标签： Saint Lucia

Former Jamaican Prime Minister P.J. Patterson has issued a stern warning against recent United States drone attacks on vessels in Caribbean waters, labeling them a “fundamentally dangerous and horrible erosion” of the region’s collective sovereignty. Patterson, who served as Jamaica’s leader from 1992 to 2006, expressed grave concerns over the US military’s confirmation of at least five such strikes since early September. He emphasized that these actions undermine the Caribbean’s longstanding commitment to being a zone of peace, a principle established during the region’s first integration meeting in 1972. The US administration, under President Donald Trump, justifies the strikes as targeting vessels suspected of transporting illegal drugs to the US, claiming 27 deaths so far, including six in the most recent incident on October 14. Patterson urged Caribbean heads of government to urgently convene and adopt a unified stance, referencing the 1997 Shiprider Agreement as a precedent for collective action. This agreement, enforced by Jamaica’s Maritime Drug Trafficking (Suppression) Act of 1998, permits US vessels to pursue and search suspected drug traffickers in Jamaican and international waters. The drone attacks have sparked fear among regional fisherfolk and maritime users, who fear becoming “collateral damage.” Patterson stressed that the strikes violate international law and pose a “clear and present danger to all maritime users,” urging CARICOM to reaffirm the Caribbean’s status as a zone of peace. Despite US claims, including one linking a destroyed vessel to the Tren de Aragua Cartel, no substantive evidence has been provided. Colombia’s president has disputed a US claim, stating a targeted boat was Colombian, not Venezuelan. Jamaica’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Senator Kamina Johnson Smith, has yet to respond to inquiries on the matter.

The Caribbean Court of Justice (CCJ) has definitively dismissed an appeal by Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet, marking the end of a protracted legal battle involving customs charges against Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire. The ruling, issued on October 15, 2025, reaffirms prior decisions by Saint Lucia’s High Court and Court of Appeal, both of which had rejected Chastanet’s challenge to the withdrawal of the charges.

The case originated in 2020 when the Comptroller of Customs filed charges against Hilaire under the Customs (Control and Management) Act. The allegations centered on the purported illegal importation of a Land Rover Discovery vehicle following Hilaire’s tenure as Saint Lucia’s High Commissioner in London. In 2021, the newly appointed Comptroller of Customs, Sharman Emmanuel, sought and obtained permission from the Magistrates’ Court to withdraw the case, effectively terminating the proceedings.

Chastanet contested this decision, arguing that the Director of Public Prosecutions (DPP) had assumed control of the case by the time it was withdrawn, thereby stripping the Comptroller of the authority to end it. However, the CCJ rejected this argument, stating that there was no concrete evidence to support the claim that the DPP had formally taken over the prosecution. The court emphasized that merely forwarding the case file to the DPP and the involvement of DPP counsel in the proceedings did not constitute a formal takeover.

Furthermore, the CCJ clarified that the magistrate’s decision to grant the withdrawal superseded the Comptroller’s administrative action. As such, any legal challenge should have been directed at the magistrate’s ruling rather than the Comptroller’s initial request. The court concluded that Chastanet’s judicial review of the Comptroller’s decision was legally flawed, bringing the case to a final and irrevocable close. This ruling underscores the lawful execution of the charges’ withdrawal and affirms the integrity of the judicial process.

In a significant move to empower the younger generation, Prime Minister Philip J Pierre announced during this week’s pre-cabinet meeting that the government will double the funding allocated to the Youth Economy Grant program in the upcoming budget. This decision comes on the heels of the initiative’s remarkable success, which has already benefited over 1,000 young Saint Lucians since its inception. The program offers grants of $5,000, coupled with essential training, to aspiring entrepreneurs looking to establish or expand their businesses. Pierre highlighted that the grant component has outperformed the loan scheme administered by the Saint Lucia Development Bank, with ongoing discussions aimed at enhancing the loan program’s effectiveness and accessibility. The Prime Minister also lauded the Youth Economy Agency for its independence, emphasizing that its decisions are made by an impartial board, free from political influence. While acknowledging delays in processing applications due to overwhelming demand, Pierre described the high level of interest as encouraging and reiterated the government’s dedication to streamlining procedures. In a separate development, Pierre addressed concerns over police welfare, revealing that the government has ordered 1,300 specialized belts to replace the uncomfortable gear currently in use. This initiative follows the recent distribution of bulletproof vests, underscoring the administration’s commitment to improving the working conditions of law enforcement officers. The Prime Minister expressed optimism that the new belts, currently in production, will significantly enhance officers’ comfort and efficiency.