Rising in the House for the first time since her election on December 1, 2025, Jawahir said she stood “with conviction, purpose, and an unshakable sense of duty” as she endorsed the fiscal package presented by Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre.
In a strong endorsement of the government’s economic management, the Minister credited the Prime Minister’s leadership for reversing decline and restoring growth.
“How does a government inherit an economy in decline and…transform it into one that records growth year after year?” she asked. “The answer lies in leadership…fiscal discipline and an unyielding commitment to people-centred development.”
She described the $2.18 billion budget as “not merely a statement of figures…but a declaration of intent”, pointing to increased allocations across key sectors.
Among highlights, she pointed to funding for the distress relief programme, which she said had already supported fire victims in her constituency, and an allocation for the Constituency Boundaries Commission, calling it “a matter of fairness, representation and justice” given the size of Castries South East.
Significant emphasis was placed on justice reform. She welcomed investments in digitization and case management, including funding for a Swift Justice Project and DNA genotyping technology.
“If we do not have this critical piece of equipment, cases will continue to be dragged on…and the confidence in our justice system will continue to be shaken,” she warned.
On crime, Jawahir rejected political point scoring, insisting that “the blame game does not prevent crime or violence” and instead backed targeted intervention programmes.
However, it was agriculture that dominated her address, as she outlined what she described as one of the strongest allocations to the sector in recent history.
The Department of Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Security will receive over $48 million, an increase of approximately 14 per cent. Combined with sustainable development funding, the sector now commands more than $77 million.
“This is not a piece of the pie. That is a significant investment in food security and national sustainability,” she declared.
Jawahir, who spoke of her childhood experiences in farming, contrasted the current administration’s approach with that of the previous government.
“They governed with promises without delivery, borrowing without results and projects without completion,” she said. “We are fixing what they failed to deliver.”
She highlighted a wide range of initiatives, including investment in agricultural innovation, climate resilience programmes, expanded insurance coverage for farmers and increased support for banana production.
“We will no longer have to worry about spray oil,” she said, noting targeted funding for fungicides and mineral oils.
The Minister also announced plans to boost crop production, develop value-added products and expand agro-processing, while positioning sectors such as seamoss for export growth.
In fisheries, she pointed to ongoing upgrades to landing sites and facilities across the island, stressing that she would serve “all constituencies”, not just her own.
Infrastructure and social development also featured prominently. Jawahir pressed for urgent flood mitigation works in vulnerable communities such as Cul de Sac and Bexon, and called for improvements to health centres and early childhood facilities.
She made an emotional appeal for expanded access to the school feeding programme, drawing from her own experience.
“I can personally attest to not being able to afford that dollar a day,” she said. “We must ensure that no child ever has to go to school hungry.”
Reaffirming her support, she declared, “Our government is not standing still, but moving Saint Lucia forward with intention, compassion, and strength.”