Seven regional opposition leaders met in Saint Lucia on Saturday to establish a ‘Leader of the Opposition Political Parties Forum’.
A release on the meeting said Allen Chastanet of Saint Lucia, Dr. Keith Mitchell of Grenada, Dr. Godwin Friday of Saint Vincent and the Grenadines, and Jamal Pringle of Antigua and Barbuda were in attendance.
Dr. ‘Shyne’ Barrow of Belize, Dr. Ronnie Yearwood of Barbados, and Roy McTaggart of the Cayman Islands were also present.
According to a release from Saint Lucia’s opposition leader Allen Chastanet, Saturday’s preliminary gathering sharply focused on the need for higher awareness of the constitutional significance and resultant responsibility associated with the office of Leader of Opposition.
The release also said the meeting sought to develop a framework for parliamentary oppositions in various Caribbean countries to share best practices and further strengthen their constitutional roles.
The gathering reached a consensus on the importance of an opposition forum.
In addition, it agreed to invite other opposition leaders to formalise a regional platform for closer collaboration.
Addressing reporters at a press conference, Saint Lucia’s Allen Chastanet disclosed that many regional opposition leaders have had a shared experience.
“Many times, the leader of the opposition’s position is demonised. We are treating it as a political adversary rather than recognising its constitutionality and the purpose it plays in our democracy,” the United Workers Party (UWP) leader asserted.
In this regard, the former Saint Lucia Prime Minister told reporters that the opposition only saw the expenditure estimates a few days before the presentation.
Chastanet said there was little explanation regarding the estimates.
“Shouldn’t there be a mechanism where civil servants, particularly those from the Ministry of Finance and the Ministry of Economic Development, meet with the leader of the opposition’s office to give them better details?”
The Micoud South MP declared that civil society representatives are often scared to meet with opposition leaders.
Chastanet explained that the regional opposition leaders forum aimed to create greater recognition among Caribbean Community (CARICOM) citizens regarding the opposition leader’s office and its role in a democracy.
He declared that citizens should see any attempt to silence, demean or undermine the opposition leader’s role as undemocratic.
I am in here for the lucian comments……come on already!
Smh
Lol
Are you mad
Discussing the financial details with the leader of the opposition
Are you mad
You forget the ppl voted you out
They dont want you near the country money
Ok
Lol
I see nothing wrong with the LOO forum. Even in opposition they too can effect change. Right now, Chastnet stands as the one more likely to push Caribbean unity more than PJP and Elva. Thebman has accepted his defeat and wants to do his work as LOO. Go right ahead and do so.
One would think that any issues relating to expenditure or any budgetary release by the government should atleast be seen by the opposition in reasonable time so that it can be scrutinized. Democracy is a system of checks and balances where the opposition plays a role in ensuring the incumbent doesn’t act like a dictator…in essence, while the government was elected by the electorate, the opposition becomes the electorates counter balance to the government…so both the government and the opposition works for the people. Too often in Saint Lucian politics and perhaps the wider Caribbean, the electorate sees the opposition as the unwanted party not realising that the opposition is their shield against a government going rogue…I do hope this new leader of the opposition forum help foster a new way of doing politics where the people comes first, where the polical dialogue is improved, where the behaviour of parliamentarians is put under the microscope and where politics in general is practiced in an examplary fashion.
Regional constitutions should be amended so that the name of the office can be changed. Something such as Parliamentary Minority Leader so that the stigma associated with the word “opposition” can wane away.
Also, prime ministers don’t allow their counterparts on the other side to play any practical role in governing the country. I feel on issues such as violent crimes, addictive illegal drugs and gang warfare, all elected members of parliament in the various small islands should be given a national voice to make an input into ways of combating and mitigating these nationally critical issues.
I’m in here for the red ants comments poor jab you all hee hee hee
I have no problem in OL receiving Estimates in time. My issue is why didn’t he take this advice when he was PM.
Just let them not elect him as leader and you will see if he is as interested. Smh with this man. Real Shawhey Pouvoir
Apart from this being standup comedy being displayed as a democratic watchdog group…Chastanet, with selective memory loss is now seeming to reimagine himself in a new role…but that is for another story.
Democracy is best served by non-partisian, apolitical, non-governmental agencies, but DEFINITELY not by such as came on this little junket. Should any one of these persons who attended that meeting be in a position to form the next administration in their respective countries…their avowed principles coming out of that meeting would be dead and buried in less than a heart beat.
Has the now “reformed” Chastanet publicly apologised to Pierre for his statement that the SLP in Opposition had lost their right to speak? NO! In fact he claims that his statement has been taken out of context. That is the question his new friends should ask of him before committing to this new fangled idea of his.
Great let them discuss how to remain in opposition
Well said
C.wiz 👍 up well said
Chas you have los your right to speak you.remember what you told pjp when you won the 2016 election put that in your pipe and smoke.it you.see that to late come again
This is a brilliant idea! What took leaders of opposition across the region so long to get together and collaborate! This is fundamental when we speak of Caribbean unity and integration. Kudos to Mr Chastanet for getting this show on the road!
Yes Chas, brilliant idea, but tell us the number of passports you sold during your reign in office. Why do you fail to disclose this to us. Tell us whether it’s true or not that you stayed in a hotel in England that cost over 2000 Pounds per night. These are things you have to clarify first.
Check out the guy next to Chas face. He is like what the @#$@ is this shit talking about? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Great post, The opposition have Rights Too..
To those who is doubting him and Ideas! How would the haters Solve our current malfunction society and Systems? Let’s give commonsense a try and Abolish our Slave wages and implement a decent wage system not lesser than $10+ per hour to all workers..! We can Solve the Mental issues that is created due to the Slave wages Systems..Let’s be more Truthful without LIES..
I ENDORSE MY OPINION…OUR PROBLEMS ARE WE CAN’T NO ONE IN THE ROOM WITH US…(LESSER THE BETTER…FILL IN THE BLANKs..
When you have nothing else to do Ha ha ha ha ha ha ha ha they look worst off than Hamas ha ha ha ha ha so where is Baby Doc ? Tropical Trump leading the delegation to be expected as he should ha hah ha ha ha ha loooooooosers.
St Lucians 🇱🇨
Make it your ambition to lead a quiet life,to live in ‘peace’ whatever gouvernement in power,to respect our selves,to lead a quiet life,as to mind our own buissness and to work with our hands,so that our daily lives may win the respect of Outsiders and so that we will not depend on Anybody, neither wait on tables or depend on the pockets of polititions,and to Respect those who work among US…
Allen, preparing for a long time in opposition.
We need a minimum wage in the island … I am thinking that if Tropical Trump gets back in power , he will send all black people back to the west coast of Africa in one of his father’s boats and take all the land for his family and friends like he did for Cabot and T O Ah King…
How did you have that in mind,it is so true,now happening in the dominican République sending even those that born in,and it is the plan for countries,as France has pass it législation that those who are born in any french territoire will not classified or qualified by naturalisation and will not benifits from no social aid or Shelter..
The time has come where each one will return to their own lands (country
Those who have rejected the word of GOD, will come back empty hands in thier laps with all kinds of sicknesses, having no rest for their souls ❗
Ashie, I wish more St. Lucians thought like you.
CHASTANET your time has come and go …….BYE BOY