The opposition United Workers Party (UWP) has vowed to act by mobilising Saint Lucians should the government not revoke the 2.5 percent Health & Security levy.
Public Relations Officer Lenard ‘Spider’ Montoute recalled at a news conference on Tuesday that it had been a while since the opposition called for the levy’s removal.
But the former Gros Islet MP noted there had been no government response.
As a result, Montoute said the UWP wanted to notify the government that they would have to heed the people’s pleas.
“If they refuse to act, then we will act,” he asserted regarding the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) administration.
“We will have to mobilise the people of Saint Lucia in their own best interests to take action if that is the only way the government will pay attention to their plight,” he stated.
Montoute reiterated the UWP’s call to the government to remove the 2.5 percent levy.
He noted that the measure was creating further hardship for the people of Saint Lucia.
According to the UWP official, the tax was an additional burden, especially on low-income households amid rising prices globally.
He also urged the government to consider the possibility of a further price hike due to the Israel-Hamas war.
“At this time, what is expected of a government with a conscience and compassion is that they take measures to ameliorate the suffering and hardship of our people,” the former MP declared.
Headline photo: Stock image of Lenard ‘Spider’ Montoute
If the 2.5% levy is being used toward health care and security investments, I don’t understand why the UWP is fighting it so much. Politically, the UWP can promise to repeal it when they get in power (in 2.5 years from today. They can make it a manifesto item.
Pledging to force the government to remove it now seems like a tall promise the UWP cannot fulfill.
But why fight it so much? Oh, security and healthcare investments are bad news for the UWP come election time.
Dang, it’s politics again!!! UWP, you guys got me again…
…..yawwwn another failed march in the works I presumed. Oh well.
Good Riddance…Spider and UWP.
Whom the gods would destroy, they first make mad .
The people spoke. (15 – 2) and they will speak again in 2.5 more years.
Yes Carbay the low IQ voters spoke and boy are we paying the price
Spider why your government did not enact a minimum wage
These people are desole! They crying a river! 😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂😂
SPIDER YOU WERE THE WORST BEATEN POLITICIAN IN THE LAST ELECTION NOW WHATS YOUNG PROBLEM. WHY ARE YOU SOO ANGRY 😠. HAVE YOU EVER LISTEN TO YOURSELF AFTER ANY RECORDING.
YOU WERE REJECTED BY THE MASSIVE AND WILL CONTINUE TO BE REJECTED FOR EVER.
ENEMY OF PROGRESS
MISERY LIKES COMPANY
I’m I to young to comment here because I can’t believe uwp fighting to make things easier on all of us including allu slp old hacks but yall have a problem with that Anyway allu financially stable already so allu don’t care about us the youths chass all the way
Its a UN mandate to have universal health care by 2030. No matter which government is in power they must find a way to implement it.
My amazement with us Lucians is that WE make everything about Politicians and Politics. Our road bad instead we go to the Chief Engineer who is by law responsible for our roads we go to a Politician. The msg of the 2.5% levy is being brought forward by the PRO of the UWP not by Spider. Spider has no intention of running the seat again. I would not vote for him but i will support the statement THE 2.5% IS AN UNNECESSARY AND ILLADVISED BURDEN ON SOME US WHO ARE STRUGGLE. Instead of worrying about the messenger take note of the message. Inflation is this country is ridiculously too much. SIMPLE.
Spider, as far as I am concerned, this 2.5 % could have been avoided if only UWP had managed the economy properly during its term in office. Chas gave 24 million to Sandals, 7.3 million for vaccine, up to now we don’t know the quantity of passports sold. Chas borrowed 863 million dollars and up to now we don’t know what this money was used for. He sent 54 million to Panama. So Spider analyze this, isn’t the UWP that caused the 2.5 %?
We support the 2.5 %.
Slt I can see allu just a bunch of slp supporters most of my comments allu not posting allu like poverty
Wow I’ve never seen a population embrace more taxes on themselves for governments that have squandered all previous tax increases. Y’all dimwit in St. Lucia are the instruments of your own destruction. 30% annualised inflation over the past 2 years yet party hacks are applauding another 2.5% making themselves poorer in the process.
Economist, how many passports did Chas sell during his term in office?
What did he do with the money?
Josephine Antoine you dimwit. This isn’t about SLP or UWP. This is about stupid hacks like you electing morons who make y’all poorer and poorer.
I just want to clarify, why do embrace so much with absolutely no issue in paying taxes for other country with a mouse click and our credit cards ( ordering every day) and we have a big problem to pay tax in own country.
So called Economist my name is Josephine Antoine , I am not afraid disclose your name you house sla..