So, the United Workers Party (UWP) has suddenly discovered its moral outrage over press freedom. How convenient! Their recent condemnation of Deputy Prime Minister Dr. Ernest Hilaire, accusing him of “assaulting” media practitioner Eldrise Charles, might have sounded noble if it were not  dripping with political theatre and selective amnesia.

Let’s be clear: no journalist should ever be assaulted, harassed, or intimidated, no matter who’s in power. But when the UWP tries to wear the mantle of press defenders, it’s hard not to roll one’s eyes. Because if you have followed Saint Lucian politics over the past decade, you know exactly who led one of the most aggressive campaigns against journalists and media independence in recent memory, the very same UWP that now claims to champion the cause.

It wasn’t that long ago that Prime Minister Allen Chastanet openly disrespected journalist Janeka Simon, dismissing her legitimate questions of national importance with arrogance and contempt. It was a moment that crystallized his administration’s attitude toward scrutiny: disdain for anyone who dared to challenge the narrative.

And it didn’t stop there. Rehani Isidore, then with HTS, reportedly faced personal threats after reporting on a story involving the Chastanet’s resort. Miguel Fevrier, at the time, employed at MBC TV received verbal disrespect and legal intimidation from UWP Cabinet Minister Guy Joseph over his coverage of the Bexon Preschool project. These were not isolated incidents, they reflected a broader culture of silencing dissent through bullying, lawsuits, and media manipulation.

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Now, the same party that tried to muzzle the press for five years is mouthing outrage because a Labour Party Minister allegedly shoved a journalist. The hypocrisy is breathtaking. This isn’t about defending media workers, it is about weaponizing outrage for political gain.

Dr. Hilaire’s case, which is already before the court, will take its legal course. But let’s not pretend the UWP’s sudden concern is about the safety of journalists or the sanctity of free speech. If it were, we would have seen that same energy when women journalists were being disrespected on live television, or when reporters were being threatened behind closed doors for asking hard questions.

Say what you want about the current administration, but the Saint Lucia Labour Party has maintained open engagement with the media, regular access to information, and a willingness to answer tough questions. You don’t have to agree with everything they do, but at least they haven’t made attacking journalists a political sport.

So before the UWP lectures anyone on accountability or respect for the press, perhaps it should confront its own record. Because you can’t claim to stand for press freedom only when it’s politically convenient. In the end, the public deserves better than outrage on demand.

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If there’s one thing we’ve learned in Saint Lucia, it’s this: press freedom isn’t a costume you put on when the cameras are rolling, it’s a principle you live by, even when it makes you uncomfortable.