During the August 8th, 2023 sitting of Parliament, Prime Minister Honourable Philip J Pierre, informed the public that XCD 5.4 million would be transferred from the nation’s Consolidated Fund to the Contingencies Fund, to finance repairs to schools across the island.

 “The passage of [Tropical Storm] Bret caused damage to some schools in the country. I consider it necessary because of the urgency to repair these school buildings to transfer monies from the consolidated fund to the contingencies fund to effect these repairs”.

Monies from the Contingencies Fund, according to Saint Lucia’s Constitution, are used if there is “urgent and unforeseen need for expenditure for which no other provision exists, to make advances from that Fund to meet that need”. For many years, the passage of storms and hurricanes has forced the Government to use these monies to repair schools and other institutions on-island.

The Prime Minister has also, in the agreement with the Saudi Fund for Development, negotiated a “disaster clause”. This clause allows for a pause in the Government’s repayment of its loan from the SFD in the event of a natural disaster, or an “Act of God”. During his two year anniversary speech, the Prime Minister said he will adamantly negotiate for disaster clauses in Saint Lucia’s agreements with financial institution.