By Caribbean News Global 
CASTRIES, St Lucia – Climate change is real says prime minister, Philip Pierre, following November 6, 2022 flooding that swept away vehicles, turned roadways into temporary waterways, stranded pedestrians, waterlogged homes, hotels, businesses, and dampened economic prosperity. Additionally, on November 14, 2022, torrential rainfall returned to numerous areas, including the city of Castries and the north of Saint Lucia.
Saint Lucia is struggling with climate change adaptation, the unavailability of financing, the clumsy priority to infrastructure maintenance, the lack of attention to waterways, rivers and land use policy, etc., in the skirmish to balance ecosystems and economic development.
The government of Saint Lucia has commenced dialogue with international donor agencies for technical and financial assistance to respond to the crisis. On the other hand, multilateral mechanisms take time, and while the impact of climate change and the Paris Agreement run their course, urgent assistance is needed to help adapt and lessen climate change impacts.
For example, the city of Castries is already facing a future underwater, and currently, cannot cope with seasonal rainfall, annual damages and repair to its failing infrastructure.
The National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) is coordinating the distribution of relief supplies to households and communities.
Taiwan has pledged US$100,000 donation to Saint Lucia to assist in its recovery from the November 6 climate episode.
On Thursday, November 10, prime minister, Pierre activated $200,000 of food and sanitizing vouchers to be distributed to affected households through the National Emergency Management Organisation (NEMO) constituency offices and affected residents.
However, the government of Saint Lucia “communication platform has been tragic, especially with the low frequency of direct and substantive content communication on critical issues,” noted a CNG contributor.
On November 15, the “press briefing on the relief effort for November 6 Trough system” was not only difficult to follow and listen to – but problematic in the context of actionable matters, relevant to a major flood/disaster.
Instead, the pronouncements served more of a political exercise of diversion/blame and pushback – than the offering of solutions and taking responsibility – to correct prior inaction and systemic failures.
Stephenson King, senior minister and minister for infrastructure, ports, transport, physical development and urban renewal, tried as he may, to explain the government desilting programme and associated costs.
Joachim Andre Henry, minister for equity, social justice and empowerment, in a recent article called for a deeper investigation into the root causes of flooding and how the situation can be properly mitigated, opined:
“We must also ensure that the millions of dollars from taxpayers that government invests every year in desilting is justifiable. It is hurtful that households continue to be affected by flooding like in Bexon and they are not benefiting one cent from the desilting process.”
Minister King is well-placed to provide answers to minister Henry’s legitimate concerns, as illustrated previously:
“Minister King is a former prime minister from 2007 -2011. King was minister for infrastructure from 2016-2021 in a United Workers Party (UWP) administration. His skills and experience – the gift of the gab – under an umbrella – enable him to return to the same ministry in a Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) administration in 2021 and counting. Currently, senior minister King is ducking rainfall!”
Saint Lucia and the Caribbean islands are highly vulnerable to climate change. Weather conditions are already leading to major displacements. In Saint Lucia, urgent mitigation is needed to adapt and lessen the impacts of climate change.
Addressing climate change-induced natural disasters, implementing policy and enforcement of land use policy, executing a development model, climate finance, and accessing international assistance are much needed and quickly.
Following November 6, heavy flooding in the north of Saint Lucia, prime minister Pierre, recalled minister King en route to Mexico City where he was scheduled to participate in the 9th Geothermal Congress for Latin America and the Caribbean, received infamous idolatry.
In previous years and in a different political association, minister King was a well-thought-out “water boy” said a commenter. It now begs the question: Will Saint Lucia be saved by a “water boy”?
