Saint Lucia Consul General Controversy: UWP Canada Caucus Raises Serious Concerns

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Complaints of Unprofessionalism and Bureaucracy

According to the open letter, there have been widespread complaints about a lack of professionalism from the Consul General, who has reportedly exerted undue pressure on local Saint Lucian organizations, requiring them to meet his personal demands in order to receive the necessary support from the Consulate. The Caucus claims this has led to strained relationships and reduced cooperation between the Consulate and the Saint Lucian diaspora in Toronto.

One of the key issues raised is the introduction of what the UWP describes as “stringent and unprecedented security measures” at the Consulate office. Visitors are now reportedly subjected to physical searches, including the use of electronic wands, and are required to surrender personal items such as cell phones and car keys. The letter states that Canadian authorities have confirmed there is no heightened security threat to the building, leading the Caucus to believe the policy was implemented solely at the discretion of Consul General Mangal. This move, according to the letter, has caused significant discomfort among community members.

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Refusal to Support Local Artists

The UWP Canada Caucus also raised concerns about the Consul General’s reluctance to provide letters of support for Saint Lucian artists wishing to travel to Canada for community events. These letters are crucial for enabling cultural exchange and community engagement. The Consul General’s refusal, the Caucus claims, has negatively impacted numerous events organized by the Saint Lucian community in Toronto, hindering efforts to promote the island’s rich cultural heritage.

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Emergency Passport Delays and Excessive Costs

Another pressing issue brought to light involves delays in the issuance of emergency passports. The letter explains that in the past, Saint Lucians in Canada who required emergency passports to travel home could obtain them within a day. However, under Consul General Mangal’s administration, the process has reportedly become more cumbersome, costly, and time-consuming. According to the UWP, Saint Lucians are now forced to pay CAD$210 for passports through the Consulate, whereas the same passports could be obtained in Saint Lucia for XCD$250. This discrepancy has caused community members to cancel or reschedule travel plans for family emergencies, leading to significant financial and emotional stress.

The letter also highlights the burdensome requirements now being imposed for emergency passport applications, such as proving family relationships. The Caucus notes that many members of the Saint Lucian community in Toronto may not have immediate access to birth certificates and other documentation, making these demands particularly challenging and unnecessary.

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Calls for Accountability

In its letter, the UWP Canada Caucus calls on Minister Baptiste to investigate these issues and restore professionalism and transparency to the Saint Lucian Consulate in Toronto. They argue that the actions of the Consul General reflect poorly on the Saint Lucian government and urge immediate steps to improve the functioning of the Consulate to better serve the needs of the diaspora.

The letter concludes with a damning critique of Consul General Henry Mangal’s leadership, with the UWP Canada Caucus stating that he is viewed as the worst Consul General since the establishment of the Consulate in 1999. The Caucus asserts that despite political differences, previous Consul Generals maintained good relationships with the community, a sentiment they feel is sorely lacking under the current administration.

The Full Text of the Open Letter is as follows:

OPEN LETTER TO ALVA BAPTISTE

Cc: Hon. Philip J. Pierre, Prime Minister of Saint Lucia
Cc: Hon. Allen M. Chastanet, Leader of the Opposition

September 24, 2024

Alva Baptiste
Minister of External Affairs, International Trade, Civil Aviation and Diaspora Affairs
Level 5 Baywalk Mall
Rodney Bay, Gros Islet
Saint Lucia

Dear Minister Baptiste,

I write to you on behalf of the United Workers Party (UWP) Canada Caucus to bring to your attention several matters concerning the operations of the St. Lucian Consulate in Toronto. Over the past several months, members of the St. Lucian community in Toronto have expressed growing frustration with the conduct of the Consulate, particularly under the leadership of Consul General Henry Mangal. Due to fear of retribution, these individuals have hesitated to voice their concerns publicly, but they have turned to us for representation and advocacy on their behalf.

We have gathered numerous complaints related to a lack of professionalism, diplomacy, and tact from the Consul General. These issues appear to reflect not only a failure to adhere to the basic principles of diplomacy but also a pattern of unilateral decision-making that affects the broader St. Lucian diaspora in Toronto. Specifically, we have received reports that the Consul General is exerting undue pressure on St. Lucian organizations, making them accede to his often added, new, or unreasonable demands in order to receive official support, including essential letters.

Of particular concern is the recent implementation of stringent and unprecedented security measures at the Consulate’s office. As of two weeks ago, individuals visiting the Consulate are subjected to physical searches using electronic wands and are required to surrender personal items such as cell phones and car keys. We have confirmed with Canadian authorities that there is no heightened security threat to the building or the Consulate, leading us to believe that this policy was implemented unilaterally by the Consul General. This has understandably caused discomfort and dissatisfaction among the St. Lucian community, especially as these measures appear to lack justification.

Another critical issue involves the Consul General’s refusal to provide letters of support for local St. Lucian artists seeking to visit Canada for events organized by the St. Lucian community in Toronto. These letters are essential for facilitating cultural exchange and community engagement. The Consul General’s reluctance to offer such support has negatively impacted numerous events.

Further compounding the dissatisfaction are the unnecessarily bureaucratic processes instituted for obtaining emergency passports. In the past, St. Lucians in Canada who required emergency passports to travel to Saint Lucia were able to obtain them within a day. Under the current Consul General, this process has become more complicated, time-consuming, and expensive.

There are also reports that individuals in need of an emergency passport are being compelled to purchase their full St. Lucian passport through the Consulate at the higher price of CAD$210 (with courier fees) or XCD$420, even when these individuals could normally obtain the same passport in Saint Lucia for XCD$250. This has caused significant hardship, as community members have had to cancel or reschedule travel for family emergencies, such as funerals and medical crises, due to these extended and unnecessary delays.

Some of the requirements, such as asking people to prove family relationships, are especially difficult in a community like ours, where not everyone carries birth certificates of their mother, grandmother, aunts, siblings, etc. Requesting these documents to issue an emergency passport to a Saint Lucian is causing undue hardship and is unnecessary. The Canadian authorities do not request such information from us when we are in need of emergency travel documents/passports.

Minister Baptiste, the actions of the Consul General reflect on the government. We are respectfully calling on your office to investigate and address these concerns. The issues at the Consulate have caused considerable distress within the St. Lucian community in Toronto, and we believe that immediate steps should be taken to restore professionalism, accountability, and transparency at the Consulate.

Part of the Consulate’s purpose is to facilitate Saint Lucians, not to cause them undue hardship, stress, and financial burden. We ask that the conduct of the Consul General be reviewed, and that more efficient and people-centric processes be reintroduced, particularly for the issuance of emergency passports and support for St. Lucian community events.

Saint Lucians who have lived in Canada for more than thirty (30), forty (40) years, who have been engaged with the Consulate ever since it came into existence in 1999, and have known every Consul General, view Mr. Mangal as the worst Consul General so far. The Consul General needs to be and do better. For the most part, we have had good relationships with our past Consuls General, regardless of which government appointed them. For the Saint Lucian Community in Toronto, Mr. Mangal’s behavior is unprecedented.

The UWP Canada Caucus stands ready to provide further information and is hopeful that these concerns will be addressed promptly to ensure that the Consulate in Toronto better serves the needs of the St. Lucian diaspora.

We look forward to your response.

Yours sincerely,
Cornelius Herelle
Chair, UWP Canada Caucus

Unitedpac St. Lucia News will continue to follow this story closely and provide updates as they become available.

In summary, the UWP Canada Caucus has put forth serious allegations concerning the conduct of Consul General Henry Mangal, urging the Saint Lucian government to intervene. As the situation develops, the broader Saint Lucian diaspora in Toronto looks to the government for answers and improved services at the Consulate.