That same day, during the weekly pre-cabinet press briefing, the Prime Minister announced that his administration would be injecting $15 million into the OKEU Hospital. This move followed talks with hospital administrators and the executive of the Saint Lucia Medical and Dental Association. 

The SLMDA’s press release, dubbed “Any Attack on Her is An Attack on Us All”, did not make clear the “attacks” referenced. 

“The SLMDA unequivocally condemns these baseless accusations and public attacks on our President,” read the press release.

 An August 4th address by Housing Minister Richard Frederick at an SLP Youth Organisation is said to have sparked the controversy between the SLMDA and the government.

 Frederick’s statements, however, do not name the SLMDA President, Merle Clarke, or give indication that he might have been referring to the Association as a whole.

 Frederick’s statements, allegedly in relation to Dr. Clarke, is as follows: “The following day, after all of that is done, a zelev of Flambeau will write a letter undermining the work that we are doing in improving healthcare in this country.”

 The SLMDA’s press release condemning the “attacks” was published on August 19th at 7:01pm to the Association’s Facebook page.

 Earlier that day at the pre-cabinet press briefing, at around noonday, a reporter pressed the Prime Minister about his thoughts on supposed “attacks” on the SLMDA President.

 THE QUESTION POSED BY THE REPORTER: What we are seeing on certain platforms that seemed to be aligned to the Saint Lucia Labour Party, her name is being clearly called out with photos of her, with some of the most disparaging comments about her on social media.

 PRIME MINISTER PIERRE: I don’t subscribe to that. If it’s happening, I’m not aware but I don’t subscribe to disparaging remarks about anybody.

 Whether the SLMDA has comments made by the Housing Minister in mind or makes reference to alleged social media postings remains unclear.