. We know that you love Saint Lucia deeply and want the best for our nation.
But this is your moment to speak up. To make clear that this individual does not represent you. To affirm that the Saint Lucian diaspora stands for democracy, for peaceful engagement, and for the rule of law.
Your silence allows this poison to fester. Your voice can help contain it.
A Line in the Sand
Choiseul on the Move stands unequivocally against this threat and any attempt to normalize political violence in Saint Lucia.
We may have our own political views. We may criticize or support various policies. We may engage vigorously in the democratic debate about our nation's future.
But we draw a bright, unmistakable line: threats of violence against our elected leaders are unacceptable, unconscionable, and un-Saint Lucian.
To the individual who made this threat: you have disgraced yourself, betrayed your country, and violated the most basic norms of civilized society. You deserve the full weight of the law and the contempt of every Saint Lucian who values democracy.
To Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre: while we may not always agree with your policies, we stand firmly with you against this threat. No leader should have to govern under the shadow of death threats. You have our support in ensuring that justice is served.
To our fellow Saint Lucians: let us recommit ourselves to the principles that have sustained our democracy. Let us debate fiercely but fairly. Let us disagree without being disagreeable. Let us remember that our strength lies in our unity, our democracy, and our shared commitment to resolving our differences through peaceful means.
Saint Lucia deserves better. We demand better. And we will accept nothing less.
