The Sitting of the House of Assembly on Tuesday saw a heated debate over a proposed amendment to the VAT Act that would grant the Saint Lucia National Trust (SLNT) exemptions on imported goods and services.
The amendment, introduced by Prime Minister and Castries East MP Philip J. Pierre, sparked a strong response from the Micoud South MP and United Workers Party (UWP) leader Allen Chastanet.
In his presentation, Prime Minister Pierre sought to emphasise the current administration’s intention to support the SLNT in an attempt to distinguish his Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) government’s approach from that of previous administrations.
“We want the SLNT to operate in an environment free of fear and free from fear but we also want the SLNT to be cognizant of the situation in the country, so we need them to have dialogue with the government, have dialogue with stakeholders so that we can come to a gentle balance, a balance that will normally end in a win-win situation. The SLNT asked [for] assistance [with their] cashflow by making them VAT exempt and we agreed Mr. Speaker, because we really want to cause the SLNT to be able to operate,” Pierre stated.
Opposition leader and former Prime Minister Allen Chastanet was quick to challenge the proposed VAT exemption, questioning whether it was truly in the best interest of Saint Lucians.
Chastanet suggested that the move could be a tactic by the current administration to maintain favourable relations with the SLNT, particularly regarding the hosting of the Jazz Festival at Pigeon Island, a site managed by the Trust.
“Are we meant to believe that the government is going to allow them to have VAT-free [imports] and then that means they’re going to have some better relationship as it pertains to Jazz?” He asked.
Chastanet further questioned the operations of SLNT for what he described as conflicting roles—acting as both a conservation entity and a commercial operation.
He questioned the Trust’s efforts to reduce its dependence on taxpayer funding, noting that during his time in office, the UWP had withheld subventions from the SLNT until it presented a viable business plan.
“Is it not an expectation… that as the government and taxpayers of this country, that’s who we represent, we represent the taxpayers. Is it not fair to ask, what has the national trust been doing in order to reduce the burden of the taxpayers, especially when the state and the people of this country have bestowed and given them that much land?” He said, emphasising his stance that the SLNT should strive for self-sufficiency, particularly in managing resources like Pigeon Island.
The former Prime Minister says that while he supports the trust’s board of conservationists, methods of management are his primary concern.
Chastanet also recounted a proposal made during his administration’s time in office from 2016 to 2021 to transform Pigeon Island into a world-class venue, including the construction of a permanent stage for festivals and cultural events.
Chastanet: “We had multiple discussions with them and one of them Mr. Speaker, was if we’re doing a Jazz festival and we show that over a 20-year period that the tourist board had spent in excess of $25 million over 20 years, in putting up stages and breaking down stages and preparing pigeon island for the event. Imagine if that money was invested in putting a permanent stage up at Pigeon Island, and making it now a world class amphitheater and that in addition to being able to host the Jazz festival, and any other festivals the government likes, is that we now would have introduced for the first time, Mr. Speaker, a permanent stage for the arts where evening shows would take place.”
The opposition leader also used the opportunity to denounce old claims that his former administration wanted to build a sea aquarium at the Pigeon Island National Park. “What was being done was a dolphin pen in the ocean. What would be done was a half-day tour with the dolphin [pen] and half day tour with Pigeon Island.”
According to him, such investments could have benefited both the SLNT and the broader economy by creating a sustainable source of income.
The debate extended beyond the SLNT’s VAT exemption to touch on broader issues of governance.
Chastanet accused the SLP of lacking “imagination” and failing to address pressing national concerns, including healthcare infrastructure. He criticised the government’s handling of key resources, urging them to take a more innovative approach in addressing the island’s challenges.
Following the debate, the opposition leader exited the House. The bill to grant VAT exemption to the SLNT was ultimately passed.
Chastanet’s realization that his petty efforts to foil the work of the Trust has him reeling. The poor guy looks so out of place and scared. His pathetic cry of tit for tat reveals a man who is bitter, who didn’t get his way. That guy is behaving as if he should be the originator of all things good for St. Lucia.
Tropical Trump , the product from Canada …
I did not agree with the last government’s withdrawal of the entire subvention from the Trust; that was wrong. What is wrong with a permanent stage at Pigeon Island? What is wrong with the Trust doing more to sustain themselves? Hopefully, the Turst will use the savings from the exemptions to bolster their finances and increase their activities.
Very good call by the govt!! No VAT!!! Chastanet had no problem in giving Sandals $24,000,000 off? $24M to one white family. But as soon as the govt does something for US, boom!!!
Chastanet seems to have a personal vendetta against the SLNT.
Most countries have a National Trust, a Chamber of Commerce, a Tourism Authority and other NGOs which factor into the civil duties of a country. I would not be surprised if these other Ngos have a VAT free agreement with the government. Chastanet seems to have a “beef” with the SLNT, and it is more than their management of the Pigeon Island National Landmark for the Jazz Festival (which could be held any where else!). Wheel and come again Chastanet.
@Poule Foo – I agree with your comment so much, its pathetic!
This man never ceases to surprise with his distortion of the truth.
Let’s unpick his b.s. point by point:
1. He “questioned the operations of SLNT for what he described as conflicting roles—acting as both a conservation entity and a commercial operation”, all whilst requiring a business plan from the Trust of how they will earn money, because he removed the subvention that helped them to maintain numerous sites around the island on behalf of the Government and the people, and continue the conservation efforts of our rare species. “He said… that the SLNT should strive for self-sufficiency” – in other words become a commercial entity, to the detriment of the conservation. Yet the Government of Saint Lucia under John Compton created the Trust to manage the conservation of the islands natural and historical assets on behalf of the Government and the people. This is their role. The Government has two permanent seats on the council of the Trust. In doing the work for the Government, it should be supported by the Government.
2. He says he wanted to transform Pigeon Island into a world-class venue, including the construction of a permanent stage for festivals and cultural events – The SLNT had brought him proposals for a permanent stage, not a building, designed to be sympathetic to the park so that it would remain a green park for all when not in use for Jazz, and reducing the damage and downtime to the park due to concert set up and take down. But on seeing this, Chastenet wanted to build instead a permanent cabaret performance space like Club Tropicana in Cuba (his reference) to be used for the cruise ship tourists when not in use for Jazz, a structure that would have remained empty most of the time whilst ruining the experience of the park, and a historical site. Creating a space for cruise ship tourists instead of the people.
3. He said “what has the national trust been doing in order to reduce the burden… especially when the state and the people of this country have bestowed and given them that much land?” – The state did not ‘bestow’, the State put the lands into the management of the SLNT to prevent the exploitation and damaging of those very lands for commercial aspects, for that would contrary to the conservation of native species and our history. You know, Commercial aspects like cabaret venues four tourists, or Dolphin Parks. Speaking of which that brings me to …
4. He said, regarding his proposed Dolphinarium that “What was being done was a dolphin pen in the ocean. What would be done was a half-day tour with the dolphin [pen] and half day tour with Pigeon Island.” – interesting, because the proposals that the Dolphinarium company brought to the table, and that were touted by Chas online were for a dolphin pen in the bay immediately next to, and connected the island, not somewhere “in the Ocean”, and there were to be a number of structures, as well as roads and parking built in the National Park. Not for the people, for the tourists.
What Chas sought to do with the SLNT and the lands it looks after is parallel to Trump looking to defund the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the US. Not good for the people or nature, but to exploit the resources for the few.