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- St Lucian Attorney and President of the Senate arrested and formally charged by police under Section 376 of the Criminal Code of Saint Lucia
- Bail granted for $15,000 cash or suitably surety
- Stanley Felix’s senatorial duties and appointment as president of the senate are to be revoked by Governor General
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By Caribbean News Global contributor
CASTRIES, St Lucia – Demonstration and application of leadership is paramount in any country, hitherto, Saint Lucia is at a junction of constitutional cleansing, inclusive of the senate, the parliament and the cabinet following president of the Senate Stanley Felix arrest and charged under Section 376 of the Criminal Code of Saint Lucia.
Zero tolerance at any level of government and business to malfeasance or perceived impropriety complies with the laws of a constitutional democracy and as such is applicable to Saint Lucia.
“On Thursday, October 6, 2022, prime minister and minister for national security Philip J. Pierre learned that the president of the senate Stanley Felix was taken into custody to assist with an ongoing police investigation. The prime minister is awaiting further information on the issue and will make a statement at the appropriate time,” office of the prime minister, announced.
“As head of the government, prime minister Pierre demands the highest levels of professionalism and integrity from all public officials at all times. As such, the governor-general acting in accordance with the advice of the prime minister and pursuant to section 27 (2) (e) of the Constitution of Saint Lucia, has been advised to revoke Felix’s appointment and relieve him of his senatorial duties in the upper house of parliament,” said a press release from the Office of the Prime Minister, (OPM).
On Thursday, Caribbean News Global (CNG) reported that St Lucian attorney and member of the senate was arrested and called for his resignation from the senate.
Senate president Stanley is an attorney by profession. He was a minister of government responsible for housing, and an unsuccessful candidate for the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) in the Castries Central constituency in 2016. A further attempt in 2021 was dead in the water facing a more formidable candidate.
The arrest of senate president Felix and formally charged by police under Section 376 of the Criminal Code of Saint Lucia “is a major distraction as well as a moral and political liability to the government of Saint Lucia.
On Friday, Senate president Felix was reportedly granted bail for $15,000 cash or suitably surety – represented by attorneys Lorne Theophilus and Alberton Richelieu.
Bail conditions require Felix to surrender his Saint Lucian passport and must not leave the country without permission. In addition, he must report to the Central Police Station on the first Saturday of every month.
This situation is more acute to the moral compass of the “SLP brand”, leaning on the slogan “Protecting the Victory”, added a legal contributor. “Here-in the prime minister needs to raise the bar much higher and act more decisively. He has to rise above the political fray and demonstrate courage, legitimacy and unquestionable leadership.”
Ideally, existing theories must translate judgments into appropriate policy action. Equally, the OPM release on Friday, advised that a new president of the senate will be announced at a subsequent time.
The following have served as presidents of the Senate of Saint Lucia.
| Name | Took office | Left office | Notes |
| Hon. Vincent Floissac | 22 February 1979 | 1979 | |
| Hon. Calixte George | 7 July 1979 | 1982 | [1] |
| Hon. Emmanuel Henry Giraudy, OBE | June 1982 | 1993 | |
| Hon. Neville Cenac | October 1993 | 16 June 1997 | [2] |
| Hon. Hilford Deterville | 1997 | 2007 | [3][4] |
| Hon. Rosemary Husbands-Mathurin | 2007 | 2008 | [5] |
| Hon. Everistus Jean Marie | 2008 | 2008 | [6] |
| Hon. Gail V. Philip | 2008 | 2010 | |
| Hon. Leonne Theodore-John | April 2010 | December 2011 | [7] |
| Hon. Claudius J. Francis | 2012 | 2016 | |
| Hon. Andy Daniel | 2016 | 2018 | [8][9] |
| Hon. Jeannine Michele Giraudy-McIntyre | 2018 | July 2021 | [9] |
| Hon. Stanley Felix | 17 August 2021 | Present | [10] |
Uncertain times require a risk-management methodology for policy and implementation.
Considering the government of Saint Lucia’s salient risks in setting policy, political and economic policy judgments in an environment where the dynamics changes persistently, a strong focus is required on both near – and long-term threats.
Meanwhile, the OPM press release said:
“The prime minister assures the Saint Lucian public that the continuation of the business of government and all related state affairs remains a priority to him and the cabinet which he leads.”
