By Caribbean News Global contributor
CASTRIES, St Lucia – Eight months into the five year term of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) government of Saint Lucia, comes hitherto undisclosed revelation of the previous Allen Chastanet administration to Building a new St Lucia on ‘corruption and nepotism’ presumable on three projects costing US$460 million from “unfamiliar and by creative means.”
New revelation on the Talk Show “Can I Help You” March 10, 2022, seemingly detailed via letter September 26, 2017, and ostensibly signed by Guy Joseph, minister, in appointing the said Maximilius Johannes:
“Resource Agents and Representatives’ on behalf of the government and authorizes you to perform the following functions on our behalf to assist our nation in sourcing financial facilities to the benefit of the island and to provide the following facilities:- […] “
The said letter detailed directives “to source providers, negotiate and investigate,” also sort to “empower” as follows:
” We empower you both to explore and report on the foregoing areas of commerce that we require your assistance in directing a professional approach to introduce, internationally, via your existing and new contracts, the mission of demonstrating that Saint Lucia is open for business and invites the participation of financing groups in the economic and social advancement of the country.”
Let’s recap…
June 10, 2021, on the Talk Show “Can I Help You” and as reported ‘Building a new St Lucia on ‘corruption and nepotism’ by the then Chastanet administration, followed by a letter to Caribbean News Global (CNG) entitled – ‘What is wrong about the PAJOAH letter’ explained.
“These activities point to the consistent definition of building a new Saint Lucia on corruption and nepotism. Indubitably, the government of Saint Lucia cannot continue the “denial of plausibility” of the “PAJOAH Letter” to which, a new government following general elections [2021] must address, from the standpoint of “ financial impropriety, corruption, conflict of interest, and maladministration.”
The article dated June 13, 2019 ‘PAJOAH letter scandal symptom of corruption in St Lucia’ leader of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), Philip J Pierre, called on prime minister and minister of finance, Allen Chastanet, to repudiate a seemingly official letter addressed to ‘whom it may concern’ from the ministry of economic affairs signed by Guy Joseph, minister for economic development, housing, urban renewal, transport and civil aviation dated November 12, 2018; and if the letter referred to as the PAJOAH letter scandal is indeed authentic that he takes disciplinary action against Joseph.
Pierre also referenced Joseph’s usual arrogance and useless bluster of trying to deflect stating, “I want to explain that the PAJOAH letter scandal is just an extension of the behaviour of [Guy] Joseph.”
Notable, the Castanet administration lost the general election of July 26, 2021.
Relative to the task at hand and looking forward to the general elections, political leader of the SLP, Philip Pierre said: “ Today, we are left with a huge challenge of rescuing our country from an economic and financial disaster, following a five-year period of reckless borrowing and spending, and an unprecedented level of corruption. […] Wastage, misplaced priorities and corruption have become synonymous with this United Workers Party (UWP) government and have been the root cause of our poor economic and financial state.”
Thus, relative to good governance, anti-corruption and constitutional matters, and to return our country to a system that respects our democratic norms and the rights of our people, a Saint Lucia Labour Party government will, “Enact Anti-Corruption Legislation.”
Recently, prime minister Philip Pierre reiterated that a special prosecutor will be appointed to investigate the alleged corruption of the previous administration.
With the apparent new revelation, there are speculations of yet undisclosed letters, contracts and/or impropriates to be reveled.
Meanwhile, the government of Saint Lucia is expected to table its first budget next month with much expectation. However, their-in lies a deeper economic crisis to a culture of ‘corruption and nepotism’ and the pending re-drawing to a social and economic war.
