The Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) will be contesting only 15 of the 17 constituencies when the next general elections are called here. This was conveyed by Prime Minister and political leader of the SLP, Philip J Pierre.
Pierre spoke in Odsan on September 21 during the official launch of the newly endorsed SLP candidate for Castries South East, Lisa Jawahir.
As the event came to a close, the leader of the SLP invited all thirteen candidates to join him on stage, apologising for the absence of Alva Baptiste, the candidate for Laborie. This was followed by calls for the Castries North MP Stephenson King and Castries Central MP, Richard Frederick to join the rest of the labour candidates.
Both King and Frederick joined Pierre’s cabinet in 2021, after successfully contesting the last general elections as independent candidates. The pair are expected to again run as independents.
King and Frederick are former members of the UWP, having both served in parliament. Amidst a tumultuous period of struggle for party leadership Frederick was dismissed by the UWP in 2016 while King broke ranks with the party mere weeks before the 2021 general elections.
In his introduction of Stephenson King, Pierre said: “Tonight I am pleased and I am proud to tell you that this gentleman has worked in our Cabinet from August 2021 and he will continue to work in our Cabinet because he is a patriot.”
As they stood arm in arm, King sporting his symbolic blue in contrast to Pierre’s red, the SLP leader declared: “This is a man in whom I am well pleased.”
“Because I know his contribution, I know how he loves Saint Lucia, I know how he loves the people of Castries North, I know how he fights for them, and that is why I want to tell you, I will give him a little present. The people of La Clery will get their square, because I have seen the work that he is doing and I want him back in my Cabinet when he wins the next general elections.”
Pierre went on to tell supporters that Richard was somewhere among the people and as he waited for his presence on stage, he thanked him for the work he was doing.
“I want to tell Richard that we love the work that he is doing for the people of Castries Central.”
“We are happy that he is in our Cabinet, we will work with him…and I know that when I call the elections by seven thirty we would have won the Castries Central seat with Richard Frederick. I want to tell Richard that we appreciate him in our Cabinet, we appreciate his hard work,” Pierre stated.
As Frederick made his way on stage Pierre went on: “I want to say to you that Richard is a proud member of the Cabinet of the Saint Lucia Labour Party.”
“So my brothers and sisters, that is team Labour, that is the team with Richard Frederick and Stephenson King that will win the next election,” Pierre stated as he asked supporters to go out and vote when the time comes.
General elections are constitutionally due in Saint Lucia by November 2026, however there is growing speculation that it will be called towards the end of 2025.
Over the next several weeks the SLP is expected to launch four additional new candidates to complete their slate of fifteen.
The UWP on the other hand will be contesting all 17 constituencies. A number of other independent candidates have also expressed their interest.
Awa wee. Last election you sent 15 candidates. You won and brought 2 independent in your cabinet. Ok we get that. Four years later you still can’t approve one’s application to join your party and the other one has not attempted to join. Yet still you ask us to vote them. You even go so far as to say you are well pleased with King. Makes no sense to me other than deceitful political tactics. Fed up of that!