Photos of former Prime Ministers Dr. Kenny Anthony, Allen Chastanet, and former Vieux Fort North MP Cecil Lay sharing a light moment at a social gathering have gone viral.
The three men attended the event earlier this week in Micoud, and their appearance together attracted mostly favorable comments on social media.
“This is how decent human beings should behave. Even though they are on opposing sides, they should have some level of civility and respect for each other,” wrote Shawn Adonis on the Good Morning Saint Lucia – Vibes At Sunrise Facebook page.
“Photo of the year. I love it,” declared Jessica Cyril.
On the other hand, Frank Myers commented: ” Let’s not get carried away. Merely a humanitarian break. Not a ceasefire.”
Dr. Anthony is the current MP for Vieux Fort South and a former leader of the Saint Lucia Labour Party (SLP), which forms the current Government with Prime Minister Philip J. Pierre at the helm.
Chastanet is the MP for Micoud South and the opposition United Workers Party (UWP) leader.
Their presence with former Labour MP Cecil Lay occurred at a time of concern over deep political divisions in the country.
Lay, who sat between both men with his arms around them in one photo, told St. Lucia Times it was how politics used to be in his time.
He recalled that he, Anthony and Chastanet did not discuss politics but engaged in light talk and joked.
Lay said people liked the interaction and took many photos and recordings.
“The spirit was togetherness. Nothing political,” the former Vieux Fort North MP stated.
“This is the type of camaraderie we had when I was in parliament,” Lay revealed.
He recalled that he and now deceased former Prime Minister Sir John Compton, leader of the UWP, were very close.
“I was very close to all of them – Allan Bousquet, Ira D’ Auvergne, George Odlum. Jon Odlum as you know, was my partner. There was nothing like what I heard was happening right now. There is so much rivalry between the two parties – Government and opposition,” Lay told St. Lucia Times.
He noted that people could disagree or agree to disagree without being disagreeable.
“Together, we stand. Divided, we fall. Togetherness is the key; I want to convey this to every Saint Lucian,” the former MP asserted.
He added that there should be a dialogue between the Government and the opposition.
“During the election campaign it’s one thing,” Lay stated.
However, he said after the election, the country should unite, and people should work together to improve the country.
Lay said it was time to bring back the ‘old time politics’.
“I think it would do Saint Lucia good for the two political parties to see each other as friends and not enemies,” he told St. Lucia Times.
Cecil Lay entered politics in 1978, was victorious in seven consecutive elections and retired from parliament in 2006.
It’s good for the political jamets we have who always believe in what politicians says. RF does knock glass with some many and ppl think he is Jesus
That’s up too people who want too kill each other for them.
y kenny look so?
The ageing process, very soon it will b our turn
yes the aim is to divide the people so they remain in power. it has always work and will continue to work. if only people would open their eyes and study the political game then and only then they can avoid the brain wash. politicians are married to each other on both side its about the elites always being in power
Good politics…good for politics…good for Saint NLucia
@Aa, dumb ass, the man is getting older, he’s clearly aging.
Very politically correct!
The photo showed the public exposure of two cheeks of the same backside!
They only get together to sit on us, crushing us.
They regularly spread apart to $#!t on us.
There’s nothing wrong in two political opponents, have a conversation. There’s no room for hatred in our tiny Island.
I,can recall in the 1982, elections,the political opponents in Choiseul,Brian Charles and Evans Calderon, were driving each other vehicle’s and it brings Joy to my heart before my passing; that I was able to witness such a momentous occasion.
That photo should frighten the party jihadists. No, it wouldn’t! To begin with, they are not too smart to discern what’s happening around them. They are more concerned with carrying water for the parties in leaky buckets. What about the White man again? Those fanatics are typically loud, but any close observer can see they are as bright as 2-watts bulbs.
As a child I constantly saw my politically inclined brothers rib shoulders and joke with the Odlum brothers who were always at our house and vice versa, as well as Peter Josie. I saw “friends”, but was shocked when I heard them rail against other at political rallies! As I got older, I realized that was the norm.
Currently, the “neo-politicians” of today have no idea of “camaraderie! All they know is hate and division, and their base is none the wiser.
*rub shoulders …
nudge December 31, 2023 At 6:19 am
Exactly. The masses don’t realise they are merely tools to enrich the political class. They surrender power to these incompetent clowns that serve other masters and make their lives more difficult. To support a political party is tribalism gone mad. 12 years a hospital cannot be built. Roads utterly disgusting despite extraordinary tax receipts from vehicle related taxes. Crime and lawlessness totally out of control. How can any sane person continue to support a political party despite these failures.
This should serve as a way forward for good political discourse in Saint Lucia; have your political differences and respect the other person as an equal and fellow Saint Lucian. Very good gentlemen, keep it going. Happy New Year
I was amazed once when i heard Spider say He and Hilaire would be gvn jokes and laughing with each other during parliament and I remember during COVID seeing Spider and Lorne drinking together, But I wonder if PJP would be seen anywhere laughing with the UWP politicians. The really sad part is the lil man especially in the Public Service fighting each other.
Well this photo does not surprise me, because I know that most politicians are comrades outside of Parliament and the time leading up to elections. I remember during my teenage years seeing Nerville Cenac and Joyeux laughing and having a drink on the eve of the 1982 elections, likewise Josie, Downes and Stephen at a social gathering in Vieux Fort and yes John Compton was also present and these guys were laughing and drinking in peaceful conversation.
I said I was not surprised because I know Kenny, Chas and Lay to be civilized individuals. I don’t know if Frederick, Musa, Alva, Helaire and Pierre were there if the same would have happened. I have singled out the divisive elements of our current political climate.
Good to see stop the hate . United we stand divided we fall . Share prices he love . Great job guys .
*share the love ❤️
The photo emphasises what PM. Philip Pierre has said ” the opposition is not your enemy “
We die so fast that whenever we get the time to be civil we should grab it ! The men are not young.That is what comes about from experience or wisdom. Such opportunities never rise from caskets ,they arise out of God given opportunities .We are here today and gone tomorrow.Those who spend their time shooting each other,hating each other will have to reckon with their conscience before death grasp them in the claw . Let us decide to stand with love and fortitude in 2024! Happy New Year 758!
We die so fast that whenever we get the time to be civil we should grab it ! The men are not young.That is what comes about from experience or wisdom. Such opportunities never rise from caskets ,they arise out of God given opportunities .We are here today and gone tomorrowT
Great view as we prepare for the next general elections we need to remove RF pjp Ernest they are the great dividers of our political landscape
Pamphile, I don’t recall the PM saying the opposition is not the enemy, but if he did then his actions really speak louder than his words. I don’t recall one speech from him in 2023 where he didn’t venomously attack the opposition.
Good vibe photo just missing JP and Claude SHM
For the sake of the people in the South, pressure should be put on those opposing the continuation of construction of the modern Hospital in V/Fort. Lay may not be a present elected member in the House, but he is not forgotten and being well respected and still a force to reckon with in the South. Politics or not as for me, I couldn’t find myself socializing with the likes of R.F.
“Cecil Lay entered politics in 1978, was victorious in seven consecutive elections and retired from parliament in 2006″………. I feel ashamed as a young St Lucian that I didn’t know of him before.