Following the successful conclusion of negotiations between the Government Negotiating Team (GNT) and the Trade Union Federation (TUF), the Cabinet of Ministers have agreed to pay out an additional $32 million in back pay to more than 11,000 public servants in February. Prime Minister Philip Pierre The government will commence the back pay disbursement on February 20, 2025. Prime Minister Pierre has confirmed that the back pay is tax-free.  The TUF comprises six (6) bargaining agents representing the interests of over 11,000 public servants. The TUF includes the Saint Lucia Civil Service Association, the Saint Lucia Fire Service Association, the Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association, the Saint Lucia Nurses Association, the Saint Lucia Teachers Union, and the Vieux-Fort Dock and General Workers Union. Negotiations between the GNT and TUF came to a fruitful conclusion in December 2024. Negotiations also included discussions on salaries over two consecutive trienniums. The Cabinet...

Recently the Minister of Education, Shawn Edward, alluded to a systematic crisis, when he stressed upon an audience of scholars that he was worried and needed to see more young men in the room and on the applications for scholarships for higher education when compared to young women. He noted that the official position of the Ministry was one of meritocracy in the allocation. Saint Lucia Minister of Education, Shawn Edward. But the overtime reduction of males was a crying call for concern, and as such he suggested the ministry also believed there needs to be a balance when distributing educational opportunities. Two things can be true! The minister was therefore alluding to our own internal educational DEI which, by the way, contrary to the Trumpian notion, does not eradicate meritocracy but enhances it. How might you ask? Well for starters, DEIs are not unqualified for the respective posts, but...

L-R Premier of Nevis and Opposition Leader of St. Kitts and Nevis, Mark Brantley and Saint Lucian, His Lordship Justice Eddy Ventose The integrity of the Eastern Caribbean judicial system is under the spotlight as the Honourable Mark A. G. Brantley, Premier of Nevis and Leader of the Opposition, issues a strong call for action, stressing that justice must not only be done but must be manifestly seen to be done. Brantley’s concerns center on Justice of Appeal Ventose, who is being urged to step aside from the Court of Appeal pending the resolution of a matter that directly involves him. The Premier suggests that either the Judicial and Legal Services Commission or the Chief Justice should take decisive action by temporarily removing him from the bench or refraining from scheduling him to hear cases. “This would demonstrate that the perception of the rule of law, which is critical to...