PM Philip J Pierre shares some policy decisions during holiday season

Castries, Saint Lucia: The government of Saint Lucia shared a video of the political and social decisions and policies made by Prime Minister Philip J Pierre, this year.

PM Pierre and the Cabinet of Ministers skilfully steered Saint Lucia through the challenges of 2023 and have set us on course for continued progress in 2024.

In the video, the press secretary of the prime minister stated that PM Pierre actioned several people’s first policy decisions taken at the cabinet level, effectively addressing the everyday realities that confronted the average Saint Lucia household.

As inflation has never been higher, the prime minister and cabinet stood up for the inflation. The government contributed, on average, $15 for every £20 on LPG cooking gas cylinder.

She further added that this year, the government spent more than 11 million to subsidize LPG cooking gas cylinders instead of allowing the consumers to pay the maximum retail price.

It is to be noted that a six per cent (6%) service charge on price control food items is exempted. The government continues to heavily subsidize essential consumer bills like flour, sugar and, most recently, menstruation products such as Sanitary napkins, tampons and pads.

Moreover, the government has also reduced VAT on several items to give relief to its people, such as the cost of lumber, cement, steel, solar PV systems, and many more, which are 12.5 per cent cheaper as compared to last year.

The selected medical equipment will be VAT-free until 2025. This is expected to lower the cost of a host of regular medical exams, and there is a 100 per cent waiver on all the penalties and fines if people settle taxes by May 1, 2024.

Reportedly, the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia fostered consumer spending power to beat back inflation.

Most importantly, PM Pierre’s fiscal policy in March 2023 enables the government to pay 11.5 million in standing-back pay to public servants. Further, NIC pensioners are currently enjoying a 4.2 increase in their monthly pensions.

For the welfare of contractors, the government will no longer deduct from government contracts valued at $10,000 or less, and it gets better as $40 million tax refunds will have been paid off by March 2024.