Choiseul On The Move

PIERRE AT THE UN: A GOOD SPEECH BUT LET'S BRING THE CONVERSATION HOME

Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre went before the United Nations General Assembly and delivered what, on the surface, was a strong speech.

He spoke about climate change. He spoke about Haiti. Palestine. Cuba. Taiwan. Reparations. Artificial intelligence. The unfair international financial system. And, throughout the speech, one word kept coming back in one form or another:

Trust.

And I listened.

Because when the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia tells the world that trust can only be restored when promises are matched by action and commitments are honoured, that is something worth remembering.

Not just in New York.

Right here at home.

Pierre told the United Nations that small countries like Saint Lucia cannot continue to suffer under rules created largely by powerful countries while having little influence over those rules.

Fair enough.

In fact, I agree with the principle.

But here is where I want to bring the conversation home.

Because if Saint Lucia can stand before the international community and demand fairness, accountability and delivery from those more powerful than us, surely the ordinary Saint Lucian can demand the same thing from the people we elect to govern us.

That is not opposition politics.

That is democracy.

The Prime Minister Was Right About Climate Change

One of the stronger parts of the speech dealt with climate change.

Pierre reminded the world that Saint Lucia contributes very little to global emissions but continues to suffer the consequences.

He spoke about unusual droughts during the rainy season, flooding during traditionally dry periods, damage to coastlines and the growing problems associated with sargassum.

Then came a very important point.

The Prime Minister argued that vulnerable countries should not have to continuously borrow money to repair damage caused largely by the activities of richer countries.

In his words, climate finance cannot simply become another loan.

Again, I have no difficulty with that argument.

But then my mind immediately comes back home.

Let Us Talk About Water

Later in his speech, the Prime Minister told the United Nations that Saint Lucia was responding to water scarcity by exploring groundwater sources and encouraging rainwater harvesting.

And that is where my ears perked up.

Because we have been having this very discussion right here in Choiseul/Saltibus.

Groundwater.

Rainwater harvesting.

New water sources.

Desalination.

Climate change.

All these things sound good.

But the woman turning her pipe in Roblot, Debreuil, Lamaze or another affected community is not standing there thinking about international climate policy.

She wants to know one thing:

When I turn this pipe, will water come?

That is where policy eventually has to end.

At the pipe.

We can announce all the long-term strategies we want, but people live in the present.

They have children to bathe.

Clothes to wash.

Food to prepare.

Homes to clean.

And bills to pay.

So while I understand the Government's argument that water security must be looked at nationally and over the long term, residents are equally entitled to ask:

What is happening for us now?

Then Pierre Spoke About Technology

Another part of the speech caught my attention.

The Prime Minister warned that technology could create another form of global inequality, where a handful of corporations and powerful countries control the systems upon which everybody else depends.

He called for better data protection, cybersecurity, digital infrastructure and, importantly, affordable connectivity.

Again, good.

But bring that home too.

Today, internet connectivity is not a luxury.

Students need it.

Businesses need it.

People working from home need it.

Banks depend on it.

Government services depend on it.

Even communication during emergencies increasingly depends on it.

So when Saint Lucia goes before the international community asking for affordable and reliable digital infrastructure, we must also ask ourselves whether Saint Lucians are getting the quality and reliability of service they are paying for at home.

The standard cannot change depending on where the speech is being made.

Haiti, Palestine, Cuba and Taiwan

The Prime Minister also used the international stage to state Saint Lucia's position on several global issues.

He called for peace and respect for international law in relation to conflicts including Ukraine, Sudan and Gaza.

He reiterated support for the Palestinian people's right to their own state alongside Israel.

He called for more meaningful international action in Haiti, arguing correctly that the Haitian crisis cannot simply be viewed through the lens of gang violence. Economic, political and social conditions have to be addressed as well.

He also reaffirmed Saint Lucia's support for Taiwan's participation in the United Nations and called for the removal of barriers affecting Cuba's development.

Whether one agrees with every foreign-policy position or not, at least Saint Lucia's positions were clearly placed on the international record.

Reparations Was Another Strong Moment

Pierre also spoke forcefully about reparations.

And I think his framing is worth considering.

He said reparations should not be seen as vengeance or charity.

Instead, he argued that we cannot simply say slavery and colonialism happened hundreds of years ago and therefore the discussion should end.

If their consequences continue to influence wealth, development, opportunity and institutions today, then according to his argument, history is still having an effect on the present.

That is a serious argument.

And the Caribbean should continue having that conversation.

But once again, something struck me.

The entire speech was really about accountability for consequences.

Powerful countries should take responsibility for climate damage.

Former colonial powers should confront historical consequences.

International institutions should honour their commitments.

Countries should respect international law.

Technology companies should not be allowed to dominate vulnerable populations.

Do you see the common thread?

Those with power must be accountable for how that power affects ordinary people.

Now bring that principle home.

The Part of the Speech We Must Keep

Towards the end of his address, Pierre began listing what his Government says it is doing in Saint Lucia.

He spoke about educating the population.

Modernising agriculture.

Improving food security.

Exploring new water sources.

Reducing youth unemployment.

Supporting entrepreneurship.

Supporting women-owned businesses.

Promoting universal health care.

Maintaining fiscal discipline.

Reducing unemployment.

Creating an environment for investment.

And I am not going to sit here and say none of those things are happening.

That would not be fair.

The more useful thing is to do something else.

Measure them.

If youth unemployment is falling, show us.

If the Youth Economy Agency is succeeding, show us how many sustainable businesses and jobs have resulted.

If agriculture is being modernised, let us see the impact on farmers and food production.

If universal health care is advancing, let patients tell us whether access has improved.

If our water security is improving, communities should eventually feel the improvement.

That is how governments should be judged.

Not merely by announcements.

Not by Facebook posts.

Not by speeches.

By results.

And That Brings Me Back to Choiseul

Those of us in Choiseul/Saltibus should pay particular attention to speeches like this.

Not because we expect the Prime Minister to stand at the United Nations and start talking about every pothole, broken pipe or community problem in Choiseul.

Of course not.

But national speeches tell us what standards our leaders claim to believe in.

And Pierre gave us a very clear standard.

He told the United Nations that promises must be matched by action and commitments must be honoured.

I like that standard.

So let us keep it.

When the international community makes promises to Saint Lucia, honour them.

When Saint Lucia makes commitments internationally, honour them.

And when a government makes commitments to its own people, honour those too.

The resident in Choiseul asking for reliable water is not asking for charity.

The motorist asking for a decent road is not asking for a favour.

The young person looking for a genuine opportunity is not begging.

The taxpayer demanding proper public services is not being unreasonable.

These are citizens asking the institutions created to serve them to deliver.

And maybe that is the biggest lesson I took from Pierre's speech.

The Prime Minister went to New York and told the world:

Trust depends on delivery.

Fair enough.

But that principle does not require a passport.

It applies in New York.

It applies in Castries.

And yes, it applies right here in Choiseul/Saltibus.

Because when all the speeches are finished, the cameras are switched off and the delegation comes home, the real test is always the same:

Has life gotten better for the people?

That is the test that ultimately matters.