 Okay, ladies and gentlemen, thank you for your patience. I now present Honourable Wayne Girad, Minister in the Ministry of Finance and MP for Ancillary. Morning, members of the press. Good to see you again. I'm beginning to get comfortable. Yeah, so this morning I thought there's only appropriate that we update you on the work that took place on the Ancillary Bridge. As you would have noticed, there was a demolition of some of the houses in order to create the bypass for the construction of the new bridge. So that went on very, very smoothly. We took some time to get to that point because we wanted to make sure that we relocated the affected residents properly. It wasn't simply of us just throwing them out in the street. So we made sure that there was relocation in place before we went ahead and did that. I would like to also update you on the installation of the sewer treatment system. You may have heard that there was some possibility that one existed. But I think on Friday last week some members of the media did visit Ancillary and they're still apparently looking for the sewer treatment system. I'd like to remind my constituents that it's only last week that the Prime Minister approved the million dollars to put in the sewer treatment system. So at the moment, it doesn't exist. And what I said previously with regards to the sewer going into the sea was the intent. And if it was not the intent, then somebody needs to explain why it wasn't in place before the construction of the facility. I think it's also appropriate that I address you on the upcoming budget dates. On the 26th of March, at 10 a.m., the Prime Minister will lay the estimates of revenue and expenditure. And at 3 p.m. would be the Standing Finance Committee. On the 23rd of April, at 10 a.m., the Prime Minister also will lay the appropriation bill. This year, our priority, the Prime Minister's indicated, would be infrastructure. And when we say infrastructure, those simply mean roads. I mean, the Prime Minister made the point to indicate that schools are involved, the airport is involved, the port is involved. So not simply a matter of roads. It's a responsibility that the Prime Minister takes very seriously. We inherited a situation to be quite frankly where the road network was in a mess. And we've tried our very best to make sure that we keep up with the deterioration. But as you would well recognize when we came into government, this is a very significant point. The debt to GDP ratio was 101%. As of December 2021, pain in Miami got into government of July 2021. As of the check that was done by the World Bank and the IMF, as of December 2021, our debt to GDP ratio was 101%. So I think the Prime Minister has done a very sterling job to get us to where we are at the moment. And out of every confidence, he will encourage us and will support us in delivering for the commitments that we made to the people of San Jose. Thank you very much. Any questions? I will happily take them. Just one quick question. Regarding the demolition of the Alps and the Strait Bridge, do you expect a larger bridge to take a wider dimension? Yes, we expect to have a two-lane bridge. At the moment as you know, it's a one-lane bridge. So the intent is to have a two-lane bridge. So what you see built at the moment is the bypass. So we create the bypass, then we remove the existing bridge and we install a much more appropriate bridge for the community of Ansari. The days of Ansari being seen as the backward community, the community with no ambition, the community that always seemed to be interested in is other things interested in other people. But we seem to get the brunt of the focus of what we've not been able to achieve. Going forward, you see a remarkable difference in Ansari countries. I'm from Ansari countries. I'm from Jackmel. And I take personal pleasure in ensuring that I deliver on those commitments. It will be a new constituency at the time of the next general election. I read an article that spoke about a $40 million investment from the World Bank for fiscal and regional reforms. Are you able to comment on that? What does it entail and what is it for? So it is something that we inherited to be quite honest. And the former minister of finance never admitted it. Saint Lucia was born as if there was no tomorrow. So we needed to get some assistance. They needed to get some assistance to be able to finance the expenditure that they were essentially encouraging. So it is something that we did simply to ensure that there was no break in continuity, because we did inherit a very difficult situation. As I say, into 101% of debt to debris is a significant figure. Of the countries in the region and the world, I think Saint Lucia would have borrowed two and a half times more than any other country. Countries borrowed during COVID, but in our particular case, we brought two and a half times more than any other country in the world, and certainly in the Caribbean. So the $40 million is simply to assist us with budgetary support, which was an inherited program that we went through. We did have to do some refining and some better work in terms of targeting what the money will be used for, but it was something that was existing when we came into government. So we like to continue things. We're not in the business of destroying or stopping and starting. We're in the business of continuity because the people of Saint Lucia at the end of all is who we serve and who we had to serve. How long is the historic bridge expected? So we are anticipating all things being equal. I'm told nine months. So we should have this constructed and in place in nine months there. But in the interim, you'll get periodic updates as to where we are. Because as you know, rainfall, heavy rainfall would have some challenges in terms of how we proceed, but we told nine months to completion. What did you do to address crime and you've seen it in Jackmell? Now, I want to say Jackmell. We need to be careful. It's not actually Jackmell. So I know the general generalization is to say it's Jackmell. But the challenges that exist as a look for the enough of Jackmell in the constituency of Boyden, it is something that we are keeping a very close eye on as you would have noticed over the last few weeks there have been nothing happening there and as a matter of fact, last night, once I was in Jackmell, the SSU was making its regular rounds. So we recognize the challenges that exist there and we try our best to ensure that we're not a community known simply for all things negative, including crime. We have a lot more to provide to the country and to showcase ourselves than just that. I know you will be able to give more details on this, but you know it's a very concerning matter. Young people, I mean this was a rural caste list, but do you think it's outside influence and not just the kids from the air? Outside influence in bringing into this crime? I think partly, I think also we have a system where residents go overseas from a particular community. They find themselves in trouble overseas, they get trained in the things that are not lawful and when they are deported they come back to the country and create a problem. So there is an element of outside influence, but I think we all need to just redouble our efforts to do what we can to mitigate that outside influence. When I grew up in Jackmell, if I ever saw a fight, it would be very rare and very shortly because the community would separate. In this particular instance, you find everybody is paying a blind eye and saying it's not their business until it gets to their doorstep. And this is one thing we know for a fact, it may not get to you today, but at some point if we don't arrest the situation, it will get to your doorstep. And that is why the Prime Minister did the two and a half security levy. It is not simply because we are happy with the minor benefits we get in. We wanted to enhance our police force, give them access to more equipment, more technology, and that is one of the reasons, principle reasons for the two and a half levy. Because we know we could always do better, or we want to do better. I mean, nobody wants to live in a society where they have to worry about when they leave their home, when they come back, whether they financial be there, and they go out and have a disinclined. On the 26th of January, and I will come back to you to announce that officially, we are launching our fish fry and ancillary. I would like it to be a very safe environment. I would like all of you to come spend your money in the community. And I don't want you to feel harassed or threatened. It's in our interest to ensure that we have and maintain a very safe community and country. Good afternoon. How is that time of day? The year is flying. I just want to, before I open for your questions, I just want to tell you that I've always taken a pledge to speak the truth to the people of Sennusha. Even the truth is very uncomfortable. I know it's very uncomfortable for the UDP to understand that they destroyed a holding facility without making adequate preparations or adequate arrangements for housing people who were arrested. I know it's very uncomfortable for them to admit that was irresponsible. And having destroyed that facility and not creating any viable arrangement to detain arrested people, people arrested on suspicion, people arrested to be charged in the future and having been so short-sighted as to destroy that facility. Considering the fact that we are rebuilding that facility, I expect Day 9 of the Sparta to be very ashamed. But truth is there was absolutely no place, there was no holding facility in castries for the detention of arrested people and the police force apart from, and I want to commend them and thank them for having to find places to detain arrested people. Grossly, Babono, Marchand, Marigold, Anslery, sometimes as far as Souffre, when these cells were full, there was no place to put these people. This is an uncomfortable truth, the responsibility of the United Workers Party, which they are ashamed to admit. And fact is, very uncomfortable, some of these people who were arrested had to be released because there was physically no place to put them because the United Workers Party destroyed the custody suite. So I know it's very uncomfortable, but that is a fact and I want to thank the police for having to deal with that inconvenience. It caused an increase in the use of our resources, police vehicles had to be used to transport detained people and it caused quite an issue with our national security. That situation had been rectified with the construction of the custody suites, but it was highly responsible and an act of callousness on the part of the United Workers Party to destroy the custody suites. We are rebuilding the custody suites. Among other things that we are doing for the Z-Police, among other things, we are doing many other things in terms of the physical existence for the Z-Police. I want to invite you to have a talk sometime on work on the grossly, the northern headquarters for the police is situated in grossly. I want to invite you to have a talk about that at some point. Again, an act of irresponsibility that was supposed to be built from 2016. That was supposed to be built, not built, irresponsibility. Then the view for the police station, that there was a mold infestation in that police station from since 2020. Let's say 2019 was COVID again, no work done there. We're the one who started to do work on that facility. You understand? There's several other police facilities, no workers done. We're going to be repairing them. We're going to be renovating them so ensure that the police have a better environment to work on. On bodily, the situation which inherits as far as bodily is concerned, you understand? You have to have discussions to find out what was the situation in bodily in 2021 when we won elections. So the national security situation is a situation that has many, many facets. What would happen at bodily? What was the condition of bodily when we took government in 2021? These are things we have to consider. So again, I want also to note that the homicides in this country, I'm very, very concerned about it. But fact is, for the latter part, the last half of 2023, the percentage in homicide rates decreased substantially when compared to the first half. No comfort. I take no comfort for that. I'm stating a statistical fact that in the second half of 2023, the homicide rate decreased when compared to the first half. The measures that we put in place, these measures are going to be strengthened. This year, hopefully we can continue that downward trend that we're seeing in the second half of 2023. But it's not good enough. It ought to be better. But I would thank the police for the efforts. I want to thank all the NGOs for the efforts. But we're hoping that we can continue that trend in 2024. But the last, the second half of 2023, if you look at it, there was substantial decrease in number of homicides, but not good enough. Nothing to boast about these artifacts. I also want to congratulate Miss Nina Compton, daughter of the late Prime Minister, Sir John Compton, and Lady Janice. She has a luxury vessel in the Royal Caribbean Fleet. The vessel is called Silver Nova, was named after her. She is the godmother of that vessel. It's one of the latest vessels in the Royal Caribbean Fleet. It's a luxury vessel that happened on January the 4th in Miami, in Florida. And then she was hailed as Nina Compton for human connection, cultural discovery, and honoring tradition. And it reads, Bolling St. Lucia, a resident of New Orleans, and trained at the Carolina Institute of America. Nina Compton is an award-winning chef, restaurateur, and TV personality. Her values of human connection, cultural discovery, and the honoring of heritage, tradition, and identity align with those of Silver Sea's program. The owner of two restaurants in New Orleans, Nina Compton is a leading practitioner and passionate advocate for the food of the Caribbean, and was named a culinary ambassador for a home country of Saint Lucia, where her father served as the nation's first Prime Minister. So I want to congratulate Miss Compton, and I want to congratulate Lady Janice, and the rest of the family, for the single honor that was bestowed on Miss Compton. Press. And that's why the custody switch should not be destroyed. Well, as you know, again the city police was not a construct of my government. We found it. I've asked the minister of local government to have a professional assessment of the police, which is happening now. Once that assessment is done, we will be able to tell you what we found. You see, I do not want to speak without evidence. So the assessment has been done by a professional. When the assessment is done, we'll have a conversation with the city police. I know a commissioner did address this, but we are asked about it. Yes, the commissioner has made a plea for the establishment of the K-9 unit. We had some operations, the police had some operations late last year that involved using the K-9 unit. We actually evolve in these discussions, but as I said, I mean, this is not as simple. You need trainers, it may sound like a very simple K-9 unit, but it has many things. Surprisingly, many things have to go through to get a K-9 unit going, but we are working on it, and we'll make announcements as to when and if we're going to have a K-9 unit in St. Lucia. But we continue to seek use of dogs from our friendly neighbors. The French, the Americans, our sisters, when there are several years of dogs, but we are considering actively a K-9 unit. Yes, there was, but as most things, and I always tell you, I'm not a position to make any, to opine on police operations. And I insist in that position, I'm not, I can't opine on police operations. I'm not a police officer, my father was, not one. So in terms of the training that is necessary, I have to go strictly on the advice of the police professionals, commissioner and staff. What I know is the commissioner has asked for a K-9 unit. We're going to have these discussions and I will tell her the resources that are available if they become available and for the details on training and the logistics that will be up to her. That's her job. She is a commissioner police. She is the one, she is a professional who has the responsibility for ensuring that law enforcement happens. My job is to create the policy, to create the advice and to make the resources available. And this is why we've been using the health and security levy to make these resources available to the police. Well, I'm sure that you know now the dates for our budget presentation and the dates for our estimates presentation during these presentations, particularly the policy statement. You will hear the resources that we have made available to the police, the resources. And we intend to increase that. Before the end of this year, we're going to have another batch of police recruits before the end of this year. The training will start shortly. Right now, the recruitment process is underway. That's going to happen. So I'm going to show you. We had the RSS in San Musia fighting three or three tours of duty. The money, that costs money. These things, health and security levy helped in that regard. So we're going to be outlining all the things that we did. The work at Baudelais, Baudelais is part of the security apparatus. The work at Baudelais was done. All that work, the health and security levy is used to fund all these things. In regards to statements for the 2023 position, I'm pretty curious to respond in regards to the large amount of candidates that were confiscated. You are saying that right now, even if the police are basically wasting their resources because there's so much on candidates, whereas there are other states that have little amounts of participation in other companies? I know in terms of cannabis, I know that the minister is preparing a complete policy to strengthen what exists. As you know, it is our government that decriminalize the use of small quantities of cannabis. It is our government that said that if you get arrested and you have a record, you expunge from the records. Our government that did that is our government who is looking into use. Some work was started by the last government, while our government is continuing that work and enforcing it and strengthening it. The work to do the eventual decision as well as cannabis is going to be legalized or not. Right now cannabis is not legalized. What's legalized is small quantities for personal use and for the planting of four trees per household. This is what's legalized. This is the law. We're looking into that law. It's been looked into, but again, that's the function of law enforcement. If that is the opinion of Mr. DeCarras, I can't fault him for his opinion. The fact is, the trafficking of cannabis is still an offense. That's where I think that the police face. Until these laws are changed, and I can tell you, we are actively looking at these laws. Actively pursuing these laws, the minister has formed her commission, and these have been looked into, and I'm sure, very shortly, we'll have a statement, so the police now would know what is trafficking and what is personal use. Right now, they've defined what is personal use and what is trafficking. So Mr. DeCarras' opinion is well understood, coming from his point of view. I've mentioned that to the police commissioner, and she has assured me that if there are any deficiencies in this regard, she's going to make sure they happen. Can you give us an update on how many people are in prison? I can find a lot for you. I can find a lot for you. I'll ask my people to find a lot for you. Because again, that doesn't come to me, that goes through the process. You see, our government is a government of processes, and this is what we... And it's difficult to understand processes, you understand? What we've been using in St. Lucia is one man is an engineer, he's a doctor, he's a coin disaverer, he's a mechanic, he's a hospital administrator, he's everything one man. And that's a problem, you understand? And this is why we find ourselves in the situation that we find ourselves. Because we do not allow professionals to do their work. Of course we have issues, but professionals must be accountable. So what has happened is politicians have tried their best to pretend that they have the answers to all the questions in St. Lucia and St. Lucia did not. So our government, the government of processes, this year we are going to be calling for an increase in the implementation rate. So the people responsible directly, because you know, the job, and this is why it's so difficult for some politicians to understand when they have lost power. They haven't understood that this job is a job that's temporary. It's not a permanent job. You sit at the dictates of the people of the country. So you can't take it all for yourself. You've got to let processes continue. When I'm no longer the minister of finance, the finance ministry will continue. It's not mine. I'm just going for somebody, you understand? And it is hard to understand. And it's why you have all that bitterness and all that calmy. Because people haven't understood that their job is temporary. And I want to tell to all budding politicians. Those in my government, those want to see government, that being in government, especially as a politician is a temporary phenomenon. When you're in your father's business, you can inherit that. But you don't inherit government. Governments are not left for you because you believe that it's your place. People elect you. And I've been very fortunate. People have elected me six times to represent them. I will slang them profusely for that. I will never not have gratitude for the people of Cassusies who've elected me six times. My single greatest achievement in life was to be elected six times by the people of Cassusies. But I know and no one needs to remind me that the job of prime minister is temporary. It's a temporary job. And I think people should think of that. And if they think of that, then they're thinking will be more focused. They will understand it's for the good of the country and not for their own personal aggrandisement. It's not an I, it's not a me, me, me. It's a country. And this is what I try to do. I try to involve all my ministers. This morning you heard the Honorable Wyn Girad, who is in the minister of finance. He's out there working on the budget with me, doing what he has to do, seeing about his constituency. We have to develop this thing holistically. It can be a one-man show. And I will not lead a one-man government. I have confidence in my cabinet. Each man and woman have their responsibilities which you have to follow. It's not a one-man show. Mr Girad about this, I also want to comment on a different article about the 40 billion dollar investment from the World Bank. No, it's not an investment. Go ahead, sorry. I think it's a loan. A policy-based loan. You can correct me. A PBL loan, yes. A whole fiscal loan and free reforms. Yes. Sure, sure. It's a policy-based loan from the World Bank to help. We have two policy-based loans. One from the World Bank and one from the Caribbean Development Bank. These loans had some pre-disbursement conditions which we had to do. We had some changes in legislation which we've done. We actually have done it with the process of finalizing it. These conditions were met and the World Bank were convinced that in the trajectory of our economy and the work we have been doing, it was okay for us to get a policy-based loan for 40 million dollars. That loan is going to be used to do a few things. In fact, both of these loans, the Caribbean Development Bank and the World Bank, these loans are going to be used to modernize the inner revenue department. They make it to modernize it to get up-to-date with modern technology. Some of it is going to be used for land administrative matters. Some of it is going to be used for budgetary support. The remainder is going to be used for the growth development of Saint Lucia's economy. These were two loans, policy-based loans. You heard more about it at the policy address. We actually passed all the tests from the World Bank to get these loans. Both the World Bank and the CDB were satisfied that the economy of Saint Lucia was being managed in a way that they could make these two loans available for us on the concessionary financing. Without direct interference in the ruin of the economy, we met the conditions. That's what we are doing. According to your report, they expect food prices to be generally high in 2024. Is there anything that the government is doing to help out of that? Is there anything the government can do to help out of that? I just heard that the U.S. cargo ship was attacked in the waters by the U.T. Revers. And your issues in the Panama Canal. What Saint Lucia needs? And we had a discussion on inflation. And the comments from the opposition on inflation on the consultation were childish and immature. I also heard a discourse on inflation. There was a comedian called Paul King Douglas. And that was typical of Paul King Douglas. But if it was the country we were running, that would be the cause for amusement. But the country we were running, inflation last year was 6.5% to 10%. That was a range. Inflation before that. There was deflation after COVID. The highest level of inflation was 2.5%. Most of the food and the stuff we buy using Saint Lucia is imported. We do not control the cost of goods. We control the price. Saint Lucia is a free enterprise system. The government only imports a few commodities. In these commodities, the government has removed service charge. The government has subsidized it to keep the price down for the products that the government imports. The rest of the importation is done by the private sector. This government has said that the supermarket business is open for anyone. Anyone who wants to go into the supermarket business, the government thinks it's free enterprise. Anyone can enter into this market. There are factors. You just spoke about shipping. There are factors that the government, the prime minister has no control over. What is the solution? What we have control over? We've removed the service charge on all the goods that are in the baskets. Saint Lucia has the highest number of non-vattable and exempt goods in the region. There is no vat on electricity. There is no vat on water. There is no vat on these two items, again in Saint Lucia. We continue to subsidize LPG, cooking gas, the 20-point and the 22-point cylinder. We continue to subsidize it. We continue to encourage people to use locally produced goods. We are enhancing the resources at the major agriculture so we can plant more food so we can use it. When the minister of finance tries to emphasize the use of local products, his adversaries try to take it as if it's a joke. Instead of looking at the message, they try to attack the messenger. The messenger is temporary. The fact is, even if you attack the messenger, the reality is inflation is ravaging the world. That's the reality. Attacking the messenger doesn't change that reality. It doesn't change it. The fact is, you can attack the messenger but when the shipping costs go up, it's going to impact on Saint Lucia even though you attack the messenger. So all we're saying is that the whole phenomenon of inflation is a worldwide, the ministry of finance or if this prime minister could have done anything more. And we are continuing to explore what we can do more. We have a discussion with the Chamber of Commerce as to say that exempt goods and non-vattable goods. We have a discussion with them as to how we can deal with that list. We have cushioned the impact on inflation by removing the vats on building materials. We have cushioned the impact of inflation by removing the vats on equipment bought by doctors and medical people so the cost of use services can decrease. We continue to subsidize LPG. The government gets its revenue from duties, import duties, etc. This is what runs the country. We've continued to give income tax exemptions. We've continued to have amnesty for income tax due. All kinds of tax including vats. We've increased the threshold from which people pay no tax. We've increased our social support to almost double. We've removed facility fees to ease the strain on people. So the government is cognizant of the fact that the price that inflation is ravaging the countries, even in Cohen St. Lucia. But we hoped that there would be a decrease in shipping costs. Now, because of what is happening, these shipping costs, it is not sure whether they are going to come down as results. Because of what is happening now in the world. As far as the world maritime situation is concerned. Which we have no control over. So what we must do as a country is to have a mature discussion on inflation as we did before. I'm going to instruct the Minister of Commerce to continue that discussion. Continue it. Because many ideas came out of that discussion. A mature discussion on inflation. Which is our concern. Which is the government's concern. But attacking the messenger will not help. Because in attacking the messenger, no one has come with a viable option as to how you will reduce the impact, further reduce the impact of inflation on the people of St. Lucia. Establishing trade links with the south. Brazil. We are actively pursuing that for long. But again, there are psychoscientary things you have to deal with. You know, it's not isolated. You know, it's holistic. Now, in important things, some other parts, you have to deal with psychoscientary situations. So we should have to ensure that that is done. But we are actively pursuing that. Actively pursuing that. Because of the important goods, one aspect of the primary sector, some of the goods that are important, they stay on the top, so they stay in the ship. Very good question. That is why, you understand how it's coming together. That's why we're taking the cruise away from Slasper. That's why Slasper bought a new... That is why Slasper bought a new crane. You see, I'm very happy with the way you... I'm very pleased with you. Who are you looking for? Choice. I'm very pleased with the way you are analyzing the analysis. Very good. That is why we, Slasper, just bought a new crane so that the processes at Slasper can increase. We've taken cruise away completely from Slasper. Because whereas Slasper only got 10% of his ready from cruise, and they had to put so much... They had a loan of $20 million for cruise. So we said we didn't have to be completely from Slasper. So Slasper can concentrate on cargo, can concentrate on making the processes easier. They've just bought a new crane. They're going to buy some more equipment to make it... So your question is perfect. These are all parts of the puzzle of the cost of goals in this country. Any more questions? Go ahead. We have a lot of respect for the President of the National Consumer Association. And then her call is being considered. I have not been advised on that. Thank you very much.