Speaking at Monday’s pre-Cabinet press briefing, Pierre dismissed the UWP’s seven-part proposal as “hastily packaged” and “devoid of any serious policy grounding.”
The Youth SOS Plan, launched last Sunday at the UWP’s Youth Rally, aims to tackle youth unemployment and underrepresentation, outlines several initiatives, including a mortgage guarantee programme, $25,000 business grants for young entrepreneurs, expansion of the National Youth Council, and the appointment of youth ambassadors.
But Pierre was unimpressed. “It’s one thing to make promises,” he said, “it’s another to have the credibility and record to deliver. What the UWP is proposing today is the same thing they undermined when they were in power.”
The Prime Minister accused the opposition of “recycling” many of his government’s own programmes, pointing in particular to the Youth Economy Agency, which provides grants, mentorship, and business support to young Saint Lucians.
“They criticized the Youth Economy,” Pierre said. “They called it a joke. Now suddenly, youth grants are their big idea.”
He also took aim at the proposal for a Dennery Segment event, questioning the sincerity of the move. “This is the same party that once criticized the genre and the young people who created it,” he said. “Now it’s convenient for their campaign.”
Pierre further noted that his administration has already advanced policies the UWP now claims to champion, from the digital economy to youth representation on the global stage. He highlighted initiatives like the One Laptop per Child programme, cybersecurity training, and the symbolic diplomatic passport granted to Olympic champion Julien Alfred as tangible evidence of government action.
As for the proposed Mortgage Guarantee Programme, Pierre questioned its feasibility. “Who exactly is guaranteeing these loans?” he asked. “We’ve already waived stamp duty for first-time home buyers through the Saint Lucia Development Bank and removed VAT on building materials. Those are real, working policies, not wishful thinking.”
Pierre closed by framing the UWP’s plan as “politics disguised as policy,” urging Saint Lucians to scrutinize campaign promises carefully.
“This is the season for sweet talk,” he said. “But leadership is not about talk, it’s about delivery. And our record speaks for itself.”