Former United Workers Party (UWP) Minister, Edmund Estephane, says he was taken aback by the re-emergence of former Babonneau MP Ezekiel Joseph on the UWP stage during the party’s manifesto launch on November 23.
Estephane, who recently announced his support for his brother, John Paul Estephane, the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP) hopeful for the Babonneau seat, criticised Joseph’s decision to openly endorse the UWP after what he described as years of internal strife within the party.
Speaking on the Zafè Nous morning show with Yardie and Jahim, Estephane, speaking in Creole, recalled that Joseph had once insisted he would not “prostitute” himself for political convenience. “You have to stand on principle,” the former minister said.
Estephane alleges that Joseph had also previously stated that he would not support the UWP’s new Babonneau candidate, Titus Preville. However, Joseph’s appearance on the UWP platform on Sunday contradicted that claim when he delivered a full endorsement.
“And tonight I want to make a public announcement. I endorse Titus Preville for Babouneau. And all of you in Babouneau who are calling me and asking me what to do, you know what you have to do…. You have to vote for Titus Preville in Babouneau to continue the work that we started under the United Workers’ Party.”
Estephane said Joseph’s endorsement was especially surprising given that, in the past, Joseph had shown support for John Paul Estephane’s candidacy.
The former Dennery South MP further argued that the UWP’s internal troubles can be traced back to what he believes was a poor leadership decision – placing Allen Chastanet at the helm of the party.
He claimed this move contributed to declining party morale and prompted the departure of several senior members, including Stephenson King. He also suggested that this same internal rift once affected Ezekiel Joseph’s own relationship with the party.
