Philip J. Pierre | |
---|---|
9th Prime Minister of Saint Lucia | |
Assumed office 28 July 2021 [1] | |
Monarchs | Elizabeth II Charles III |
Governors‑General | Neville Cenac Errol Charles (acting) |
Deputy | Ernest Hilaire [2] |
Preceded by | Allen Chastanet |
Leader of the Opposition of Saint Lucia | |
In office 18 June 2016 –28 July 2021 | |
Preceded by | Kenny Anthony |
Succeeded by | Allen Chastanet |
Member of Parliament for Castries East | |
Assumed office 24 May 1997 | |
Preceded by | Romanus Lansiquot [3] |
Minister for Finance,Economic Development and the Youth Economy | |
Assumed office 5 August 2021 [4] | |
Personal details | |
Born | Philip Joseph Pierre 18 September 1954 Saint Lucia,British Windward Islands |
Political party | Saint Lucia Labour Party |
Alma mater | University of the West Indies |
Philip Joseph Pierre [5] (born 18 September [6] 1954) [7] is a Saint Lucian politician currently serving as the Prime Minister of Saint Lucia since 28 July 2021. Pierre serves as the Minister for Finance,Economic Development and the Youth Economy. [8] He is the Leader of the Saint Lucia Labour Party since 18 June 2016. He has represented the Castries East constituency in the House of Assembly since 1997. [9] [10] [11]
Pierre previously served as Minister for Tourism,Civil Aviation and International Financial Services from 1997 to 2000;Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure,Port Services and Transport from 2011 to 2016;and as Leader of the Opposition from 2016 to 2021.
Pierre's mother Evelyn was a schoolteacher,and his father Auguste [12] was a policeman. [13] He studied at Saint Mary's College,then completed a BA (hons) in accounts and a Master of Business Administration from the University of the West Indies. After graduation,he taught at Saint Mary's College [13] and worked as a trainee manager at J.Q. Charles Ltd. Pierre then entered the finance industry:he worked as an audit clerk at Coopers &Lybrand and Pannell Kerr Forster,and as a financial controller at Stanthur Co. Ltd. [12]
From 1985 to 1994,Pierre was the Director of the National Research and Development Corporation. [13] He was also Chief Executive of his own management consultancy firm,Philip J. Pierre Business Services Ltd., [12] from 1990 to 1997. [13]
Pierre joined the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) in 1985,and served as the party treasurer from 1986 to 1992. [12] In 1992,he contested the general elections for the first time in Castries East,but did not win. [13] [3] After serving as the SLP chairman from 1992 to 1996, [12] Pierre ran again in 1997 and won. In the resulting SLP government led by Kenny Anthony, [13] Pierre served as Minister for Tourism,Civil Aviation and International Financial Services from 1997 to 2000. [12]
Pierre was re-elected to the House of Assembly from Castries East in the general elections of 2001,2006,and 2011. [3] In December 2011,he was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure,Port Services,and Transportation. [14] Pierre retained his seat in the 2016 general election, [3] but the SLP lost the election. Kenny Anthony resigned as party leader;Pierre was then elected as his successor on 18 June 2016. He also became the Leader of the Parliamentary Opposition. [9] [15]
Pierre is a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). He also joined the Assembly of Caribbean Community Parliamentarians,attending its inaugural 1996 meeting in Barbados. [12]
Pierre led the SLP in the 2021 general election,where the party won a majority of seats. He was sworn in as Prime Minister of Saint Lucia on 28 July 2021. [7] [5]
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Events from the year 2021 in Saint Lucia
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