- Address by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, February 22, 2026, Micoud Playing Field
This year’s celebrations hold special significance for my administration. I stand here today fortified by the overwhelming confidence the people of Saint Lucia have expressed in the current government following the results of the 1st December 2025 general elections. The people have made a clear statement at the polls, and their choice must therefore be respected as we move the country forward together.
This resounding victory was not merely a political win; it was an emphatic endorsement of a vision and a development agenda that put the people of Saint Lucia first. It was a call for the continuation of a government that has listened, led with compassion, and acted with integrity. It also recognised the many lives positively impacted across several sectors of society: pensioners, health workers, teachers, caregivers, youth, the unemployed, police officers, civil servants, and micro, small, and medium-sized enterprises.
“Douvan Ansamn: Nourishing Our People and Strengthening Our Nation.”
The annual observance of Independence always offers a unique opportunity to honor those who have shaped our path to independence and to pay tribute to our heroes who have shared their commitment to unity, prosperity, nationhood, and love of country. To those still with their families and us, I say, on behalf of the people of Saint Lucia, thank you.
Among the many Saint Lucians who have distinguished themselves and placed our country on the world map is our own Sir Julian R. Hunte, the first Saint Lucian to serve as President of the United Nations General Assembly. I take this opportunity to recognise and honor him.
We celebrate this year’s Independence Day under the theme “Douvan Ansamn: Nourishing Our People and Strengthening Our Nation.” This theme is both a call to action and a promise of progress.
Food Security
At the core of our 47th year of independence is the pursuit of food and nutrition security. For too long, we have relied on imported goods for our sustenance. In nourishing our people, we must return to the land and the sea with renewed vigor. Let us recommit to the philosophy, “grow what you eat and eat what you grow.”
It is the only way we will be able to nourish our nation, reduce our vulnerabilities to international price changes, and enhance our food security.
We invite all citizens to partner with the government in its drive toward agricultural transformation by starting kitchen gardens in our schools and homes.
We must take personal responsibility for our health by adopting healthy lifestyle changes, engaging in physical activity, practicing proper nutrition, and participating in community initiatives that promote healthy lifestyles.
We believe that our nation’s greatest strength is the health of its people and the vitality of its youth, on which our progress depends.
Health and Wellness
I continue to call for a vigorous nationwide campaign to create a lasting culture of health consciousness to reduce the pandemic of non-communicable diseases that continues to overburden our health care system.
Government remains committed to addressing our health and medical challenges by investing heavily in health infrastructure and preventive care to ensure our workforce is fit to drive the economy.
We have completed construction of St Jude Hospital, and the transition of services, patients, and staff from the George Odlum Stadium to the new facility is ongoing. This transition is expected to be completed in the months ahead.
Universal Health Coverage will be one of the transformative changes in the health system. The government is fully committed to this project and its full implementation.
Geopolitics
We are aware and concerned about the geopolitical situation facing our country. Never before have the actions of foreign governments affected our individual lives so negatively. It is a reminder of how integrated our world has become. Unfortunately, we have little control over most of these geopolitical events and, frankly, little chance of influencing them without at least short-term negative responses and possible displacement and sacrifice.
Personal responsibility
However, we do have control over our individual actions. To make our independence meaningful and relevant, we must take personal responsibility for our lives. It is the government’s responsibility to provide the country with what citizens cannot provide for themselves: roads, ports, schools, public security, public health care, and other services that are described as serving the Common Good. And it is the responsibility of every citizen to take responsibility for their own actions.
There are many aspects of our lives that we can control and take individual responsibility for. I refer to preservation of the environment, a stop to littering and dumping of vehicles and used furniture on our roadsides, and our rivers.
We are all called to discourage malicious damage to buildings and public places, pay our taxes in a timely manner, obey the rule of law, and respect the rights of others.
Vehicular accidents
Drunk and reckless driving continues to cause unnecessary deaths and distress, now a major strain on the country’s health system. Vehicular accidents have become a health problem. There are simply too many unnecessary vehicular accidents and deaths on our roads caused by reckless driving.
Apart from compromising the quality of life of victims of vehicular accidents, there are also economic costs arising from higher insurance premiums for owners of motor vehicles.
This call for personal responsibility and renewed commitment to acceptable social norms will be even more important as we navigate complex global geopolitical tensions. We will need to refocus our efforts to adapt social and economic life in our country to this changing environment.
Ease of doing business
We will continue to find innovative ways to reduce unemployment among our young people by advancing the Youth Economy and business start-ups, ensuring that young people are the architects of our digital and creative industries. We will continue to provide support through grants, soft loans, mentorship, and training, ensuring that young Saint Lucian entrepreneurs have the necessary resources and a conducive business environment to turn their hobbies and skills into thriving global enterprises.
This year, we will take steps to remove systemic impediments and improve the ease of doing business. This will be necessary to enable a speedy and efficient implementation process for both public and private sector projects for economic expansion.
We have merged education, youth and sports development, and digital transformation into a single portfolio to ensure our young people have the knowledge and skills to be productive in this rapidly changing world.
Early-childhood education
We remain committed to implementing free early-childhood education to ensure that our children get the right start they need to navigate the emerging education system. We believe that education should be a lifelong process for everyone, and so we are committed to ensuring that our special and differently-abled citizens have a place in our education system.
To move forward together, our society must be compassionate and caring, where we strive to make our country the best place to live and work in the world. This means supporting the needy and less fortunate and striving for a society where criminal behavior is discouraged and called out.
Law and Order
Criminality must find no comfort in our society. The government will continue its efforts in its quest for social transformation and crime reduction.
Water situation is unacceptable
We all agree that our water situation is unacceptable. The government will take tangible steps to address water sustainability. While we embark on a number of major water infrastructure projects, we must give prompt attention to water conservation and harvesting to reduce our dependence on the national system.
Time for unity
The democratic process for selecting a government has concluded. It is now time for us to work together to foster pride in our country.
I am optimistic about the future, but not blinded by the realities of climate change, shifts in global geopolitics, and man-made disasters, including environmental degradation and criminal activity.
It’s time for unity, sober reflection, and honest analysis of the realities we face as a country and a region.
In closing, let me reiterate the need to come together as one nation with a common destiny. We need to face the challenges of the future with clarity of purpose and resolve to confront the problems that will confront us.
The development of our country is as much the government’s responsibility as it is yours.
Let us work together to make Saint Lucia the best place to live and work.
I conclude with a quote from the Contemporary English Version of the Bible, Isiah Chapter 58 versus 9-10:
“When you beg the LORD for help,”
He will answer, “Here I am!”
Don’t mistreat others,
Falsely accuse them,
Or say something cruel,
Give your food to the hungry and care for the homeless,
Then your light will shine in the dark, your darkest hour will be like a noonday sun.
Happy 47th Independence Day celebrations.
