Chastanet Holds ‘Fruitful Discussions’ With Church Leaders

Opposition leader Allen Chastanet met last week with Apostolic Nuncio of the Holy See to Saint Lucia, Santiago De Wit Guzman and Archbishop Gabriel Malzaire. Chastanet described the opportunity to meet the men as an honour. “We engaged in fruitful discussions on fostering stronger ties between the Church and the state,” the United Workers Party (UWP) leader disclosed on Facebook. Chastanet also said they discussed the role of faith in addressing the social challenges facing Saint Lucia. “I am deeply grateful for their insights and unwavering commitment to the spiritual and moral upliftment of our people,” the former Prime Minister wrote. The discussion regarding the role of faith in addressing social challenges occurred amid national concern over widespread indiscipline and a surge in violent crime in Saint Lucia. Reflecting the concern in his Throne Speech in April to a joint parliamentary session, Saint Lucia’s Acting Governor General Cyril E. M. Charles linked the country’s crime scourge to a deterioration in civility and respect. As a result, he called on all Saint Lucians to do more to reverse the decline. Charles declared that children should grow up in an atmosphere of respect for those in authority. He mentioned parents, teachers, the...