Acting PM defends Chastanet’s decision to go on leave: None of us put in the hours of work that he has!

Economic Development Minister Guy Joseph has defended Prime Minister Allen Chastanet over his decision to go on leave. On Tuesday the government announced that Chastanet had proceeded on leave and is scheduled to return on August 22. In his absence, Joseph serves as Acting Prime Minister. Chastanet has been criticized by some members of the public for doing so while Saint Lucia is still under a state of emergency.

“The prime minister is a human being,” said Joseph in an interview with HTS this morning. “This prime minister that we have has been going from the time this COVID situation started and I can tell you, none of us put in the hours of work that the prime minister has put in. It is not just the work that is put in, it is the toll that being in that position and handling that, takes on an individual.” The minister says it is unfortunate that some people have chosen to question whether Chastanet is entitled to a few days to recuperate and rest. The prime minister, he said, works more than 18 hours a day on occasions.

Joseph assured Saint Lucians that the Cabinet of ministers is capable: “You have a team in government, it is not a one man government that we have. It is a team of leaders who are leading this country, who are quite capable. And in the absence of the prime minister, not just myself, there are several of the other ministers who could have easily filled in and be the sitting prime minister during that period of time.”

The Acting Prime Minister continued: “Here’s my difficulty with the people who are saying this. Some of these same people are the same people who say ‘we don’t want him to be in charge of the affairs of the country,’ so they should be happy that he is not the one in charge for the next few days.”

Joseph says this clearly shows that these persons value the work of the prime minister. “And rightly so,” he declared, “because I think the prime minister has done an excellent job in managing the affairs of this country leading up to COVID. And more so, has shown his leadership ability in the worst crisis that the world has seen in a long time. And I say hats off to the prime minister for what he has done and I think it is a well deserving few days that he is taking.”

The minister indicated that Chastanet is in touch with him and the Cabinet.