EC$1,131 A MONTH: LIVEABLE FOR WHOM?

There is a word in Saint Lucia's minimum wage policy that continues to trouble me.

That word is “liveable.”

Not minimum.

Not wage.

Liveable.

Saint Lucia's national minimum wage is EC$1,131 per month, or EC$6.52 an hour. It came into effect in October 2024 and Government presented it as an important step towards fairness, reducing working poverty and improving the standard of living of ordinary workers.

I welcomed the introduction of a national minimum wage.

Saint Lucia needed one.

Thousands of workers who previously had little protection against extremely low wages finally had a legal floor beneath which employers could not go.

That was progress.

But nearly two years later, I think we need to ask the question that perhaps we did not ask loudly enough at the beginning:

Can EC$1,131 really provide a liveable life in Saint Lucia?

Because there is a difference between a minimum wage and a living wage.

And calling something liveable does not automatically make it so.

LET US TALK ABOUT THE ORDINARY WORKER

Forget politics for a moment.

Think about the security guard.

The shop attendant.

The cleaner.

The labourer.

The supermarket worker.

The young mother working eight hours a day.

The father catching a bus from Choiseul to Vieux Fort or Castries every morning.

The hotel worker who has to leave home before sunrise.

The person earning EC$1,131 at the end of the month.

Before that worker buys food, the money has already started disappearing.

Transport.

Electricity.

Water.

Telephone.

Cooking gas.

Rent, if the person does not own a home.

School expenses.

Medication.

Household supplies.

And then comes food.

That EC$1,131 is not sitting in the bank waiting to build savings.

It is fighting for survival from the moment it arrives.

NOW LOOK AT THE OTHER END OF THE SCALE

According to the funded base-salary figures in the Government's 2026–2027 Estimates, the annual salaries attached to several senior public positions work out approximately as follows:

Prime Minister: EC$201,164 annually, about EC$16,764 monthly.

Government Minister: EC$154,742 annually, about EC$12,895 monthly.

Leader of the Opposition: EC$154,742 annually, about EC$12,895 monthly.

Speaker of the House: EC$92,845 annually, about EC$7,737 monthly.

Deputy Speaker: EC$70,269 annually, about EC$5,856 monthly.

An ordinary elected member works out at approximately EC$5,577 monthly, while a senator, a part-time parliamentary position, works out at approximately EC$2,510 monthly.

The Government has published its 2026–2027 Estimates as the country's official financial plan. Historical parliamentary remuneration data also independently confirms the same broad salary structure for the Prime Minister, ministers, Opposition Leader and Speaker.

Now compare that with the worker.

EC$1,131 per month.

Approximately EC$13,572 for the entire year.

And before somebody misunderstands where I am going with this, let me make something very clear.

I AM NOT SAYING POLITICIANS ARE PAID TOO MUCH

The Prime Minister carries enormous responsibility.

Ministers carry responsibility.

Parliamentarians make decisions affecting an entire country.

They should be properly compensated for that responsibility.

This is not a campaign to cut their salaries.

Actually, the comparison leads me to the opposite conclusion.

The problem is not necessarily that those at the top are earning too much.

The problem is that too many people at the bottom are earning far too little.

That distinction matters.

Because turning this into an argument about politicians' salaries allows us to avoid the more uncomfortable conversation about the wages of ordinary Saint Lucians.

DO THE ARITHMETIC

A Prime Minister's base salary is almost 15 times the minimum wage.

A minister's is more than 11 times.

The Speaker's is nearly seven times.

The Deputy Speaker earns more than five times the minimum.

Even the calculated base salary of an ordinary elected member is almost five times what a minimum-wage worker earns.

And a senator's base salary, for what is generally a part-time parliamentary position, works out at more than twice the monthly minimum wage.

Again, that does not prove those salaries are excessive.

It demonstrates something else.

EC$1,131 is very, very small money in today's Saint Lucia.

SO SHOW US THE “LIVEABLE” BASKET

This is where I believe Government should go further.

If EC$1,131 is officially described as a Minimum Liveable Wage, then publish the household budget behind the word liveable.

Show us.

How much was allocated for rent?

How much for food?

How much for transportation?

How much for electricity?

How much for water?

How much for cooking gas?

How much for telephone and internet?

How much for clothing?

How much for medication?

How much for a child's school expenses?

And after all of that, how much is the worker expected to save?

That would move this discussion away from politics and into mathematics.

Because a living wage should not be a political slogan.

It should be a calculation.

TRY EC$1,131 IN CHOISEUL

This conversation becomes even more real when we bring it home.

Imagine someone in Roblot, Saltibus, Mongouge, Piaye, Delcer or another rural community travelling to work every day.

Transport alone takes its bite.

Then the person comes home and has to contribute towards electricity, water and food.

Perhaps there are children.

Perhaps there is rent.

Perhaps there is an elderly parent in the house.

Perhaps the refrigerator breaks.

Perhaps somebody gets sick.

Perhaps school asks for another book, uniform or contribution.

What happens then?

At EC$1,131 monthly, there isn't much room between managing and crisis.

One unexpected expense can destroy the entire month's budget.

That is not financial security.

That is survival.

AND LET US NOT FORGET WHAT A JOB REQUIRES

Sometimes we speak about wages as though workers simply wake up and collect money.

Working costs money.

You need clothing.

Transportation.

Lunch.

Sometimes childcare.

A phone.

Basic grooming.

And increasingly, internet access.

Before some workers even begin contributing to their household, they have already spent part of the wage simply getting themselves to work and remaining employable.

That reality must be part of any serious discussion about a living wage.

WHAT SHOULD THE MINIMUM BE?

I will not pull a figure out of the air and pretend it is scientific.

That would be no better than the politics I am questioning.

But I will say this.

EC$1,131 should now be reviewed.

Government should commission and publish an updated cost-of-living basket showing what it actually costs a single working adult to maintain a basic but decent standard of living in Saint Lucia.

From there we can have an intelligent national discussion about whether the figure should be EC$1,300, EC$1,500, EC$1,600 or higher.

Personally, I would find it very difficult to describe anything around EC$1,100 as genuinely liveable under present-day conditions.

But let the numbers speak.

And once a proper living-wage figure is established, it should not remain frozen for years while prices continue climbing.

It should be reviewed regularly and linked in some way to changes in the cost of living.

BUSINESSES HAVE A SIDE TO THIS STORY TOO

There is another reality we cannot ignore.

Many small Saint Lucian businesses are struggling too.

A shop in Choiseul does not have the same financial resources as a large hotel, bank or multinational operation.

So increasing wages substantially overnight without considering small employers could result in reduced hours, layoffs, higher prices or businesses closing altogether.

That would help nobody.

This therefore cannot simply be:

“Raise the minimum wage tomorrow.”

Government may have to examine tax relief, productivity support, lower business costs and transitional assistance for genuinely vulnerable small enterprises.

But protecting businesses cannot become a permanent excuse for keeping workers poor.

A business model that depends indefinitely on a full-time worker remaining unable to meet basic living expenses deserves scrutiny too.

A FAIR DAY'S WORK MUST MEAN SOMETHING

Government itself has used the phrase “a fair day's work for a fair day's pay.”

I agree.

Completely.

Workers must turn up.

Workers must be productive.

Workers must give employers value.

But fairness cannot travel in only one direction.

If we demand a fair day's work from the employee, then the employee has every right to ask:

What is a fair day's pay?

Not a luxury wage.

Not a politician's wage.

Not a salary that buys vacations and expensive vehicles.

Just enough that an honest person working full time can feed himself, travel to work, keep the lights on, handle basic necessities and still retain some dignity when the month ends.

That should not be a radical demand.

THE QUESTION IS STILL WAITING

Saint Lucia deserves credit for finally establishing a national minimum wage.

That was overdue and necessary.

But establishing the floor was never supposed to end the conversation.

It should have started another one.

Two years later, perhaps the question we now need to ask is no longer:

Do we have a minimum wage?

We do.

The question is:

Can a Saint Lucian actually live on it?

And if the answer is no, then we should have the courage to stop hiding behind the word “liveable.”

Call it what it is: a minimum.

Then let us get to work determining what an ordinary Saint Lucian worker actually needs to live.

Not merely survive.

We can do better.

Choiseul on the Move

#SaintLucia #MinimumWage #LivingWage #Workers #CostOfLiving #Choiseul #ChoiseulOnTheMove

 

MERISSA’S DEATH SHOULD TROUBLE ALL OF US: A MESSAGE TO THE YOUNG WOMEN OF CHOISEUL-SALTIBUS

There are some stories you read and simply move on.

Then there are others that stay with you.

The reported death of 21-year-old Merissa Auguste of Boguis, Babonneau is one of those stories.

Merissa had reportedly been missing since September 9. Sadly, reports now indicate that her body has been found. There are also disturbing allegations surrounding the circumstances of her death, including reports that she may have been sexually assaulted and beaten before being killed.

Those details remain matters for the police and investigators to confirm, and we should be careful not to turn a family's grief into social-media speculation.

But one thing is already certain.

A young woman has lost her life.

And somewhere tonight, a family is trying to understand how somebody they loved walked out into the world and never returned home.

That should trouble every one of us.

This Is Not Just A Babonneau Story

It would be easy for those of us in Choiseul and Saltibus to read this story, shake our heads, say how terrible it is, and continue with our day.

But tragedies like this must force us to think closer to home.

Our daughters travel to Castries, Vieux Fort, Soufriere and other parts of Saint Lucia for work, school, appointments and entertainment.

Some finish work late.

Some depend on public transportation.

Some accept rides from people they know casually.

Some meet people they first encountered online.

Some simply believe that because Saint Lucia is small, they are relatively safe.

Unfortunately, small island does not automatically mean safe island.

And that is the difficult conversation we need to have.

To The Young Women Of Choiseul And Saltibus

Choiseul on the Move wants to speak directly to you.

Not to frighten you.

Not to suggest that you should stop enjoying your lives.

But because sometimes one small precaution can make a difference.

When you are going somewhere, let somebody know where you are going.

If you are meeting someone for the first time, especially someone you met online, tell a relative or close friend who you are meeting and where.

If you accept a ride and something doesn't feel right, share your location, vehicle registration number or other information with somebody you trust.

Keep your phone charged when possible.

If plans suddenly change, send a quick message home.

And perhaps most importantly, trust your instincts.

Sometimes we remain in uncomfortable situations because we don't want to appear rude.

Forget that.

You do not owe anybody politeness at the expense of your safety.

If something feels wrong, leave.

If somebody's behaviour changes and you become uncomfortable, leave.

If somebody becomes controlling, aggressive or threatening, seek help.

You would rather explain later why you overreacted than have your family wishing you had.

But Women Cannot Carry This Burden Alone

There is something else that needs saying.

Every time a woman is attacked, we immediately start producing lists telling women what they should have done.

Don't walk alone.

Don't go there.

Don't accept that ride.

Don't dress this way.

Don't trust that person.

Yes, personal safety matters.

But we must be very careful not to make women responsible for the violence committed against them.

The bigger question remains:

Why are there men among us who believe they have the right to abuse, assault or kill women?

That conversation must begin in our homes.

It must begin with our boys.

Respect for women cannot start when a young man turns 25.

It must be taught when he is five.

Our sons must learn that rejection is not humiliation.

A woman saying no is not an insult.

A relationship ending is not permission for revenge.

Jealousy is not love.

Possession is not love.

Control is not love.

Violence is certainly not love.

Young Men, You Have A Role Too

To the young men of Choiseul-Saltibus, there is something you can do.

Look out for the women around you.

If your friend is harassing a woman, don't encourage him.

If somebody tells you that he intends to hurt a woman, don't laugh it off.

If you see a woman clearly uncomfortable in a situation, check whether she needs help.

Sometimes preventing violence begins long before the police arrive.

It begins when somebody decides not to remain silent.

Parents Must Keep Communication Open

Parents also have a role.

Our children grow older and naturally want independence.

But we must create relationships where our daughters and sons feel comfortable telling us where they are going, who they are meeting and when something doesn't feel right.

If every conversation becomes interrogation and punishment, eventually they stop telling us anything.

And sometimes that silence can become dangerous.

We need communication without unnecessary judgement.

Let The Police Investigation Establish The Truth

There will undoubtedly be rumours surrounding Merissa's death.

Some may turn out to be true.

Others may not.

This is where we must exercise restraint.

A grieving family deserves answers, not Facebook investigators creating theories from incomplete information.

Let the Royal Saint Lucia Police Force investigate.

Anyone with genuine information that could assist investigators should pass that information to the authorities rather than simply circulating it through WhatsApp groups.

Justice requires facts.

A Young Woman Should Be Able To Come Home

At the end of all of this, the issue is really quite simple.

A young woman should be able to leave her home in the morning.

Go to work.

Go to school.

Visit friends.

Attend an event.

Meet somebody.

Live her life.

And return safely to the people who love her.

That should not be considered too much to expect in Saint Lucia.

So tonight, Choiseul on the Move joins the rest of the country in expressing sympathy to the family and loved ones of Merissa Auguste.

May they find strength during what must be an unbearable time.

And to every young woman reading this in Choiseul, Saltibus, Roblot, Piaye, La Fargue, Debreuil and the surrounding communities:

Enjoy your life. Chase your dreams. Go to school. Go to work. Go out with your friends. But remain aware. Tell somebody where you are. Look out for each other. And never ignore that inner voice telling you something isn't right.

We cannot remove every danger from the world.

But as communities, families and friends, we can become much better at protecting one another.

Rest in peace, Merissa.

Gone far too soon. 🕊️

 

CHOISEUL, DON’T JUST GIVE US ANOTHER FETE. GIVE US SOMETHING WE CAN OWN.

That “Something Big” poster has people guessing. Choiseul on the Move wants to put another idea on the table.

By Choiseul on the Move

That poster has certainly done its job.

“Something big is coming to Choiseul this Thanksgiving Weekend.”

Since it started making the rounds on Facebook, everybody has become an investigator.

Carnival?

J’ouvert?

Blotje en Chwazey?

A pageant?

A big dance?

The comments are coming, and that is good. It tells us people are interested. People want something happening in Choiseul.

But Choiseul on the Move wants to throw something different into the pot.

What about a Gospel Music Festival?

And before somebody quickly says, “Gospel? That boring,” hear me out.

I am not talking about putting four singers on a stage, singing a few church songs, saying thank you very much and everybody goes home.

No.

I am talking about something BIG.

A proper Choiseul Thanksgiving Gospel Festival and Song Competition with serious prizes, live bands, choirs, solo artistes, young people, original songs, Kwéyòl gospel music, food, craft and eventually a major Saint Lucian or regional gospel artiste closing the show.

Something people will mark on their calendar every year.

Something people from Vieux Fort, Laborie, Soufrière, Castries and Gros Islet will drive to Choiseul to see.

Something Choiseul can call ours.

Before We Run Behind Another Carnival, Remember Our History

One thing I have learnt over the years is that sometimes we forget too quickly.

Choiseul has been producing cultural activities around September and October for a very long time.

And when you go digging into the history, you realise that the Thanksgiving weekend itself has significance.

Back in 2013, organisers of Blotje en Chwazey deliberately placed the climax of the festival around the October Thanksgiving weekend.

Why?

Because they wanted Choiseul to have its own space.

Not Jazz.

Not national Carnival.

Something Choiseul could develop.

That year's programme included a music festival, Miss Choiseul Pageant, arts and agriculture activities, J’ouvert and other cultural events.

The people organising it at the time even made the point that they did not want Blotje en Chwazey to simply become another Carnival.

Think about that.

Thirteen years later, here we are again talking about Thanksgiving weekend.

And once again we have an opportunity to decide what Choiseul wants to be known for.

We Already Know How To Fete

Nobody has to teach Saint Lucians how to fete.

We have Carnival.

We have J’ouvert.

We have Dennery Segment.

We have soca events.

We have fetes almost every weekend somewhere on the island.

Put music, rum and a DJ together and Saint Lucians will find the place.

Nothing wrong with that.

But must every community event eventually become the same thing?

Bass. Bar. Soca. Jump-up. Go home.

Then next year we start over.

Choiseul should be thinking bigger than simply putting another fete onto Saint Lucia's already crowded entertainment calendar.

If this mystery event turns out to be Carnival or J’ouvert, I wish the organisers every success.

But I also want us to start discussing what Choiseul can create that has a real identity.

Something another community might look at five years from now and say:

“We need something like what Choiseul has.”

That is when you know you have created something.

Why Gospel? Why Thanksgiving?

To me the answer is staring us right in the face.

It is Thanksgiving.

A time associated with gratitude.

Family.

Reflection.

Faith.

Community.

Giving thanks for life itself.

So why would Gospel Music be strange?

In fact, Saint Lucia has already included gospel events in Creole Heritage Month activities before. A Kwéyòl Gospel Fiesta was held as part of the national October cultural programme years ago.

So this is not some foreign concept being pulled out of a hat.

The foundation is already there.

And Choiseul has churches everywhere.

Catholic.

Seventh-day Adventist.

Pentecostal.

Evangelical.

Baptist.

Church of God.

And others.

Those churches contain singers.

Musicians.

Choirs.

Keyboard players.

Drummers.

Songwriters.

Young people with tremendous talent who hardly ever get a serious stage outside their church.

Why can't Choiseul create that stage?

And Please, Make It A Competition

This is where I would really like the organisers to shake things up.

Don't just invite singers.

Create competition.

Give people something to work towards.

Imagine this.

Choiseul Thanksgiving Gospel Festival

Best Gospel Soloist

Best Gospel Group

Best Church Choir

Best Youth Gospel Performer

Best Original Gospel Song

And here's the one I would really love:

BEST ORIGINAL KWÉYÒL GOSPEL SONG

Now tell me that would not be something.

Choiseul could challenge Saint Lucian musicians to WRITE.

Not just sing somebody else's song.

Write something new.

Write about faith.

Write about life.

Write about struggle.

Write about the communities we live in.

Write about Saint Lucia.

Write it in Kwéyòl.

Imagine those songs being recorded afterwards.

Imagine Kool Vybz and other stations playing them.

Imagine them going onto YouTube, Spotify and other platforms.

Suddenly a one-night festival has created new Saint Lucian music.

That is culture.

Put A Real Prize Behind It

And please don't ask people to rehearse for two months for a trophy and $200.

If we are calling it something big, make it big.

Go after corporate Saint Lucia.

Banks.

Credit unions.

Telecommunications companies.

Construction companies.

Supermarkets.

Insurance companies.

The Tourism Authority.

Ministry of Culture.

Private sponsors.

Put together a meaningful purse.

What if the winning original song received $10,000?

Now people start writing.

What if Best Choir carried $5,000?

What if a youth category gave a scholarship or musical equipment?

Now parents become interested.

Churches become interested.

Music teachers become interested.

Young people start rehearsing.

And the standard rises every year.

But Don't Stop At The Stage

This is Choiseul.

We have something many places would love to have.

Craft.

For generations Choiseul has been recognised as one of Saint Lucia's great centres of traditional craft.

Basketry.

Pottery.

Woodwork.

Coconut products.

Traditional foods.

Agriculture.

So make the festival bigger than music.

During the day, give our craftspeople tents.

Give farmers space.

Let local cooks sell food.

Let small businesses display their products.

Let young entrepreneurs participate.

Then as evening approaches, the Gospel Festival begins.

Now the money is not only going to the promoter.

The vendor earns.

The farmer earns.

The craft producer earns.

The taxi driver earns.

The shop earns.

The guest house earns.

Choiseul earns.

That is how festivals begin to make economic sense.

And The Young People Must Be Right In The Middle

Choiseul has been investing again in music.

We have seen renewed interest through programmes involving young musicians and the Choiseul Community Symphony.

Our Jazz Fiesta has also shown what can happen when local talent is placed alongside established performers.

So why not build another platform around that?

A 14-year-old singer from Saltibus should be able to dream of standing on that Thanksgiving stage.

A little choir from Roblot should be able to compete.

A young keyboard player from La Fargue should have somewhere to demonstrate what he has been practising.

A songwriter sitting at home in Mongouge should have a reason to finish that song.

That is what community development looks like too.

Not everything for young people has to involve a football or cricket.

And Yes, Christmas Is Another Opportunity

If Thanksgiving is already committed to something else, then let us look at Christmas.

But again, don't simply call it a Christmas concert.

Give it character.

Imagine a Choiseul Christmas Music Festival built around original Saint Lucian Christmas songs.

Kwéyòl Christmas music.

Gospel.

Séwénal.

Choirs.

Traditional instruments.

Young performers.

A songwriting competition.

Now we would be producing music that could live for generations.

Because let us admit something.

Every Christmas we hear many of the same foreign Christmas songs.

Beautiful songs, yes.

But where are the new Saint Lucian Christmas classics?

Why couldn't some of them come from Choiseul?

This Is The Conversation I Want The Poster To Start

Choiseul on the Move does not know what is behind the “Something Big” poster.

Maybe the organisers already have something wonderful planned.

I hope so.

And I congratulate them for creating interest without even announcing the event.

That alone is good marketing.

But while everybody is guessing, I want us to use the opportunity to think beyond one weekend.

What does Choiseul want to own?

Because successful communities eventually create signature events.

Soufrière has things associated with Soufrière.

Gros Islet has things associated with Gros Islet.

Dennery has built a musical identity recognised far beyond Dennery.

Choiseul has history.

Choiseul has culture.

Choiseul has musicians.

Choiseul has craft.

Choiseul has food.

Choiseul has churches.

Choiseul has young talent.

Choiseul has locations.

And most importantly, Choiseul has people.

What we need is an idea big enough to pull those things together.

So Here Is The Challenge

Whatever is coming this Thanksgiving weekend, let it be successful.

But going forward, I am throwing this one directly onto the table for the Choiseul/Saltibus Village Council, Choiseul Events, cultural organisations, churches, musicians, businesses, sponsors and our Parliamentary Representative:

LET CHOISEUL BUILD A THANKSGIVING GOSPEL FESTIVAL.

Make it competitive.

Make it national.

Make Kwéyòl part of it.

Give serious prizes.

Bring in a major gospel artiste.

Give our young people a stage.

Give our vendors business.

Give our craftspeople exposure.

Give our musicians something to create.

And build it year after year until when somebody anywhere in Saint Lucia hears the words “Thanksgiving weekend,” one of the first things that comes to mind is:

CHOISEUL.

We don't always have to copy what is already happening somewhere else.

Sometimes we have to be brave enough to start something.

Something big.

And maybe the biggest thing Choiseul can do is not simply organise another event.

Maybe it is time for Choiseul to create a tradition.

 

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.