The United Workers Party (UWP) responds to claims made in a press release from the Office of the Prime Minister regarding a recent address by the UWP's newly elected Political Leader, Mr. Allen Chastanet. The UWP asserts that Mr. Chastanet's address appropriately raised concerns about Saint Lucia's involvement in ALBA and the implications for its relationships with key partners like the UK and US. The UWP also rejects attempts to discredit Mr. Chastanet by bringing up past issues like Minimum Revenue Guarantees. The UWP calls on the government to address important issues facing citizens like VAT reductions and updates on reconstruction projects.

1.
Chairman: Mr. Ezechiel Joseph Political Leader: Mr. Allen Chastanet General Secretary: Mr. Oswald Augustin
American Drywall Building,
Vide Bouteille, Castries,
P.O. Box,
Castries, Saint Lucia
www.uwpstlucia.com
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
15th
, August, 2013
CONTACT:
UWP
RESPONDS
TO
LABOUR
GOVERNMENT
ATTEMPT
TO
VEIL
THE
TRUTH
AND
DISTORT
THE
FACTS
The United Workers Party is indeed pleased that the recent Address to the Nation by its newly
elected Political Leader, Mr. Allen Chastanet, has drawn so much interest from Government
and Labour Party Operatives. The August 13th
, 2013 Press Release from the Office of the Prime
Minister was indeed another feeble attempt to discredit the new indomitable UWP Leader,
Mr. Allen Chastanet.
, it
is important to review the August 13th
Press Release in order to set the record straight.
It must be noted that the Address by the Po -­‐ , not just
with respect to the OECS, but also the United Kingdom and the United States of America. The
concern expressed was the proposed use of the SUCRE as the trading currency of ALBA
Countries, and the implications for the OECS Monetary Union. In other words, does St. Lucia
plan to leave the ECMU and abandon the Easter Caribbean Dollar? to
ALBA now put us in conflict with the Pro-­‐ Argentina position on The Falklands Islands and
could have serious repercussions for our Foreign Policy standing with the United Kingdom.
Similarly, the clear anti-­‐USAID stance of ALBA may undermine our longstanding relationships
with the USA. Such decisions can have widespread implications for our nation as a whole and
ought to be part of a national debate. These are major concerns which affect our people and
they must be aware of the implications, and be given the opportunity to express their opinions
on. Matters of Foreign Policy should not be left exclusively to the dictates of a short-­‐sighted
Government.

2.
Chairman: Mr. Ezechiel Joseph Political Leader: Mr. Allen Chastanet General Secretary: Mr. Oswald Augustin
The suggestion for the need for Parliamentary approval as relates to ALBA is in consonance
with transparent and participatory democracy! The history of Labour Party Governments led
by Prime Minister Anthony, gives natural cause for concern, as reflected in the very recent and
damning examples of Rochamel and Grynberg which
It is, therefore,
parallels between the Caribbean Tourism Organisation (CTO), Food and Agricultural
Organisation (FAO) and ALBA. This is clearly an attempt at mixing the disparate issues with all
the attendant connotations. The UWP insist that because of the implications re: debt
accumulation ref. Petro Caraibe which is an initiative of ALBA and the potential political fall-­‐out
from membership of ALBA which is an anti -­‐ American Alliance that the approval of Parliament
MUST be sought.
Our apprehensions regarding ALBA may already be gaining merit in the recent manifestations
of possible US reprisals. Further, the articulation of policy intent within a Throne Speech does
NOT
before consulting with the people and parliament. The fact is, most Saint Lucians do not know
or understand what ALBA is or represents. This approach is what in our folklore is referred to
an Sak the Devil hidden in a sac).
The worn out strategy of seeking t
UWP Administration by bringing into question Minimum Revenue Guarantees (MRG)
agreements with some airlines is exposed by its own pale weakness. Firstly Mr. Chastanet
makes it clear that all MRGs were subject to approval by the Cabinet of Ministers and were in
fact signed by the St Lucia Tourist Board and not the Minister of Tourism. The shallowness of
this attempt to denigrate the UWP Political Leader is highlighted by the fact that the use of
MRGs is a policy which has been employed by successive UWP and SLP Governments. It is
obvious that such agreements are treated as confidential for strategic purposes. It is for that
same reason that the current Government might not wish to divulge the details of the current
agreement/arrangements between itself and United Airlines.
There is, however, a deafening silence from the Government on issues that are of grave
concern to Saint Lucians, as they affect and threaten our livelihoods and sovereignty.
The following issues are restated for the attention and
response of the Kenny Anthony Administration:
- The removal of VAT on ALL reading glasses for senior citizens;
- The removal of VAT on ALL medication;
- The request for full disclosure and clarification on the award of a contract by SLASPA for
the construction and operation of a Fixed Based Operation (Private Jet Terminal) at HIA;
- The status of Post Hurricane Tomas Reconstruction Projects;
- The revision of the VAT with a view to reduction of the rate;
- The update on the St Jude Hospital Redevelopment Project and a definitive statement
on a date for returning the Hospital to its original home;

3.
Chairman: Mr. Ezechiel Joseph Political Leader: Mr. Allen Chastanet General Secretary: Mr. Oswald Augustin
- The full disclosure on how much money was collected from the Airport Development
Tax for the Hewanorra International Airport Redevelopment Project;
address the Nation on the troubling Grynberg matter.
Finally the Address to the Nation by newly elected Political Leader of the United Workers Party
presented the Labour Party and the current Government with an opportunity to engage on a
new standard of political discourse. During his address, Mr. Chastanet stated the following:
our people deserve better than the maypwee and personal character attacks which pass for
political discourse, and they are demanding, rightly, that our exchanges be about real issues
. And I say to
members and supporters of the UWP, the Labour Party is not our enemy, Kenny Anthony is
not our enemy, his ministers and supporters are not our enemies. But we do have enemies
and our enemies are poverty, unemployment, ignorance and apathy; and we must fight
We continue to seek opportunities to engage all interested parties in this new dialogue about
the current and future development of our small nation.
Ends/