Crisis at St Lucia’s Ports, says senator Stanislas

By Caribbean News Global

CASTRIES, St Lucia – Delivering remarks at the United Workers Party (UWP) press conference, June 3, 2025, senator Herod Stanislas, candidate for Soufriere-Fond St Jacques, conveyed that he is “ deeply troubled that this Labour government has allowed our port operations to slip into chaos, creating a stranglehold on our economy that threatens every household, every business, and every family in Saint Lucia.”

Truckers strike action

The grave concern and unfolding crisis at our nation’s most vital economic gateway, (Port Castries) says senator Stanislas, “has extended to hardworking truckers, who are forced to pay unnecessary overtime charges through no fault of their own.” This, he said, “requires our declaration of unwavering solidarity with the truckers of Saint Lucia, whose courageous protest has finally exposed the gross incompetence and negligence of this Labour administration.”

The situation is worse considering that commercial operations and businesses are desperately waiting days and weeks for basic goods clearance; “empty containers rot at our ports while merchants and supermarkets face artificial shortages and the cost of living spirals out of control because this government [the SLP government ] refuses to acknowledge their gross mismanagement of Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority,(SLASPA).”

The senator continued: “As a responsible opposition, we cannot stand by idly while this government’s incompetence strangles our economy and burdens every Saint Lucian family with the consequences of their failures,” citing the SLASPA crisis as “a monument to government incompetence.

The crisis at Saint Lucia’s Ports, says senator Stanislas is tragic, to the extent that “ truckers had to resort to strike action to compel this government to confront the crisis they created. In turn, the truckers’ protest achieved what months of warnings could not – “it has laid bare the systematic destruction of our port operations under this government’s watch.”

Senator Stanislas further noted:

“What we are witnessing at SLASPA is nothing short of gross mismanagement. Business people and citizens are waiting days and weeks for goods clearance, not because of global supply chain issues, not because of natural disasters, but because this government has systematically destroyed the operational capacity of our nation’s economic lifeline.

“Our truckers are the backbone of our logistics industry, are being forced to pay overtime charges to customs officers through no fault of their own. Additionally, container space constraints have reached crisis levels, with our port transformed into a dumping ground for empty container shells.

“Truckers are trapped in a vicious cycle of delays and additional costs, all because this Labour government lacks the competence to manage basic port operations.”

Equipment breakdown: The ‘Blue Boy’ monument to failure

The truckers’ protest has exposed the shocking reality of equipment breakdown and neglect at SLASPA, explains senator Stanislas:

“The former UWP administration understood the critical importance of port infrastructure. We established a competent board with a deep understanding of port operations. Between 2016 and 2021, [we invested in the future – purchasing one new pilot boat, one reach stacker, and two forklifts to ensure efficient operations. We maintained our equipment because we understood that a functioning port is the heartbeat of our economy.”

What has this Labour government done?

Senator Stanislas admonished that the “Labour government allowed all equipment to deteriorate to the point where SLASPA is now renting a forklift from a private company and outsourcing pilot boat services. The “Blue Boy” machine, purchased years ago with taxpayer money, now sits rusting and idling – a monument to wasted investment and gross negligence; equipment which should “facilitate efficient port operations, has become a symbol of this government’s failure to maintain basic infrastructure.”

The question remains: Is this the priority of a government that claims to put Saint Lucians first – while millions of dollars in equipment rust away, forcing businesses to bear the cost of their incompetence?

Economic reverberation

The worsening crisis at St Lucia’s Ports and the consequences of the government of Saint Lucia port mismanagement are devastating to every St Lucian household, causing an economic stranglehold on St Lucian families, says senator Stanislas.

“The increased costs are being passed directly to consumers – to the mothers trying to feed their families, to the fathers struggling to make ends meet, and to the small business owners watching their profits evaporate. Extra overtime for customs officers caused by the inability of truckers to clear containers efficiently, means officers leave after two hours and must return the next day,” he said.

Who pays for this inefficiency?

The merchants, the supermarkets, and ultimately, every Saint Lucian family at the checkout counter pay, unwillingly, to which: “This double charge is passed on to consumers, creating artificial shortages, reducing choices in our supermarkets, and driving up the cost of basic necessities. When families cannot find the products they need or are forced to pay inflated prices for basic goods, that is not a consequence of market forces or supply chain issues – that is a failure of government.”

Ministerial silence: Where are our leaders?

The minister of infrastructure and ports oversees the operations of SLASPA, while the minister of finance manages financial matters. Yet, in the face of this ongoing fiasco that impacts every Saint Lucian, neither minister has uttered a word.

“When it comes to handing over our ports to foreign entities, this government moves with lightning speed. But when it comes to addressing the crisis affecting every Saint Lucian business and family, they claim it’s not their responsibility, a selective involvement that exposes the SLP government’s true priorities – foreign interests over Saint Lucian welfare,” noted senator Stanislas.

Are these ministers concerned about the crisis choking our economy? Are they even aware of the hardship their negligence is inflicting on St Lucian families?

St Lucia’s development proposal for Castries, Soufriere waterfronts, miss-directed and compromised  

The need for competent port management

Efficient port operations are not luxury items – they are economic necessities, “we had comprehensive plans for the development of Port Castries, Port Vieux Fort, and exploring the possibility of a deep-water port at Cul De Sac; long-identified solutions that would serve Saint Lucian interests first,” senator Stanislas submitted.

The time for accountability is now. Saint Lucia’s port crisis is not an act of nature – it is a direct result of this government’s gross mismanagement, misplaced priorities, and fundamental incompetence, the senator advised.

“While they focus on accommodating foreign port operators and implementing unnecessary and burdensome taxes, Saint Lucian families suffer the consequences of higher prices, reduced choices, and economic uncertainty.

“The truckers’ protest has done more than expose port inefficiencies; it has revealed a government that has lost touch with the struggles of ordinary Saint Lucians. A government that claims to put people first yet allows basic infrastructure to crumble. A government that moves swiftly to accommodate foreign interests whilst remaining silent when Saint Lucian businesses and families cry out for relief.”

Senator Stanislas called on the government to stop the excuses, end the ministerial silence, and take immediate action to restore competent management to SLASPA. St Lucian families cannot afford to subsidise this government’s incompetence any longer. And need to take responsibility for the economic hardship their failures have created.

“It is time for the St Lucia Labour government to act with the urgency that the crisis at St Lucia’s Ports demands, or step aside for leaders who will put the interests of all St Lucians first.”