Ernest Hilaire’s brother Paul named in Bananes payout scandal fallout
CASTRIES, ST LUCIA (June 14, 2025) — The Bananes payout scandal continues to escalate, now casting a spotlight on what critics describe as a blatant conflict of interest. Residents of Bananes Bay, located in Castries South, are expressing growing outrage over reports that Paul Hilaire, the brother of their own parliamentary representative, Deputy Prime Minister Ernest Hilaire, served as the consultant who helped design the government’s compensation framework.
The relocation comes amid the Castries Port Redevelopment Project, facilitated under a 40-year concession agreement with Global Ports Holding (GPH). Displaced residents say the payouts were insultingly low, delivered without formal relocation plans, and crafted without proper consultation.
“We were pushed aside with nowhere to go,” said a vendor affected by the clearance. “Now we find out it was the MP’s brother behind it?”
Consultant role sparks backlash over political nepotism
According to credible sources, Paul Hilaire was retained by the government as a consultant to advise on property valuations and relocation logistics. His direct familial link to MP Ernest Hilaire, whose constituency includes the affected community, has triggered widespread accusations of political nepotism.
Residents say offers made under the plan were well below market value, issued with no viable alternatives, and appeared to prioritize the interests of developers over locals.
“The people of Bananes didn’t just lose homes,” said one community advocate. “They lost dignity, and they were sold out by those who promised to protect them.”
Video statement adds fuel: “Treasonous if proven true”
The controversy has now been amplified by a powerful video message from concerned citizen John Daniel, who publicly condemned the GPH asset deal and demanded transparency from the Philip J Pierre administration. In his statement, Daniel describes the alleged arrangement as “treasonous” if proven true, accusing the government of operating behind closed doors and abandoning the very people they serve.
“Is the public being misled?” Daniel asked. “What really happened behind closed doors? The silence is deafening.”
His concerns echo those raised by UWP’s Marcella Johnson, who recently criticized the GPH concession in scathing terms, accusing the government of prioritizing secrecy over sovereignty. Read her full statement here.
The video, now circulating widely on social media, has struck a nerve with a public already skeptical of the government’s handling of major infrastructure agreements and its alleged pattern of secrecy and insider favoritism.
Mounting demands for transparency and accountability
The Bananas payout scandal has intensified public frustration, exposing a perceived breakdown in transparency, public engagement, and basic ethical governance. Civil society voices are now demanding a full independent audit into:
- how Paul Hilaire was selected as a consultant;
- how compensation valuations were calculated;
- and whether Ernest Hilaire played any direct role in awarding this position.
The silence from the Pierre administration has only fueled speculation that this was more than just a bureaucratic failure; it was a coordinated insider scheme.
Broader implications for trust and governance
The controversy has also renewed scrutiny of the GPH concession deal, already viewed by many as disproportionately favoring foreign interests at the expense of local communities. While government officials continue to frame the project as transformative, residents say the cost of “modernization” is being unfairly borne by the poor.
“Development must never mean dispossession,” said one displaced resident. “And it should never be engineered by those who stand to benefit.”
MP’s silence stokes deeper resentment
Despite the growing public outcry, MP Ernest Hilaire has yet to directly address the role his brother played in the disbursement process. That silence has deepened public suspicion and resentment in Castries South.
“We expected our MP to stand with us, not stand by his brother while we’re left homeless,” said a longtime resident.
The Bananes payout scandal has evolved into a broader referendum on governance, trust, and accountability in St Lucia. With video messages like John Daniel’s calling for urgent answers and displaced residents demanding justice, the government now faces a critical test: confront the scandal head-on, or risk permanently alienating the very citizens it claims to serve.
📽 Watch the full video statement from John Daniel embedded below.
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