"You’ll Easier See a Green Donkey”: Dr. Alphonsus St. Rose’s Hard-Hitting Call for Accountability

The nation woke up this morning to the announcement that Saint Lucia’s Parliament has been dissolved — and that general elections will be held on December 1, 2025.

As citizens begin weighing their choices, one online discussion has captured the heart of the public debate. On my Facebook page, I asked a simple but serious question:

“How much has really been spent on St. Jude, and what exactly have we gotten for it so far? Inquiring minds want to know!"

It was a question meant to spark reflection — and it did. Among the many responses, one stood out sharply for its depth, precision, and patriotic honesty. It came from none other than Dr. Alphonsus St. Rose, a proud Choiseulian by birth and long-time advocate for health reform and good governance.

Here’s what Dr. St. Rose had to say:

“Trust me, that tab from 2009 to 2025 (and still counting), spanning four administrations and sixteen years, must shamefully be in excess of half a billion dollars for that. What is even worse is we as a nation and a people are expected to celebrate (at its opening) that level of political negligence with no accountability or transparency. You will easier see a green donkey before you ever get to know the true cost of this contagion. It is for this reason we must command value and purpose to our vote by demanding our government to enact a FOIA, because unlike Caesar's wife, our governments are not beyond suspicion!”

A Question That Struck a Nerve

Dr. St. Rose’s response cuts to the bone of our national conscience. What started as a simple social media question quickly turned into a moment of reckoning for all Saint Lucians — especially those who have watched the St. Jude saga unfold for nearly two decades.

The hospital reconstruction project, born from the ashes of tragedy in 2009, has now become a lasting symbol of political failure and financial secrecy. Sixteen years, four administrations, and hundreds of millions later, Saint Lucians still have no clear public accounting of the total cost.

A National Lesson in Neglect

Each government has had its chance to “fix St. Jude.” Each one promised to deliver. Yet the final product has been delays, reworks, investigations, and shifting narratives. The end result is a structure clouded by mystery, mistrust, and unanswered questions.

As Dr. St. Rose boldly stated, we are expected to celebrate this outcome — as if completion alone justifies the political negligence that led us here. His “green donkey” metaphor captures the absurdity perfectly: it will take a miracle before Saint Lucians ever see the real figures or understand how their money was spent.

The Call for Transparency and FOIA

At the heart of his message lies a demand for a Freedom of Information Act (FOIA) — legislation that would finally empower citizens to access government records, contracts, and expenditure data. Such an Act would prevent future governments from hiding behind confidentiality clauses or partisan spin.

Transparency should not depend on political convenience; it should be the default standard of governance. As Dr. St. Rose reminded us, “unlike Caesar’s wife, our governments are not beyond suspicion.”

An Election About Integrity

With elections now officially called, this conversation must rise beyond party lines. The St. Jude issue is not red or yellow — it is a national disgrace that calls for a new political culture.

Voters must now decide whether they will continue to reward empty talk and opacity, or whether they will use the power of their vote to demand accountability, audited results, and legislative reform.

As one citizen’s Facebook question met one Choiseulian’s fearless truth, the message became clear: Saint Lucia cannot afford another sixteen years of silence.

Until the people demand honesty in governance, we might all keep chasing that same green donkey down the same old road.

#AccountabilityNow #FOIAForStLucia #StJudeHospital #Elections2025 #ChoiseulSpeaks #TransparencyMatters

Call for a Memorial Monument at Morne Sion to Honour the Victims of the 2011 Choiseul Tragedy

PRESS RELEASE

Date: November 9, 2025

Subject: Call for a Memorial Monument at Morne Sion to Honour the Victims of the 2011 Choiseul Tragedy

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Choiseul, Saint Lucia —
As the community of Choiseul and the wider nation prepare to mark the 14th anniversary of the tragic Morne Sion accident of November 10, 2011, Choiseul on the Move calls upon both political candidates for the Choiseul/Saltibus constituency—Mr. Bradley Felix (United Workers Party) and Mr. Keithson “Kiffo” Charles (Saint Lucia Labour Party)—to make a solemn and public commitment to the people of Choiseul:

Deliver a permanent monument at the Morne Sion crash site before the next anniversary.

---

Background

On the evening of Thursday, November 10, 2011, a minibus carrying mourners returning from a funeral in Micoud plunged off a cliff into the sea at Morne Sion, Choiseul.
Seventeen lives were lost—including men, women, children, and an expectant mother. It remains one of the most devastating accidents in Saint Lucia’s modern history.

In the weeks that followed, there were many promises and pledges of remembrance. The then Prime Minister, Dr. Kenny Anthony, publicly expressed his government’s intention to erect a memorial monument at the site. Yet, fourteen years later, no such monument exists.
The only reminder at the scene today is a set of culvert barriers—cold, impersonal, and inadequate to represent the pain, faith, and loss that the Choiseul community endured that night.

A Community Still Hurting

Every year, families from Dugard, Fond Lor, and the surrounding areas quietly mark the anniversary.
For them, the absence of a formal memorial is not just an oversight—it is a painful symbol of forgotten promises.

This press release, therefore, is not political.
It is moral.
It is humanitarian.
It is an appeal from a community that refuses to let memory die in silence.

Our Call to Action

We call upon both Mr. Felix and Mr. Charles, as sons of Choiseul and aspirants to represent its people, to:

1. Publicly pledge to erect a Memorial Monument at Morne Sion by November 10, 2026.
2. Collaborate with local families, church leaders, and community representatives on the design and placement of the monument.
3. Ensure transparency regarding funding, location, and maintenance.
4. Include the names of all victims on the monument, as a mark of eternal remembrance.

This is not a matter of politics—it is a matter of dignity.
Leadership begins with empathy, and the people of Choiseul/Saltibus deserve leaders who can honour their own.

Why It Matters

The Morne Sion tragedy stands as a scar on the national conscience.
It reminds us of the fragility of life, the power of community, and the responsibility of leaders to act where words once failed.

A monument at the crash site would:

• Preserve our history for future generations.
• Offer closure to the bereaved.
• Serve as a national reminder of road safety and compassion.
• Restore pride in a community that bore unimaginable pain.

A Final Word

Choiseul on the Move is urging both candidates—before the campaign dust settles—to take a united stand on this humanitarian issue.
Commit publicly, follow through faithfully, and let your legacy in Choiseul/Saltibus begin not with division, but with honour.

Let November 10th, 2026, be a day of healing, not just remembering.

Issued by:
Choiseul on the Move
Community Blog and Civic Platform
📧 choiseul.inform@gmail.com
🌐 https://choiseul-inform.blogspot.com

Wickham’s Warning: Pierre Won’t Call Election Without a Clear Edge — What Does That Really Mean?ñ

Caribbean pollster Peter Wickham has dropped a subtle but significant observation about Saint Lucia’s political climate. Speaking recently on regional media, Wickham suggested that Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre will not risk calling a general election until he’s certain that his Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) has a clear advantage at the polls.

That statement might sound like cautious leadership — but beneath the surface, it tells a bigger story about where both major political parties stand right now.

A Waiting Game from the Top

According to Wickham, Pierre is playing it safe. The Prime Minister appears to be carefully watching the political winds, waiting for the perfect moment to strike — perhaps after the official opening of the St. Jude Hospital or another major government project.

This signals one thing loud and clear: Pierre is not yet convinced his government has the edge. In politics, timing is everything — and when a leader refuses to roll the dice early, it usually means the numbers aren’t as strong as they’d like.

The UWP Factor

If Pierre’s caution tells one story, the United Workers Party’s (UWP) growing confidence tells another. Across constituencies, the UWP has been visibly re-energized, holding rallies, announcing youth movements, and sharpening its messaging.

Wickham himself noted that the “campaign environment is heating up,” with both parties active on the ground. That’s pollster language for: “the race is tightening.”

The UWP’s message appears to be landing, especially among voters who feel disillusioned by the slow pace of economic relief and the long wait for completed projects like St. Jude. Even if the opposition hasn’t yet taken the lead, it’s clearly on the move — enough to make the SLP hesitate.

Reading Between the Lines

When a sitting government avoids early elections, it’s rarely out of comfort. It’s out of calculated caution. Wickham’s remark reveals that the Prime Minister wants to ensure that when he finally rings the bell, the conditions — public mood, project completion, and economic signals — are perfectly aligned in his favor.

In short, he’s waiting for the “clear edge.”

But politics rarely offers guarantees. By waiting too long, Pierre also risks giving the opposition more time to organize, build momentum, and define the narrative — especially in marginal constituencies like Choiseul/Saltibus, Dennery North, and Castries South-East, where swings decide elections.

The Road Ahead

Saint Lucia may not see an election date announced until key deliverables are completed and the polls lean red. Until then, Wickham’s analysis serves as a quiet reminder that the political ground is shifting.

Whether it’s genuine UWP momentum or SLP strategic patience, one thing is clear — both sides know the next election won’t be a walkover.

The battle lines are being drawn, and the countdown has quietly begun.

Written by Dedan Jn Baptiste for Election Power Watch — keeping Choiseul and Saint Lucia informed, one pulse at a time.

Special Report - November 6th, 2025

When the Speaker Loses His Cool: The St. Jude Debate That Got Personal

Saint Lucia’s political space is no stranger to heated exchanges — but few could have predicted that the Speaker of the House of Assembly, the very guardian of parliamentary order, would trade that gavel for a Facebook keyboard to spar with an ordinary citizen. Yet, that’s exactly what happened this week.

It all began when Claudius Francis, Speaker of the House, published a lengthy Facebook post titled “The St. Jude Crisis and the Rhetoric of Opposition: Analysing the UWP’s Desperation.”
In it, he painted the United Workers Party as a “desperate opposition,” accusing them of weaponizing cost figures and trying to sabotage the government’s success on the long-delayed St. Jude Hospital project.

That post might have gone unnoticed — until I, Dedan, weighed in. My comment was simple:

“Saint Lucians deserve clarity on how hundreds of millions have been spent, why the hospital is still uncommissioned, and what exactly we’re getting for the money.”

And that’s when the conversation took off.

From Commentary to Confrontation

Instead of addressing the substance of the question, the Speaker fired back with sarcasm — mocking my stance, suggesting I was “drinking the kool-aid,” and implying that anyone who questioned the government’s narrative was somehow delusional or politically driven.

But the irony was striking: here was the Speaker of the House, a man constitutionally required to remain neutral, diving head-first into partisan defense mode — not as an observer of debate, but as a participant in it.

When I pressed for accountability, he shifted gears again — claiming to be “better located” to know the real figures, dismissing my sources, and then, when cornered, suggesting that Dedan might be a pseudonym.

At that point, it became clear this wasn’t about St. Jude anymore. It was about ego, partisanship, and an alarming inability to separate the Speaker’s office from party politics.

A Name, a Nerve, and a National Question

To his claim that “Dedan” was a pseudonym, I responded:

“Ask your brother Hermingild who Dedan is. He’ll tell you exactly who I am. I’ve been writing, speaking, and standing up for accountability in Choiseul long before politics turned into performance art.”

And yes, I meant every word.

Because the real issue here is not who’s speaking — it’s why the speaking is necessary. St. Jude Hospital represents one of the most painful and expensive chapters in Saint Lucia’s modern history. It has cost taxpayers over $400 million across successive administrations, yet remains uncommissioned.

When ordinary citizens ask legitimate questions about that, it’s not “opposition rhetoric.” It’s civic duty. And when high-ranking officials — especially one sitting in the Speaker’s chair — respond with partisanship and mockery, it raises serious concerns about how far political tribalism has gone in this country.

Accountability Isn’t a Crime

Let’s be clear: the St. Jude debate is not about red or yellow. It’s about the green of taxpayers’ dollars and the human cost of political gamesmanship.

If the government truly believes in transparency, let them publish:

• The final cost of the project;
• The timeline for commissioning;
• And the list of contractors and expenditures since 2021.

Saint Lucians are not asking for favors — we’re asking for facts.

The Exchange That Got Saint Lucia Talking

What began as a simple comment turned into a fiery, public debate between a citizen and the Speaker himself — a discussion that quickly revealed the cracks in Saint Lucia’s political civility.

Below is the full transcript of that exchange, shared for transparency and context. Readers can judge for themselves who argued with reason and who resorted to ridicule.

👉 Read the full conversation: St_Jude_Facebook_Debate_Dedan_vs_Claudius.docx

Choiseul on the Move
Because truth should never be silenced by titles. 🇱🇨

⁸🎶 Election Time Again – The Song That Still Speaks to Choiseul/Saltibus Today

Back in the 2006, during one of the most memorable local Calypso shows hosted by the Roblot Combined School, a young performer known as Mighty Kent a student from La Maze, took to the stage with a song that would echo through generations — “Election Time Again.”

Penned and composed by Dedan, the song carried a message that was both witty and wise, capturing the spirit of an era when community consciousness was high, and political awareness was alive and well. The chorus remains unforgettable:

🎵 Election coming,
Politics playing,
Dem running par ici, running par là,
Asking for we vote,
But if they want me vote,
Dem have to be positive,
‘Cause this year,
Me ain’t playing coco makak! 🎵

🎤 The Message in the Music

Behind its catchy rhythm and playful phrasing was a profound declaration of independence — a call for accountability, integrity, and vision.

“Dem have to be positive” wasn’t just a lyric — it was a statement of principle. It reminded both leaders and voters that leadership is not about charm; it’s about character. The chorus pushed listeners to demand more than smiles, T-shirts, and temporary handouts. It demanded genuine progress.

The song told us, in simple Calypso style, that elections are not carnival — and voters must stop “playing coco makak,” or being easily fooled by political showmanship. It was a call for maturity and wisdom in our democracy.

🗳️ Fast Forward to Choiseul/Saltibus Today

Decades later, as the Choiseul/Saltibus constituency prepares for another heated election cycle, the lyrics of “Election Time Again” feel prophetic.

Once again, we see the familiar rhythm: politicians “running par ici, running par là,” popping up in communities they’ve neglected for years. Suddenly, roads are fixed, donations flow, and every corner hears promises of a brighter tomorrow.

But Choiseulians have grown wiser. They’ve learned to see through the glitter and listen for substance. Across Roblot, La Fargue, Piaye, Reunion, and Delcer, the old chorus rings louder than ever — “Dem have to be positive!”

🧠 A Reminder for Every Voter

The message of “Election Time Again” is timeless because it puts responsibility back where it belongs — in the hands of the people.

Before marking that “X,” ask yourself:

✅ Who has truly worked for the people?
✅ Who has been visible, consistent, and accountable?
✅ Who brings a real plan — not just promises?

Our votes should reward performance, not pageantry.

🚫 No More “Coco Makak” Politics

In 2025 and beyond, let the message of Mighty Kent and Dedan echo through every corner of Choiseul/Saltibus:

If politicians want our votes, they must come with positivity, purpose, and proof of performance.

Anything less is just more “coco makak.”

.#ElectionTimeAgain #ChoiseulPolitics #Dedan #MightyKent #RoblotCombinedSchool #StLuciaCalypso #CocoMakak #VoterAwareness #SLPElections #UWPElections #ChoiseulOnTheMove

UWP’s “Youth SOS Plan”: Smart Policy or Strategic Positioning?

In the heat of Saint Lucia’s pre-election atmosphere, the United Workers Party (UWP) has rolled out its Youth SOS Plan — a seven-point proposal that speaks directly to one of the country’s most restless and crucial demographics: the youth.

At first glance, the plan reads like an ambitious blueprint for empowerment — mortgage guarantees, business grants, digital training, and even cultural representation through the Dennery Segment movement. But beneath the promises lies a clear political signal: the UWP is making a deliberate bid to reposition itself as the party of youthful renewal and opportunity.

Rebranding for the Next Generation

After the 2021 defeat, the UWP faced the challenge of reconnecting with a generation that sees politics through a very different lens — one shaped by social media, digital entrepreneurship, and frustration over job stagnation. The Youth SOS Plan functions as both a policy proposal and a rebranding exercise.

By packaging the plan in modern language — “digital economy,” “youth ambassadors,” “grants up to $25,000” — the party signals that it understands the evolving aspirations of today’s young Saint Lucians. It’s a pivot from traditional politics toward a vision of inclusion and innovation.

A Political Lifeline

The name itself, “SOS,” is clever — it suggests urgency, rescue, and revival. Politically, it positions the UWP as the solution to a generation in distress. In a campaign environment where unemployment, emigration, and disillusionment dominate youth conversations, that emotional appeal could be powerful.

The move also challenges the ruling Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) to explain what tangible progress it has delivered for young people beyond slogans and short-term programmes. By forcing that comparison, the UWP hopes to shift the national dialogue — from partisan blame to generational opportunity.

Turning Youth into a Political Force

Another strategic layer of the plan lies in participation. Expanding the National Youth Council, appointing youth ambassadors, and integrating young voices into policymaking structures — these aren’t just governance ideas; they’re recruitment channels.

In political terms, it’s about mobilizing youth not only as beneficiaries but as stakeholders — future voters who see themselves reflected in the UWP’s framework. That could energize ground operations across key constituencies, especially in battleground areas like Choiseul/Saltibus, Dennery North, and Castries South.

The Balancing Act

Still, there’s a thin line between promise and practicality. Critics, including Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, have branded the plan “unrealistic” — suggesting it’s more campaign rhetoric than executable policy. Yet, that criticism itself plays into the UWP’s narrative: that the government doesn’t believe in youth dreams.

In that sense, even rejection serves the UWP’s strategy. It reinforces their image as the bold reformers challenging an establishment that “lacks imagination.”

Final Word

Whether the Youth SOS Plan becomes a genuine policy roadmap or remains a powerful political talking point will depend on two things: execution and credibility. But one thing is clear — by putting youth at the centre of its platform, the UWP has positioned itself at the heart of the generational conversation shaping Saint Lucia’s next election.