Felix Upset Over STEP Allocation; Says Govt Decreased It

Choiseul/Saltibus MP Bradley Felix expresses his disappointment with the government over his constituency allocation for the Christmas Short-Term Employment Programme (STEP). Felix describes the decrease in his STEP allocation as a form of victimisation by the Pierre Administration. He adds that he is prevented from positively impacting communities in his constituency. “It’s very apparent that there’s an attempt to victimise the people of Choiseul/Saltibus because when you want to look at the largest or one of the largest constituencies in Saint Lucia and provide us with only $50,000 for cleanup, it is, I mean, it is a disgrace. When the last Administration was in office, Christmas STEP would be at about $200,000,” Felix explained. The current Administration has long lamented that when in Opposition, the Chastanet Administration did not provide Opposition MPs with any funds under the Constituency Development Programme. Upon assuming office, Prime Minister Philip J Pierre promised to break that cycle by allocating MPs with funds for various projects in their constituency. Felix notes that despite prior engagements with the Prime Minister, this current STEP allocation points to a shift in tone on the part of the government. “I had an engagement with the prime minister at a...