At a pre-cabinet press briefing held on Monday April 15th, Prime Minister Phillip j Pierre was quoted as saying that the opposition was fearful of the monies generated by the C.I.P program, and the projects these funds will enable his administration to implement.
Deputy political leader of the United Workers Party Dominic Fedee has scoffed at the prime minister’s remarks, daring him to match the opposition’s stellar record of project implementation. Further, Fedee informed that the government had already collected close to 100million EC dollars in CIP funds, and were yet to deliver any projects whatsoever. He asserted that even if the funds were raised, the SLP had proven that infrastructural development was not their forte.
Fedee outlined a number of projects that were implemented under the former administration through the application of innovative methods of revenue generation. The initiatives ranged from housing, to road works and other developments. A feat he has dared the Philip j Pierre government to outmatch.
Fedee says the opposition’s only issue with the CIP, is the imminent threat it poses to the island’s Schengen visa free access privileges. He has called on the Prime Minister to sign the Memorandum of Agreement put forth by the other CIP countries. This move he says, will reassure the European commission that St Lucia is compliant with global regulations and will serve to restore the island’s international reputation.
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