The United Workers Party (UWP) is promising practical support for Saint Lucia’s young people, starting with help to buy their first homes.
At a youth rally on Sunday night, Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet unveiled the party’s 7-Point “Youth SOS Plan”, a key element of which is a Mortgage Guarantee Programme aimed at helping young first-time buyers access affordable starter homes and apartments through targeted financing and public-private partnerships.
The plan also proposes a national Digital Academy offering certification in high-demand fields such as cybersecurity, artificial intelligence, robotics, content creation and digital marketing.
Other initiatives include:
- Grants of up to $25,000 for youth-led businesses
- Appointment of youth ambassadors in sports, entertainment and business
- Guaranteed youth representation on constituency councils, statutory boards and national committees
Addressing the rally, Chastanet sharply criticised the current administration’s approach to youth development. He alleged financial mismanagement, particularly regarding the National Lotteries Authority (NLA).
“The NLA is going to repay, listen to me, $1 million a month for 15 years,” he said. “That’s $15 million a year that should be going for the scholarships of young people that’s been taken away from you, and you don’t even know where the money has gone.”
Chastanet further pledged to revitalise the National Youth Council, describing it as “the true voice of young people”. He committed to equipping the council with financial resources, staffing and office space, and reiterated his party’s intent to support youth training in emerging digital fields: “An academy to be able to provide training for young people who want to get into the digital economy, who want to get into robotics.”
Speaking on the party’s approach to leadership, Chastanet distinguished short-term handouts from long-term vision, telling the crowd, “You know the difference between a political party that wants to get you by today and to give you something to buy some drinks and some food, and you know the difference with a party that wants to invest in your future.”
He concluded by saying, “If we are committed and with the right leadership, we can take you to the promised land.”
The UWP says the Youth SOS Plan is a pledge to build a Saint Lucia where the next generation is equipped to shape the nation’s future through innovation, opportunity and leadership.
