Prime Minister Allen Chastanet on Monday declared that although he is “ready for elections” this has been placed on the back burner. The bigger priority right now, he says, is saving lives and livelihoods. Commenting on the recent spike in COVID-19 cases during an appearance on GVDTV, Chastanet told viewers that the ‘war’ against the virus can only be won together. “And let’s not underestimate what I mean by together. Together is not some of us. Together is not most of us. Together is all of us,” he said.
“There’s a time for politics, there’ll be elections. Constitutionally, we have to have elections. I am ready for elections! I am ready to put the work of the United Workers Party on the line for the people of this country. But guess what? I put that aside because there is a bigger priority right now and it’s called saving lives and saving livelihoods!”
Chastanet asserted that elections was not on his mind last year. “I listened to a political pundit that said ‘maybe the prime minister missed an opportunity, he should’ve called the elections earlier.’ That wasn’t in my mind because that would have put people in danger. So we will only call elections when we have to call elections, and when it’s safe for the people of Saint Lucia.
“And if in fact the date comes and we’re still under this pressure with covid, we’re going to have to sit down and figure out how we’re going to hold elections in a responsible way. But I certainly will not contribute to jeopardizing the health of people…I ready for that day. Ready! But I’m not going to put politics above the people of this country. My cabinet colleagues will tell you, I will always focus on what we have to do right now,” he stated.
Chastanet urged citizens to place their focus on the ‘enemy.’ Covid does not care if you are Flambeau, Labour or Independent, the prime minister stressed. “When I hear people wanting to blame this person and blame that person blah blah blah. Come on! There’ll be plenty of time to lay blame,” he said. “Right now we have an enemy. And that enemy is trying to take the breath away from all of us. When people talk about ‘I cannot breath’, the only thing that is preventing people from breathing in this country is covid! You don’t even have to have it and it’s preventing you from breathing.”
He added: “Only one set of people can win this fight. One! All of us. And this attitude that we have, that we can pass somebody on the road who’s not wearing a face mask, who’s not doing the right thing and say nothing; come on, we are better than that in this country, and we have not come this far to lose the battle! We have shown that we can operate in the economy and keep people safe.”
