Opposition Leader Allen Chastanet Declines GPH Invitation, Calls for Transparency in Concession Agreement
Castries Saint Lucia – In a firm stance for transparency and public accountability, Allen Chastanet, the Leader of the Opposition in Saint Lucia and head of the United Workers Party (UWP), has formally declined an invitation from Mr. Lancelot Arnold, General Manager of GPH (Saint Lucia) Ltd. The ceremony, set for April 30th, 2024, marks the commencement of activities under a contentious concession agreement awarded to GPH, a detail that has stirred significant public debate.
Allen Chastanet, in his letter dated April 30th, 2024, expressed gratitude for the invite but noted his current unavailability due to a family emergency. More critically, he highlighted the lack of public and opposition engagement in the discussions surrounding the terms of the concession agreement, which spans an initial thirty years with an additional ten-year extension and is valued at over EC$1 billion.
The Opposition Leader criticized the process for its absence of a bidding phase and transparency, which has caused unrest among local stakeholders including vendors, taxi drivers, and tour operators. The agreement’s terms, he argued, significantly impact existing contracts and could potentially disrupt the livelihoods of local business owners and SLASPA employees over both the mid and long-term.
Allen Chastanet’s letter makes a public appeal to GPH, urging the company to disclose the full terms of the agreement with Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA). He emphasized the importance of building trust among all stakeholders and the general population, calling the situation “disconcerting” and reflective of inadequate governance standards that should ideally govern such substantial agreements.
In a closing remark, Chastanet referenced a government minister’s previous description of the deal as a “secret deal,” a sentiment that has evidently fueled speculation and distrust among the public. He appealed to GPH’s better judgment to clarify the agreement’s details and ensure a transparent process moving forward.
Below is the complete letter from Allen Chastanet to Mr. Lancelot Arnold, expressing these concerns in full:
30th April, 2024
Mr. Lancelot Arnold
General Manager
GPH (Saint Lucia) Ltd.
Castries
Dear Mr. Arnold,
I acknowledge receipt of your invitation dated 29th April 2024 to attend a commencement ceremony on 30th April 2024, and in spite of the well-publicised fact that I have and continue to be out of State attending to a family emergency, I thank you for your invitation.
I must remind you that no attempt has been made to date to engage or to inform the Opposition of the terms of this concession despite our public statements and a public letter to the Prime Minister. Hopefully, this invitation is an indication that your company has recognized the necessity for public engagement which should include the Opposition. For the time being, it would be irresponsible of me or anyone else from the Opposition to attend, as it may be construed as an endorsement of this agreement.
In light of the fact that your company was awarded a thirty (30) year concession and a ten (10) year extension without a bidding process, with an estimated potential revenue stream of over One Billion East Caribbean Dollars (EC$1 billion), I take this opportunity to publicly invite your company to make public the agreement you have signed with Saint Lucia Air and Sea Ports Authority (SLASPA).
Based on the little detail provided publicly, the terms of this agreement appear to be very one-sided and will have a significant impact on the longstanding contracts that have been in place with vendors, taxi drivers, shop owners, and tour providers. Already, we have been hearing complaints of no consultation and lack of transparency. Also very concerning is the mid-term and long-term impact this will have on SLASPA and, in particular, its employees. Your company is a publicly traded company and I would hope your internal company values and principles of governance and the current international standards would have caused you to appreciate how disconcerting this situation is.
I hope your company will understand the importance and sincerity of the request to make public the agreement. It is important that you gain the trust of all stakeholders and the population in general and that we all see this as mutually beneficial. The Government has already betrayed the trust of the public which was manifested by a Minister of Government who dubbed this a “secret deal”. To eliminate any further speculation as to the integrity of this agreement and to avoid any unnecessary confusion I appeal to your company’s best judgment.
Yours respectfully,
ALLEN CHASTANET
Leader of the Opposition
This story, highlighting critical issues of governance and transparency, emerged from the official website of the United Workers Party (UWP), led by Allen Chastanet.
This unfolding situation promises to be a critical juncture for governance and corporate accountability in Saint Lucia, as stakeholders and citizens alike seek clarity and fairness in significant national economic engagements.
