Philip J. Pierre | |
|---|---|
.png) Pierre in 2020 | |
| 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]
