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01
of 02Open Letter Rebukes Former Minister for Racial Comments: A Piercing Dialogue from Modestus Louis
Unitedpac St. Lucia April 14th 2024 – In a striking display of public rebuke, Modestus Louis, a former senior police officer, has issued an open letter condemning the racist comments made by Calixte George Sr., a former Minister of National Security under the St. Lucia Labour Party administration. The letter, which surfaced on April 13, 2024, calls out George for his derogatory remarks aimed at Hon. Allen Chastanet, terming him a “slave driver.”
The controversy began when Calixte George Sr., in a speech that caught both public and media attention, sharply criticized Chastanet, a prominent political figure. George’s choice of words, particularly labeling Chastanet a “slave driver,” has ignited a firestorm of responses, with many decrying his comments as racially charged and divisive.
Modestus Louis, who has known George for over five decades, responded with a powerful open letter that not only defends Chastanet but also turns the accusation back on George. Louis describes his own experiences working under George in the 1970s, depicting him as a fearsome and demanding boss, widely nicknamed “The Spider” by his terrified staff.
In his letter, Louis vehemently disputes George’s characterization of Chastanet, suggesting that it is hypocritical and reflective of a deeper malaise within George himself. “You were a slave driver indeed,” Louis writes, accusing George of harboring “a shriveled soul, chained by the bonds of wickedness, hatred, and jealousy.”
This confrontation highlights a broader issue within St. Lucian politics, where historical and racial sensitivities continue to influence contemporary political discourse. The term “slave driver” evokes a painful colonial past and is particularly contentious in a country still grappling with its historical scars.
Louis’s letter criticizes not only George’s recent comments but also his political stance, accusing him and his party of maintaining a “plantation mindset” that opposes empowerment and independence for the populace. According to Louis, George’s Labor Party aims to perpetuate dependency among the citizens, contrasting sharply with Chastanet’s vision of empowerment and self-reliance.
The open letter ends on a note of disillusionment with George, with Louis expressing a profound sense of betrayal and loss of respect for his former superior. This letter not only serves as a personal rebuttal but also as a public statement on the toxicity of racial invective in political arguments.
As this letter circulates through media and public discussions, it prompts a broader reflection on the language and legacy of racism in politics. It challenges leaders and citizens alike to consider the impact of their words and the deep-seated prejudices that may still permeate political ideologies and practices.
Below is the full text of Modestus Louis’s open letter to Calixte George Sr.:
02
of 02Open Letter to Calixte George Sr. on Recent Racist Remarks
Sir Calixste George Sr. Grande Riviere Gros Islet
In your recent repulsive and unwarranted attack on Hon. Allen Chastanet, you, Calixte George called him a “slave driver”. As someone whose acquaintance with you goes back 50 years, I will state openly that you have been (and possibly still are) more of a slave driver than Hon. Chastanet can ever be. I first encountered you in August 1974. I had completed school and found employment at the Union Agricultural Station tabulating the results of the then recently-completed Agricultural Census. You were the head honcho there although I cannot recall your job title.
The staff was terrified of you, particularly the secretary. They called you “The Spider”, and you were a slave driver indeed. Calling Hon. Chastanet slave driver is a glaring case of the pot calling the kettle black. Despite this, I always had the utmost respect for you over the years. You were always “Mr. George” to me. However, after hearing the unmitigated filth which spewed from you (like maggots from a putrefying animal, dead for days on the side of the road), it is impossible to have anything but loathing for you. The hatred you obviously harbor appears to have corrupted your very soul. That is the only explanation I can find.
Calixte George, you’re never too old to learn. When you point ONE finger at someone, THREE are pointing back at you. When you vomited your filth over the airwaves you told us much more about yourself and your shriveled soul, chained by the bonds of wickedness, hatred, and jealousy than you told us about Hon. Allen Chastanet. You have shown that you are still gripped in the plantation mindset and oppose the very idea that Allen Chastanet wants to empower the people. Your Labor Party is bent on creating a mendicant class who will depend on massa. Like the rest of your Animal Farm government, you do not want to see an empowered populace who can stand tall and think for themselves. To all of you, Allen Chastanet is the symbol of that new day. It terrifies ALL of you!!
Modestus Louis 13th, April 2024
This reiteration of Louis’s open letter not only serves as a robust defense of Chastanet but also as a call to action, urging a shift away from regressive political ideologies towards a more empowered and independent populace.
Your first line in your article is fraud as Mr. Louis was and has never been a high ranking police officer in the Royal Dt. Lucia Police Force. He was a police Constable at the time of his retirement.
Is that all you deduced from the entire article? Could you clarify the actions of the SLP member mentioned, as described in the article? Additionally, considering the discussion of high-ranking officials, how do you reconcile the appointment of the current Minister of Crime Prevention, who previously served as a Police Constable and reportedly has a checkered record?
The best PR for any and every member of Parliament is their conduct and productivity. It is only when these don’t hold up to public scrutiny that these MPs resort to the media and other gimmicks in an attempt to dupe the public into supporting them.