As the political season heats up, a veteran Opposition politician has urged political hopefuls in his party to unite, regardless of whether they become candidates.
Guy Joseph, former MP for Castries South East, addressed an audience at a political rally on Sunday, emphasising that there is much work for United Workers Party (UWP) faithful to do, regardless of their roles.
Joseph spoke amid questions regarding who would be best suited to run in specific constituencies, particularly against incumbent Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) candidates.
However, Joseph, the UWP pick to contest his former seat again, encouraged those not selected to remain committed and continue laying the groundwork for success.
“We can have one rep per constituency, but we can have many workers because the government is not made up of just the elected members and it is time that we understand that.” Joseph said, “When a candidate has gone through the process and is chosen, it is our responsibility to rally behind the candidate. The other candidates who would not be chosen, have an equal role to play in the politics on the ground, and in the governance of the country. Because there’s too much work. As I’ve told you all, I’m not afraid about winning the election. What I am afraid of is how we are going to govern this country with the mess that is created by Philip J. Pierre.”
The United Workers Party aims for a stronger performance in the upcoming election.
In July 2021, the electorate ousted the Allen Chastanet-led government, delivering a landslide victory to the Saint Lucia Labour Party.
The UWP retained only two seats, significantly declining from its previous majority.
You’ll continue to watch from the outside.
With the on-going passport scandal, and the government Found-in-scheme, it is almost certain that the electorate will not give the SLP a second chance. The UWP big wigs like Guy Joseph, should try to stay away from unilateral candidate selection, like was done in Castries South and Vieux-Fort South at the July 2021 general elections. The UWP is in a very good place at the moment, and must get the candidate selection right.
Nothing but a total wipe out of the UWP at the next election would be considered a victory by me …Most of all is the the Micoud South …. Labour has to win it . The other seat , simply on the basis that the UWP MP has voted against the SLP programmes of improvement ,means he does not put Lucian’s first and should be voted out