13 March 2018
Opposition Leader Hon. Philip J. Pierre happy St Lucia is removed from blacklist
By SLP
(PRESS RELEASE) – I am happy for the sake of our country that Saint Lucia has been taken off the blacklist and put on the grey list by the EU.
The Opposition has always maintained that we want Saint Lucia to do well but we are against poor governance and bad policy.
I maintain that Saint Lucia could have avoided the indignity of being on the blacklist for such a long time.
If the government had heeded to the calls of the Opposition for immediate action, this could have been avoided.
Being on the grey list means that the country still has issues with the EU Anti-Tax Avoidance Standards but has committed to changes.
I urge the Minister of Finance to take all necessary steps to ensure that Saint Lucia enters into immediate dialogue with the EU to avoid further embarrassment.
It is my hope that the government has learnt its lesson and that the Opposition is not to be ignored or victimized.
