CASTRIES, St. Lucia, CMC – The St. Lucia government Wednesday expressed its “most sincere gratitude and appreciation” to civil servants who have defied strike action by their colleagues over demands for increased salaries and have turned out to work. In a statement, the Kenny Anthony administration said that their selfless actions have ensured that vital governmental services to the general public have not been compromised and that it was not also obligated to pay workers who stayed away from their jobs. “The Government of St. Lucia also thanks the members of the public for their patience and understanding during this period and implores their continued cooperation until such time that all public officers are back at work. The government will continue to keep its doors open for dialogue with the Civil Service Association,” the statement said.