In a fiery address during Tuesday’s session of the House of Parliament, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Tourism and Investment Dr Ernest Hilaire announced his intention to take decisive action against individuals who have, according to him, “made a false claim against him”.
Dr. Hilaire’s statements come amidst a series of allegations and public claims that he characterised as baseless and defamatory.
The minister singled out political operative Nancy Charles of the opposition United Workers Party (UWP), accusing her of perpetuating falsehoods about his tenure and personal conduct.
“The most bizarre one has been Nancy Charles,” he declared. “She’s been everywhere, especially last week, saying a lot of things… including playing some recording from Michael Holding about something that happened in West Indies cricket alone in December 2013.”
Dr. Hilaire was unequivocal in his rebuttal of the allegations, emphasising that he was serving as Saint Lucia’s High Commissioner to the United Kingdom during the time in question. “I was not even working at the West Indies Cricket Board then,” he asserted, dismissing claims made against him as “deliberate distortions.”
In a significant escalation, Dr. Hilaire announced that Charles would be served with legal papers within days. “Nancy Charles will get a letter today, tomorrow at the latest, to appear in court to prove all the things she said and to give all her evidence that the things she said are true,” he stated. “It starts with Nancy Charles today.”
Hilaire who also serves as the MP for Castries South described the attacks against him as relentless, noting that accusations about his involvement in various matters, including the acquisition of a Range Rover vehicle, have followed him globally. “Mister Speaker, people all over the world—fellow ministers, friends—it goes on and on,” he lamented.
He also signaled a shift in his political strategy, vowing to adopt a more combative stance in the upcoming year. “Next year, I’m going to be a political fighter,” he declared, indicating his readiness to engage in what he described as a “political fight” rather than a physical one.
Hilaire framed the coming battles as twofold: addressing the allegations in court and taking his fight to the electorate.
“Anyone that can say anything about corruption will have to stand up and come to a court of law and prove it,” he said. He added that his political efforts would focus on his constituency, Castries South, and beyond.
Saint Lucia politics for you, where the little things matter the most! Absolutely sick and tired of the Land Rover saga. Lack of maturity by the politicians, little serious discussion of the issues that affect daily life in this country. All of these people are in to see what is in it for themselves. They come on the air, host a few talkshows, make some noise, and immediately are awarded consultancies! This is Saint Lucia!
I am so baffled at the UWPs, is telling lies part of their DNA? Ti me every statement of a UWP has at least 2 or 3 lies. How do we expect the young people to train? Is it wit lies? Common UWP speak the truth for once. Remember the Bible says Thou shall not bear false witness against thy neighbor.
Where’s there’s smoke, there’s fire
@Anonymous it’s not “ a little thing “ to continue insulting and insinuating baseless accusations against ones character. The United Worthless Party has no other arsenal in their hampers to bolster their weak party image, weak party stance, weak, weak, weak on everything, so this is their Code of Conduct, not that it’s surprising to anyone, it’s who they are a bunch of diabolical’s . The chameleons behind United PAC needs to be hauled in front of a magistrate as well, they swear by the technology that they are invisible they are in for a surprise.
@Lydia Estaphane say that to your party. It appears that all of you hacks suffer from amnesia,you forgot all the lies made against UWP during the last elections?Thanks to your party for changing our politics.Dont complain
Some of these politicians are so litigious it beggars belief. What is going on in this splendid island of ours? It looks like there is no longer freedom of speech. Whatever you say will be taken down and given in evidence against you in a court of law. The labour folks feel threatened and so they resort to taking people to the cleaners. The election is less than two years away and you have politicians already baying for blood. They are arguing over pettiness and crap and wasting taxpayers dollars in doing so.
What will become of this lawsuit should this geezer win? Whether he wins or not people will still say the things that he is accusing them of. Mud sticks no matter how hard you try to rub it off. So what the woman said those things. She has a mouth and is entitled to say what she feels should be said provided she has the facts to do so. Facts is the lifeblood of any healthy debate and discussion in any democracy. To be a politician one has to be thick-skinned and minded. Anyone who is contemplating entering the political arena and is not thick skinned should find an alternative career. These politicians in St Lucia are to damn sensitive and inconsiderate. How about being tactful decorous and diplomatic? People will always talk irrespective. There’s nothing that one can do to stop them from blabbing and opening up their cakehole.
This gentleman was in the UK and to be honest I did not visit the High Commission much during his rein in London. I am a Londoner and don’t usually seek refuge in there whether socially or otherwise. The people in this place are not friendly and inviting to talk to. For one I love to speak the Kweyol language which my Canaries parents spoke to us in the house growing up in London, something the High Commission staff don’t want to do. They don’t want to engage you in the parlance. I find a lot of the government folks are too litigious querulous and peevish. They need to calm down and get back to the business of running the country instead of engaging in court battles with little known characters who don’t have a pot to pee in. Please stop this nonsense and get back to work to help St Lucia rise.