Deputy Leader of the Opposition United Workers Party (UWP), Guy Joseph, has strongly criticised the government’s handling of the rising cost of living in Saint Lucia, accusing both the administration and Massy Stores of exploiting citizens.
Joseph took aim at Massy Stores, the Trinidad and Tobago chain that came to Saint Lucia in 2016, accusing it of driving up prices and exploiting local consumers. “Saint Lucia has become the cash cow for Massy,” Joseph told St. Lucia Times, “because you know how difficult it is to get a US dollar in Trinidad, so Saint Lucia is being used as the headquarters for Massy to generate its foreign exchange, especially in US dollars.”
He questioned how smaller vendors can offer products at lower prices than Massy, despite sourcing from the same suppliers. “And they order in smaller quantities and they are selling the same products cheaper than Massy. How is that possible?” Joseph argued, suggesting that Massy is prioritising profits over fairness.
Joseph did not hold back in criticising Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre and his administration for failing to regulate prices or provide relief to citizens. “The government is cutting back on subsidies for essential items like rice, flour, sugar, and cooking gas, even as global prices and shipping costs rise,” Joseph said. He accused the government of boasting about increased revenue while citizens are “scrunting and suffering.”
Joseph described the daily ‘harsh realities’ many Saint Lucians face: “Parents can’t afford to put food on the table. Some children aren’t even getting two meals a day,” he said. “This is not about politics—it’s about saving lives and making life easier for people.”
He stressed that the rising cost of living, escalating crime, and deteriorating healthcare are all deeply connected and require immediate government action.
“People are fed up, and it’s time for the government to act. We are protesting because we care about the future of Saint Lucia,” Joseph told St. Lucia Times on the margins of an opposition demonstration over healthcare outside the OKEU Hospital.
The demonstration occurred on Wednesday.
which administration was in power when massy came into Saint Lucia? and to me a certain persons daddy has shares in Massy ?
My God we’re doomed. On one side we have this idiot. And on the other side with have morons.
The Labour Party is protecting the victory.
Everything that moves is taxed so they can continue the lifestyle of talk , take and travel.
It is irrelevant to them whether households are suffering under the pressure of escalating prices, increasing government taxation and the stress of incompetent governance and the resultant breakdown of health and security.
The Labour Party operate now for now and by the seat of their pants. They grab what they can…..
The lack of discipline is gutting out lifestyles and the peacefulness and godliness of life in St Lucia.
But what did we expect when history has told us the story before.
No wonder the UWP is in Opposition! And by the way, nothing changes, despite which party is in power, they both take care of their friends, family, and foreigners. When out of office, they have all the answers and solutions! Heaven help us in this country, the people have to choose between two incompetents! But it’s mighty irritating, to see a rejectee, who did nothing about what he is complaining about when he was in office, just thoroughly disgusted by those politicians.
ALWAYS MISSING THE DAMN POIT AT THE TIME THE COST OF LIVING WAS NOT SO HIGH….NOW IT KEEPS RISING AND RISING…
I don’t agree with everything Guy says but in this case I applaud him for speaking up. I’ve noticed the same also. You go to smaller retailers and prices are lower but Massy has a substantial markup. Between Unicomer and Massy, St. Lucians are being exploited. The issue is Massy should have never been allowed to establish a monopoly in the first place, because in the absence of competition (CPJ doesn’t have enough presence yet) most corporations will become exploitative. Massy has stores in Florida (Rowe’s supermarket) an already saturated market, and they’re only able to do so off of the backs of the West Indian people. We’re being taken to task right now and no one is doing a thing to ease the burden of everyday St. Lucians. For Guy this is just a political talking point as UWP tries to attract voters to them but as a previous commenter said we have idiots on one side and morons on another. We can just look around and see the morons aren’t doing a great job, so perhaps we may have to take another chance on the idiots.
@borbol….SAY NO MORE. For decades who held the monopoly on groceries imports to St Lucia ?? The infamous JQ….,for decades even when world economies were good and gasoline was cheaper they had the working poor of this nation backs against the wall and their wallets and pocket books at gunpoint. They were the reason so many St Lucian’s became barrel babies, they had to wait for that monthly barrel from relatives abroad to eat due to their high prices. I along with John Public could not understand the governance of this monopoly, but now to hear these Yellow Bellows of this Coolie Cohort is Ludacris to say the least. There were never a time after shillings and sixpence the affordability of groceries were in reach of the average St Lucian, we are literally tied with Puerto Rico. During Allan Chastanet reign of terror he did not consider to break a loaf of bread to feed the multitude….and “they” never will. It’s the festive season upon us again, when in St Lucia’s History has “they” had/have given back anything to the public of which they built their empire on ? Yet they’re famous for their lavish luncheons for their Cliques this time of year, Anon/ The Fox / Bipolar/ I am absolutely sure you are all on the A list of “the usual” invited attendees where your end of year stipend is issued for your consistent menacing against the current government. Oh well Bon appétit.
Massy and courts unicommer has been a cash cow even in your tenure as a minster and you did and say nothing about the sufferings of the people
The problem is unfortunately world wide and the main reason why incumbents are losing their positions after general elections are conducted. Chas and Guy do not have a solution for the problem, no matter what they claim. Inflation is caused not only by greed, but also by the domino effects of the rising cost of production (raw materials, fuel, labor, parts and maintenance, and packaging) and transportation and tariffs. Tell me how they intend to lower the cost of all that. Consumers pay for the cost of all that. If the retailer is made to cut profits, it in turn will reduce it’s workforce to counter the lost revenue. Who wins ? Consumer protection laws must be fully enforced though, otherwise it’s more of the same yap yap. Keep in mind, it’s not Massy only but even those before them !
Who brought Massy stores to St.Lucia? What year Massy came to St.Lucia? Who was the government at the time? Who is still holding the largest shares in Massy, who is still the Accountantant in Massy, he is still the same who was in Julien still the same in Massy. Who is holding the manopoly for the supermarkets, who made Julien supermarket flee from St. LucisLucia. Are you all forgetting. Guy Joseph was part of the government at the time he was chief cook and bottle washer, he was minister of all potfoliers, now he cares so much, massy is also trying to hurt St. Lucians.
Time to go back to growing some of your own food – it’s actually not that hard, and boycott Massy – go to your local small suppliers. Not only are they cheaper, but the economics are circular ie profits stay here and are spent here NOT in T&T, although as one pundit said – a certain Daddy has shares in this chain…
Politicians will say anything, anything to get in office just to help family, friends, and foreigners
Why doesn’t Massey invest in some farm land, mid island an hire a plentitude of youths to farm and create more sustainable and affordable foods….this is giving back to our communities for our hundreds of thousands of dollars in food investment here in St Lucia!!! Smh
Thank God, St Lucia 🇱🇨 is blessed but we do not perceive it because the powerful one 🐍has closed our eyes so then it is only those who does not acknowledge God and does not know the way of the LORD that is keeping murmuring and complaining….
Next :
The Hidden Mana, but who then will be qualified for ❓
One pound of the last grade flour will be at the price $ten dollars coming son”……
@ewed
Certainly you the times cirmcumstaces and changes that are about to take place,may God bless you !!!!!!
I’ve read what this guy has said. It begs the question,under whos watch,Massy came to st Lucia; Are we so forget ful?.
Guy your rhetoric to regain power won’t work. No government the world over will be able to lower inflation.
With, Trump introducing a new tarif what do we expect. Isn’t that a new tax we all will have to bare, so Guy your plan will not work.
Your attitude, Chastanet, Montoute, Nancy and the rest stinks and people are tired of you all.
Reshape that party,get people with new and fresh ideas to try and make a difference, else you’ll continue to govern in opposition.
Global Warning ❗
The prices at the other supermarkets are not any better these days. I really do not see the difference on my bill at the places I used to go to get things at a cheaper price.
Guy come on please .
All over the world people are crying .
We don’t have manufactures here and you know that very well.
All because political power you are trying to fool the people .
You were in power and you all remove the bread basket .
God will intervene, God are the one appointing governments or leaders .
He knows who next in line . Stop the noise.
Lucian we need to stop the recycling of rejected politicians. The same old over and over I am tired .
Please SLP and UWP go away .
We need a fresh start .
I believed you run the race and the people rejected you , there should be a law , you cannot run on any ticket again .
The leader of the party and the rejected should resign .
Stop taking advantage of us in St Lucia .
Stop the hungry power.
When we are out we see everything , when we are in we cannot do anything . Come on please .
Stop the recycling oh God, open our eyes lord.
Father send fresh leaders . No more red and yellow .
Yes there is inflation, yes price increases are happening all over the world and yes we know that times are hard, brought about by varied reasons – war, price of fuel, price of raw materials etc. However, this GUY is correct. Massy is indeed robbing Saint Lucians in broad daylight and our protectors, the government, sits idly by and do nothing about it. This situation reminds me of our painful days in the clutches of Cable and Wireless. When something can cost US$8 online and EC$100 plus at Massy, something has to be wrong. When small retailers can sell their products cheaper than Massy something has to be f……ing wrong. I am not concerned about the idiot messenger, my focus is the message. And the idiot is right. But like the days of Cable and Wireless, a pray that a Calixte George comes to our rescue and to our delight, Massy will be no more. To make life better, government or a government should invite other supermarket chains to ease the burden on its residents. In the first place, Massy should never have been allowed to hold a monopoly in Saint Lucia. Until this country is run by younger, smarter and less corrupt people, all I can do is wait for the day when I can bypass Massy to patronize another supermarket chain – be it local or foreign.
He’s right ,the charges on groceries at massy is to high. Some st Lucian are suffering with no jobs, cost of living is high the jobs that some people have their salaries are next to nothing, salaries need to be raise period.
Your comment reminds me of the ‘story ‘
Cats and dogs waiting for power impatient !!
And after prices going up and health care shitty, women in St.Lucia cannot get birth control pills without a prescription. Thank God I am celibate.