Two weeks before the December 1 general election, neither of the main political parties, the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) or the United Workers Party (UWP), had launched their manifestos.
A manifesto in politics is a public declaration of a political party’s policies, aims, and ideology, generally published before an election. This document, typically in booklet form, outlines the promises a party intends to keep if it wins as well as positions on key issues such as health care, employment and job creation, the economy and education.
Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) – Putting People First
Core values & economic context
In 2021, the SLP campaigned on the promise to put people first. Its manifesto highlighted the party’s three core values: equity, respect for the rule of law, and inclusiveness.
Citing data from the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank (ECCB), the SLP noted that “Saint Lucia experienced the worst economic contraction among ECCU countries for 2020, 23.8 per cent. Public debt,” it said, “was just under $4 billion.”
Economic recovery & growth
The manifesto stated that a Labour government would “first need to take measures to arrest the decline in economic growth and the debilitating level of public debt and commence the process of growing the economy to alleviate the suffering of our people and their quality of life”.
Plans included focusing on housing as a growth driver, expanding the digital economy, considering a digital nomad visa and exploring health tourism.
Governance & finance
The SLP promised to revamp the Citizenship by Investment Programme (CIP), broaden financial services, establish a youth economy and enhance tourism. It also pledged anti-corruption measures, constitutional review, and ascension to the Caribbean Court of Justice.
Agriculture & manufacturing
Commitments included support for manufacturers and agro-processors post-COVID, reestablishing banana marketing through a task force, and exploring regional markets.
Cannabis
“In dialogue and consultation with health officials, education officials and advocates for marijuana legalisation, we shall develop a medicinal and recreational cannabis industry,” the manifesto noted.
Health & education
The SLP promised to strengthen its COVID response, advance Universal Health Care, and reopen St. Jude Hospital. Education initiatives included paying facility fees for all students, introducing TVET skills at the primary level, adding Saint Lucian History and Heritage to the curriculum, and pursuing the policy that every household would have at least one university graduate.
Sports, crime & justice
Sports promises included repairing and upgrading the George Odlum Stadium and building an indoor facility in the south. On crime and justice, the manifesto pledged proactive policing and improved detection rates.
United Workers Party (UWP) – 5 for Five
Economic outlook
In 2016, the UWP campaigned on “five to stay alive” and won. In 2021, its manifesto was titled “5 for Five.”
The UWP countered the SLP’s view of economic decline, stating, “Before the onset of the pandemic, Saint Lucia’s economy was poised to take off. Virtually every international financial institution (IFI), including the IMF, World Bank, CDB and the ECCB unanimously agreed that Saint Lucia was on track to registering robust growth above 3 per cent in 2020.”
Five-point plan
If reelected, the UWP’s plan was to introduce unemployment benefits, expand monthly assistance for the needy, save parents money on school books, reduce VAT to 10%, and provide medical care for all.
First 100 days
Promises included a $3 million Back to School Programme, unemployment insurance consultation, national health insurance legislation, expanded E-Book initiative, provision of devices for students, new tax regime, property tax reform, local government reform, land rationalisation, cannabis legislation, construction of new police and civic facilities and border control legislation.
Infrastructure & agriculture
Projects included the Millennium Highway, West Coast project, Cul De Sac Bridge and Rodney Bay Road upgrades. In agriculture, the UWP pledged support for the seven-crop project and a Banana Productivity Improvement Programme.
Cannabis
The party said it would establish a framework for medicinal use and religious purposes.
Tourism & Orange Economy
Plans included expanding hotel room stock to 8 000, promoting village tourism, establishing a world-class cultural facility, and creating “creative hubs” for orange economy business clusters.
Health & education
The UWP proposed transforming St. Jude Hospital into a university hospital, aligning education more closely with global offerings, completing new school wings, upgrading school plants, and expanding sports facilities.
Crime & justice
The manifesto pledged to strengthen investigation, prosecution and justice systems, improve police intelligence and enhance border firearm detection.
