Opposition Leader Philip J. Pierre has repeated his call for the Castries Constituency Council (CCC) to open the Marchand Boulevard Comfort Station. In a statement earlier today the CCC took the Castries East MP to task, and disputed claims that the facility was closed to make him look bad.
Many reasons were outlined for the closure including a high level of staff absenteeism, incidents of violent abuse against workers, theft of supplies, paraphernalia, and even bullets being fired at the building. It was also home to gambling and being used as a hair salon, the organization said. The Council stated that everyone employed at the facility were Pierre’s supporters and persons recommended by his office, and urged the MP not to use the closure to gain sympathy. The Council also noted that several attempts were made to remedy the situation by holding meetings with the workers to no avail.
Responding to the CCC in an interview with the STAR, Pierre questioned why the facility remains closed during the COVID-19 period — when people are asked to have good hygienic practices. “If the City Council had cared about the people of Saint Lucia, and the people of the George Charles Boulevard in particular, they would have ensured that the facility would be repaired because it is needed by the people,” he said.
Pierre says the matter of who was employed is not his business and it is not an important issue. The MP insists that he is more interested in having the much needed facility be put to use. However, he denies any involvement in the hiring process. “That is a lie,” said Pierre, reacting to the statement that persons employed were recommended by his office. “My office never knew anything about employment. Since when the government is so magnanimous that it calls opposition politicians about people being employed in a facility? That never happened!”
Speaking on the reasons given for the closure, he continued: “That happened when the security arrangements were stopped. I am not condoning it but it happened when the security arrangements were stopped. The facility has a gate, it’s well secured. How could people enter the premises, if there were security arrangements?”
Pointing out the facility’s importance to the area, Pierre highlighted that it was not built on a knee-jerk reaction, but after thorough consultation, investigation and a socio-economic analysis by the Caribbean Development Bank. He strongly believes that the facility is being kept closed to make him look bad, all in an attempt to make him suffer politically.
The MP added: “The City Council must open the facility for the people of the constituency, that’s it… All I want is for the facility to open. It’s not for me I want it open, I want it open for the people of the constituency, that’s it.”
