St. Lucia’s Prime Minister Allan Chastanet has refused to be drawn into any controversy regarding investigations involving Minister in the Ministry of Finance Dr. Ubaldus Raymond.
Raymond landed in the spotlight after nude photos said to be of him and extracts of a WhatsApp conversation that reportedly took place between him and an 18-year-old girl, were circulated on social media.
The teenager was arrested and charged with blackmailing Raymond on January 13.
The minister has not publicly spoken on the matter but issued a statement saying he would “not give in to political operatives who will use the most disgusting tactics in order to malign my name or to scare me into submission”. However, several calls have been made for him to step aside.
Pressed by reporters yesterday for his position on the matter, Chastanet made it clear that the Government will not engage in any “hearsay and who-say” and would determine its course of action once investigations are completed.
The Prime Minister snubbed reports that his Cabinet was divided on the matter, stressing that his ministerial team was powerless to intervene and the investigation should be allowed to run its course.
