Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre, describing Sir Calixte George as a grown man whom he has great respect for, told reporters on Monday that he would not be drawn into defending the former Minister.
Sir Calixte is the center of controversy over remarks he made last week on the MBC Television show ‘Can I Help You.’
The former Minister said looking at United Workers Party (UWP) leader Allen Chastanet’s demeanor and actions in the House of Assembly, one could see the effect of a slave driver.
“What you have there now in Saint Lucia is a slave master with a whole set of house slaves in the United Workers Party,” Sir Calixte asserted.
The UWP condemned the comments, accusing the ruling Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) of vile racism and bigotry.
The opposition group also urged Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre and the SLP to condemn the racist remarks from a man it said is a senior labour party member.
In response, Pierre told reporters he did not know what Sir Calixte said and would not comment.
“I don’t know what he said. I didn’t hear what he said. I am not going to comment on what he said,” the Prime Minister stated.
Pierre was overseas at the time of the controversial remarks.
“Calixte is a grown man- a very grown, intelligent man. That’s his opinion. You are not going to drive me into defending Calixte. Calixte can defend himself,” the Prime Minister said when reporters asked for a response to the former Minister’s comments.
“Why are we so sensitive when these historical facts are said? These are historical facts,” Pierre said.
“Historical fact is there was slavery. Historical fact is we came from Africa on a boat. Historical fact is that we are now asking for reparations. Historical fact, not Philip J. Pierre said so. So why do we get so excited, so nervous when someone brings that history to current time?”
“In Saint Lucia, inconvenient truth of fact we are trying our best to hide it because we want to shield one man,” Pierre declared, without going into detail.
I AGREE PM , THAT HAVE NOTHING TO DO WITH U .A MAN THAT NEVER APOLOGIZE TO NO ONE WANT SOMEONE TO APOLOGIZE, CHOOPZ TUN CHASTANET.
I will state it again.
I must state that I have respect for Calixte George. However, for a man of his caliber to stoop to name calling, it rather shameful. The UWPees and well as the SLPees have a right to operate their respective parties as they please even if that involves giving the leader all the power, he/she wants. That does not make the members house or field slaves.
Caliste George should be the last person to make such a statement because:
(1) He was happy to serve under Kenny Anthony whose white grandfather was a slave master.
(2) He accepted a knighthood from the head of the colonial power that enslaved our people.
Again, it shows the negative influence of Federick. I don’t think that Caliste George to stoop to such a low if he was not on that low class, name-calling, confusion-setting programme. But I am still disappointed in Caliste George.
Was the then PM Chastanet or the UWP asked to defend and or distance themselves from Peter Josie for his comment on radio and TV about Chastanet being a better PM than Pierre because Chastanet’s color would allow him access to world leaders of his color, whereas Pierre the “little black boy” would not be taken seriously? All of that was said in the presence of “Champain” and Michael Chastanet, the then PM’s father. The clip is available in the cloud.
Was the then PM Chastanet or his UWP asked to defend or distance themselves from Mr. Josie’s remark about SLP supporters never wanting Pierre as Party Leader, but would rather have Hilaire in that position because SLP supporters preferred “light skinned” people as Party Leader?
The UWP initiated and continues to taint our politics with the corruption of racism while attempting to lay the blame of their odious behaviour at the feet of the SLP. (BTW in the grand ole USofA the racist neo-Nazis and skinheads are complaining of being victims of racism by black Americans…see the parallels?) But the UWP has failed to understand that this is not 1967. This is 2024…this is the DIGITAL AGE me boyos!! Copies of the lies and blatant racism by the UWP and its surrogates abound on devices all over the world.
Sir Calixte has lived thru much of the politics of St. Lucia and is entitled like Peter Josie to his opinions. He served us honourably in dismantling the monopoly of C&W…you want a retraction? Go hold an interview with Sir Calixte. How is Pierre you asking questions?
After 400 hundreds of being enslaved by Europeans . We are still slaves for the local white elite as they are privileged, they control all the best lands, businesses and still oppress and exploit the black people with wages as low as 3 to 5 EC dollars an hour we are still caught up in modern day slavery . I am a black man and I do not want the opposition leader to represent me as this man do not even represent the interest of the 37 thousand people that voted for him and in my Opinion they are house slaves so we do not need Mr George to tell us that …..
What is Sir Calixte definition for the term – Slave Trader -. Alleging that the UWP leader is a Slave Trader, is a human trafficking term and also the individual who is identified as the slave trader, once the evidence is there, therefore the leader of the opposition could be brought to the International Criminal Court for gross Human Right abuse and possible trafficking. Sir Calixte just reduce his level of intelligent as person to an ignorant, arrogance and character assassination of the leader of the opposition, purposely to create a bad imagine to the individual. He should have used more sensitive words to have someone interpret his meaning more appropriately. He should apologize and be more professional to represent his Name and Character as it stands. We all make mistakes, we are not immune to such but it takes a man to say I am sorry I don’t mean to say such and such this is what I meant.
Pierre misread the population and thought he couldn’t win the election. So he made a deal with a devil. A devil that is dragging this country down into the abyss.
Sounds like he is defending the “very grown, intelligent man” to me. Of course he thinks Calixte doesn’t need defending, duhhh he thinks Calixte didn’t say anything wrong. “I don’t know what he said. I didn’t hear what he said”. Really? So, supposedly “without knowing” what was said he made his statements about people shouldn’t get excited over “historical facts”. It’s either Calixte can never possibly say anything wrong in PJP’s opinion or PJP is a liar or both.
@osmond you are a disgusting human being condoning such egregious comments by Mr Calixte
I suggest we give compensation to the little black boy, that his great-great-great-anchestors have been deported from Africa to the Caribbean. But on the other hand, we send him back by boat to Africa.
The PM doesn’t seem to know one particular and pertinent historical fact….NO.!!! it’s not a fact we came from Africa on a boat …Our ancestors came from Africa by boat, not us….yet the facts are besides the point….why would anyone encourage racism and bigotry in a country? Despite the facts, we should be seeking to unite the nation rather than divide…. clearly you politicians thrive of deviciveness..the PM is good at obfuscation but clearly lacks the smarts to conceal it …
I agree with ‘Patriotic Lucian.’
We tend to conveniently forget when it doesn’t suit our narratives.
Those individuals have purposefully forgotten the atrocities of the former administration and its surrogates. Today tunnel vision is the order of the day for them.
If it was wrong then, it is still wrong now.
#racewar👩🏼🤝🧑🏿👨👩👧👦👨🏿🤝👨🏿
Pierre, I do not think the request is to defend Calixte George. I am sure he can come up with some political nonesense on the very some platform he made the first one.
We all know the history of slavery and how bad, inhumane, inconsiderate it was to a race. No one wants to go back to slavery and I hope to God we never get to such low in our generation and for future generations to come. We want to be an inclusive nation, regardless of your race, creed or sexual orientation. Everyone has the right to live. Ofcourse some are too ignorant to deliberately make comments which are hurtful to others. In SLU, it appears to be a norm to deliberately divide the people accordingly to the way they look and brand them with names. This is hurtful to those who are victims of such attack.It is upsetting to call each other names which are degrading. Everyone has a choice to support their political leader regardless of the race or creed. This decision must be respected at all levels in society.
This is where we are asking you to come in and remind our nation there is no place in our society for insults, name calling because of personal decisions. As usual but not surprising you will pretend as if you did not hear about the statements made by Calixte George because it supports your agenda. If I can recall, you started this blackboy nonsense in your campaign. This is where the racism started in slu. The Lucian public never saw the black boy from Marchand. They have seen everything but the leader they elected. Every time there is an opportunity to lead, you disappear with some nonesense.
It is quite frustrating with you Mr.Prime Minister. You are never in a position to lead – Sad but true
All i can say as a black man is that most black people don’t like their own. They would rather the lighter complexion. I was listening to lady Lee program and on 2 occasions they hv labeled ugly as being black. ” the parents didn’t want him becausehe was black and ugly , she wanted nice grand kids”. So it’s a fact y’all can say whatever but that just how it is. Black people in st lucia quick to call another one black because I guess it says you’re not
Nice. We can go on and on but if we won’t acknowledge that problem exists them we will never move forward. That’s why when people preach God being black or white to me I respond by telling them that he is a spirit. If you hv seen him the let me know
Yea right Pierre. You scared of the real pm you’re a big joke and any one can disrespect us over the social media and you do nothing about it. No manners what so ever and yet you wonder why the crime so high you mr Pierre encouraging a lot of what’s happening. Sad reality Worst pm in the world he’s a big man. He can defend himself crap. Disgusting 🤮
Ras Ital, you are in the house as what Calixte said.
St.Lucians we’re too hypocrite have you all forgotten how Chastnent treated us as slaves? Wasn’t it the same Chastnent that called Kenny massa? Didn’t he say colonisation had a conscience? How quick we forget when we support someone. Chastnent will give some of you shit to eat and you will call it ice cream. Chastnent is not above criticism stop worshipping white people they’re humans like us day ban hypocrite. When Chastnent apologise for all his atrocities against St.lucians Calixte will apologise.