Philip J. Pierre | |
|---|---|
 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 |
| Deputy | Ernest Hilaire[2] |
| Preceded by | Allen Chastanet |
| 12thMinister for Finance, Economic Development and the Youth Economy | |
| Assumed office 5 August 2021[3] | |
| Prime Minister | Himself |
| Preceded by | Allen Chastanet |
| Leader of the Opposition | |
| In office 18 June 2016 – 28 July 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Allen Chastanet |
| Preceded by | Kenny Anthony |
| Succeeded by | Allen Chastanet |
| 10thDeputy Prime Minister of Saint Lucia | |
| In office 18 June 2016 – 28 July 2021 | |
| Prime Minister | Kenny Anthony |
| Preceded by | Lenard Montoute |
| Succeeded by | Ernest Hilaire (2022) |
| Member of Parliament | |
| Assumed office 24 May 1997 | |
| Preceded by | Romanus Lansiquot[4] |
| Constituency | Castries East |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Philip Joseph Pierre (1954-09-18)18 September 1954 (age 71) |
| Political party | Saint Lucia Labour Party |
| Alma mater | University of the West Indies |
Philip Joseph Pierre[5] (born 18 September[6] 1954)[7] is aSaint Lucian politician currently serving as thePrime Minister ofSaint Lucia since 28 July 2021. Pierre serves as theMinister for Finance, Economic Development and the Youth Economy.[8] He is the Leader of theSaint Lucia Labour Party since 18 June 2016. He has represented theCastries East constituency in theHouse 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 asLeader 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 atSaint Mary's College, then completed aBA (hons) in accounts and aMaster of Business Administration from theUniversity 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 atCoopers & Lybrand andPannell 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 ownmanagement consultancy firm, Philip J. Pierre Business Services Ltd.,[12] from 1990 to 1997.[13]
Pierre joined theSaint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) in 1985, and served as the party treasurer from 1986 to 1992.[12] In1992, he contested the general elections for the first time in Castries East, but did not win.[13][4] After serving as the SLP chairman from 1992 to 1996,[12] Pierre ran again in1997 and won. In the resulting SLP government led byKenny Anthony,[13] Pierre served as Minister for Tourism, Civil Aviation and International Financial Services from 1997 to 2000.[12]
Pierre was re-elected to theHouse of Assembly from Castries East in the general elections of2001,2006, and2011.[4] In December 2011, he was sworn in asDeputy Prime Minister and Minister for Infrastructure, Port Services, and Transportation.[14] Pierre retained his seat in the2016 general election,[4] 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 theLeader of the Parliamentary Opposition.[9][15]
Pierre is a member of theCommonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). He also joined the Assembly ofCaribbean Community Parliamentarians, attending its inaugural 1996 meeting inBarbados.[12]
Pierre led the SLP in the2021 general election, where the party won a majority of seats. He was sworn in asPrime Minister of Saint Lucia on 28 July 2021.[7][5]
| Assembly seats | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Romanus Lansiquot | Member of Parliament for Castries East 1994–present | Incumbent |
| Political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Leader of the Opposition 2016–2021 | Succeeded by |
| Preceded by | Prime Minister of Saint Lucia 2021–present | Incumbent |
| Party political offices | ||
| Preceded by | Leader of theSaint Lucia Labour Party 2016–present | Incumbent |
