By Caribbean News Global contributor
CASTRIES, St Lucia – Leader of the Saint Lucia opposition and political leader of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) Philip J. Pierre previously highlighted governance issues and the legality of the Pajoah letter dating back April 8, 2019, has further issued warnings of the effects of the Pajoah letter.
New revelations June 10, 2021, has surfaced to which Pierre addressed on popular radio programme Zafe Nous En Ste Lucie, on MBC, Tuesday, June 15, 2021; meanwhile, the government of Saint Lucia has not addressed the letter with any degree of urgency, except to “deflect, shift, blame” and conceal their nefarious actions, following the initial denial of the authenticity of the letter.
Conversely, the Pajoah letter continues to expose the need for domestic, regional and international investigations into the financial operations of the government of Saint Lucia.
The following is a statement from Philip J. Pierre, concerning the Pajoah letter scandal:
“The Saint Lucia opposition and political leader of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) firmly believes that legislators and ministers have a responsibility to the voting public based on the trust they have been granted to act in the public’s interest. Legislators and ministers are expected to act with honesty, integrity and utmost good faith in the interest of the citizens and not to misuse any of the power given to them.
The Pajoah scandal began with the minister of economic development writing a letter informing entities or individuals that a company called Pajoah/Pajoh would be given a contract to undertake particular works, including St Jude hospital redevelopment and a street lighting project, on behalf of the government of Saint Lucia (GOSL). He asked those companies to help Pajoah/Pajoh secure US$62 million or EC$168 million to undertake the works.
“The letter was problematic on several fronts. Firstly, the minister of economic development is not the minister for finance and thus had no legislative authority to issue such a letter giving any such an assurance.
“Secondly, funding for the projects identified in that letter had already been secured from other sources. The Caribbean Development Bank had since May 2016 approved the loan for the street lighting project. In much the same way, a loan had already been secured from the government of Taiwan for the St Jude Hospital Redevelopment Project, and there were still un-disbursed sums from that loan.
“Thirdly, the letter was not addressed to any specific individual or entity. Consequently, it could have been presented to money launderers or other criminal elements to ostensibly finance government projects. It is such loose financial arrangements that have led to the imposition of more stringent financial regulations by the US and other global interests, and the blacklisting of countries that further threatens the operations and viability of small businesses in Saint Lucia.
“Fourth, given the source(s) of financing and the terms that had already been secured for those projects, commercial financial institutions were not going to offer more favourable terms.
“Instead of owning up to the deceit and doing the right thing, both the minister and the prime minister attempted to deflect, shift blame, mislead and invite suspicion of public servants and the SLP. Both the minister and prime minister initially denied the authenticity of the letter, claiming no such letter originated from the ministry.
“Since their public denials, a letter has surfaced in the public domain revealing that one bank has responded to the minister, identifying Pajoah/Pajoh as its client, and its willingness and ability to provide the US$62 million to undertake the works. The letter was addressed to the minister of economic development.
“Then another letter dated January 29, 2021, from one Maximilus Johannes to Mr Wong appointing him as the representative to source funding for the government of Saint Lucia for $168 million for the same projects. It can be assumed that the writer Johannes was assured of the projects even if parliament had not approved them.
“As such, on behalf of the people, the SLP asks: Did the minister of economic development speak the truth to his prime minister, or, did the prime minister speak the truth to the public about his awareness of the existence of such a letter?
“The SLP believes that the Pajoah matter is a clear illustration that both the minister of economic development and the prime minister neglected their responsibility to the people of Saint Lucia in the Pajoah matter and the public must be given an immediate opportunity to restore their confidence in government and its institutions to look after their best interest. This can only be done by holding general elections now.” 
