[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he next general elections in Saint Lucia are constitutionally due in 2021. Nevertheless, the leader of the opposition has promised that if he should replace the current prime minister, his government will ensure “there will be at least one university graduate in every household in Saint Lucia within a reasonable time”. The SLP leader did not say precisely what he meant by “a reasonable time”.
In 2011 the party, then under the leadership of Kenny Anthony, had promised voters that “immediately upon getting into office, we will inject $100 million into the economy to finance job creation activities throughout the length and breadth of the island”. During an interview on Choice TV following the elections, the education minister Robert Lewis, when reminded of the $100 million pledge, argued that “immediately” did not mean right away.
In relation to his most recent promise, Mr. Pierre said: “The first question that people ask is where you’re going to get money from. The people who ask that question obviously don’t understand the value of education and what education means to the development of a country. There are various means by which we will reach that goal. It’s not only going to be by money!”
The SLP leader continued: “Education is evolving. There is [sic] distant learning and
work-study programmes, and we’re going to be expanding on it.” He went on: “Who in their right senses is going to criticize an idea of a party that believes that each household should have a qualified graduate. Who would criticize that?” Mr. Pierre, whose party first came into office in 1997 with a 16-1 mandate, said this week that his party’s aim, if elected again, is to have “a well educated population to reduce the level of poverty and prepare global citizens.”
