[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he opposition St. Lucia Labour Party is fast sealing a reputation for saying one thing in government, and the precise opposite in opposition. At a press briefing earlier this week, the MP for Castries Southeast, Mr. Guy Joseph, read from a Cabinet conclusion dated 16 November 2015 that indicated the day’s government had approved concessions for the establishment of a dolphin park in Saint Lucia. The MP hinted at the fact that the former Cabinet ministers were now busy campaigning against dolphin parks. “They don’t care if they sink Saint Lucia,” said Joseph. “They don’t care how much they scare away investors and they don’t care how much damage they do to the country.”
He went on: “The leader of the opposition, Philip J Pierre, was acting prime minister when the 2015 decision was taken in favour of a dolphin park operated by Sandals resorts. I would love to hear him explain his positions back then and now regarding dolphin parks.” On Tuesday, at the entrance to the parliament building, after Pierre had read out the reasons behind his motion of no confidence in the government, a reporter asked him to explain his evident change of heart on the question of dolphins. He said: “I am saying to you that the position of the St. Lucia Labour Party now is that we will not encourage the construction of dolphin parks in Saint Lucia. This is the position now.”
Pressed further on the matter, he repeated himself. “I am speaking about the Labour Party’s position now. We are against dolphin parks here.” He insisted that the party had never approved the construction of any dolphin park. “Approval comes from the Development Control Authority,” he said. “The language in the 2015 Cabinet conclusion speaks to concessions, that’s all.”
