Philip Joseph Pierre is a politician from Saint Lucia who has served as Prime Minister of that island nation since July 28, 2021. Pierre is the Minister of Finance, Economic Development and Youth Economy and has been the leader of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLLP) since June 18, 2016.
Philip J. Pierre National Address on COVID-19, March 18, 2020 (St. Lucia News Room)
Pierre was born and raised in Waterworks, Castries East on Saint Lucia. The exact date of his birth is unclear and it was estimated to be sometime between 1954 and 1955. Pierre’s mother, Evelyn, was a teacher, and his father, Auguste, was a policeman. He studied at Saint Mary’s University and completed a BA (hons) in Economics and a Master of Business Administration at the University of the West Indies.
After graduating, Pierre began his career as a lecturer at St. Mary’s University serving there from September 1972 to September 1973. He was then a manager at J.Q. Charles Limited (1976-1978), Audit Clerk at Coopers and Lybrand (1978-1984), Audit Senior at Panell Kerr Forster (1984-1988), and Financial Controller at Stanthur Company Limited (1988-1990). He was also a Director of the National Research and Development Corporation (NRDF) from 1985 to 1994. From 1990 to 1997 he was Managing Director of Philip J. Pierre Business Services Limited (Saint Lucia).
Philip J. Pierre (WIC News)
Pierre joined the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) in 1985 and served as the party’s treasurer from 1986 to 1992. In 1992, he stood for the first time in the Castries East general election but did not win. Pierre stood again in 1997 and won. In the subsequent Kenny Anthony-led SLP government, Pierre served as Minister of Tourism, Civil Aviation, and International Financial Services from 1997 to 2000.
Pierre was re-elected as MP for Castries East in the 2001, 2006 and 2011 general elections. In 2011, he was sworn in as Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Infrastructure, Port Services, and Transport. In the 2016 general election, Pierre retained his seat but the SLP lost the election. Kenny Anthony resigned as party leader and Pierre was then elected as his successor on June 18, 2016. He also became parliamentary leader of the opposition.
Philip J. Pierre National Address Announcement (Caribbean News Global)
Pierre is a member of the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA). He is also a member of the Caribbean Community Parliamentary Assembly and attended its inaugural session in Barbados in 1996. He led the SLP in the 2021 general elections, where the party won a majority of seats. He was sworn in as Prime Minister of Saint Lucia on July 28, 2021.
Pierre is married and has one daughter, Philicia F. M. Pierre.
